Physician Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

At Neighborhood Health, we’re passionate about our mission to provide a kind and caring premiere workforce. Our team-based approach to comprehensive patient care creates a challenging and rewarding work environment where you have a direct role in helping members of our community receive quality medical services they can afford while making a meaningful impact every day. As a member of our growing team, you will feel at home in a fun and diverse community of healthcare professionals. 

As a member of our growing team, you will feel at home in a fun and diverse community of healthcare professionals. Our goal is simple: improving access to healthcare in our community and surrounding areas. Together, we are all committed to building healthier communities by delivering comprehensive, quality health care with compassion and respect.    

As a Physician Assistant, you will provide primary care to patients following established standards, practices, and protocols.  Maintain patient confidentiality and ensures compliance with HIPAA policies and procedures.  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the acute and long-term medical needs of NHC patients by performing physical examinations and preventative health measures within prescribed guidelines and instructions of collaborating physician:

-Reviews patients’ records, charts, and other pertinent information.

-Orders, interprets, and evaluates diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient’s clinical problems and health care needs.

-Formulates plan and prognosis based upon patient’s condition.

-When appropriate, discusses case with physician and other health professionals to prepare comprehensive patient plan.

• Prescribing Drugs

-Prescribing oral, parenteral, intramuscular, or subcutaneous medication under conditions in physician assistant agreement with Chief Medical Officer.

-Prescribing investigative medication under conditions in physician assistant agreement with Chief Medical Officer.

-Regulate medication dosage in accordance with accepted guidelines, including NHC’s controlled substances prescribing guidelines.

-Controlled substances prescribed for greater than 7 days may be dispensed if the patient’s treatment plan has been previously reviewed or established by physician.  Any escalation in doses needs to be approved by the Chief Medical Officer or designee.

• Records physical findings and other pertinent information in patient’s electronic health record within the timeframe established by the NHC Quality Assurance Program’s guidelines for timely documentation.  
• Ensures that patients receive appropriate education and referrals:

-Interviews and advises patients regarding health maintenance, illness prevention, normal behavior, social and physical growth/development.

-Efficiently manages time and resources utilizing nursing and social work staff for general patient education, when appropriate.

-Recommends community resources to meet patient and family needs.

• Provides monitoring and continuity of care between Clinic visits as required: 

-Participates in the on call rotation as needed.

-Provides telephone consultation including follow-up and triage calls.

• Manages medical emergencies.        
• Participates in Quality Assurance activities as assigned:

-Works closely with VP/Chief Medical Officer and collaborating physician to ensure quality patient care.

-Participates in peer review activities. 

-Remains current in advanced practice changes within specialized area and, where relevant, translates these findings into clinical practice. 

• Works closely with VP/Chief Medical Officer and administrative staff to ensure individual provider productivity goals are achieved.
• Attends and participates in meetings and in-services as required.  Participates in professional development activities.        Serves on committees as requested.
• Performs duties in accordance with NHC Standards of Conduct and Mission Statement.
• Performs related work as required and other duties (similar physical requirements and OSHA risk level) as assigned.  

REQUIRED SKILLS / ABILITIES

• Clinical—demonstrates a working knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of the Nurse Practitioner to provide ongoing patient care; skill in taking medical history to assess medical condition and interpret findings; maintains knowledge of, and acts in accordance with, current NHC policies and procedures. 
• Problem solving – identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Interpersonal skills—maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things; maintains friendly and supportive relationships with coworkers; talks through problems to keep channels of communication open and maintain a high level of trust; realizes the importance of, and practices, good customer service; and able to communicate effectively and build collaborative, supportive relationships with people of varying cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, languages, and educational levels. 
• Oral communication—speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills. 
• Written communication—edits work for spelling and grammar, presents numerical data effectively and is able to read and interpret written information.
• Planning/organizing —prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently. 
• Quality Control – understands the importance of compliance standards and pays close attention to accuracy and detail when performing duties; demonstrates a working knowledge of how grant requirements and federal/state laws impact the day-to-day operations of NH’s Medical Department. 
• Adaptability – adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Dependability – consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance.
• Safety and security – actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures, and uses equipment and materials properly.  
• Information Technology/Medical Equipment – proficient in the use of computers and other medical equipment/instruments to administer patient care and accurately retrieve/record patient data. 

MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

The physician assistant will function according to the guidelines of Indiana State statuses, rules and regulations given the following acts of supervision by the Chief Medical Officer or designee.

• Role of Chief Medical Officer: The Chief Medical Officer shall, on a regular basis:

-Take over management of unstable patients or designate an alternative physician to take over the management of said patients.

-Participate with the physician assistant in discussions and therapeutic measures.

-Be available for consultations with physician assistant either in person or via the telephone.

-Designate an alternate physician if the Chief Medical Officer is unavailable.

• Consulting the Physicians: should the physician assistant consult a physician regarding a particular patient, either by telephone or in person, for any condition, orders may be received and relayed to the patient.   In this case, documentation in the chart is required.  This indicates a physician was consulted and specified orders received.
• Medications: although the physician assistant may prescribe medications, there must be a collaborative agreement with physician.
• Record Review: charts of patients seen by the physician assistant will be reviewed and signed by the Chief Medical Officer or designee.   Content of the documentation should be checked for adherence to standard practices.  Should greater than five percent (5%) of the reviewed charts reflect a treatment plan which is not consistent with standard practices, a periodic audit, with a larger sample size, may be requested by the Chief Medical Officer.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education / Training

Graduate of an approved Physician Assistant program.    

Experience

Previous professional experience preferred.  Experience in a Clinic setting preferred.  

Licensure/Certification

Possession of an Indiana State Physician Assistant license, CSR license, and DEA license.  CPR Certified.  Must be certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Physical Requirements

Prolonged standing and walking, some stooping, bending, and stretching.  Requires full range of body motion and manual dexterity necessary to complete patient medical exam and treatment.  Requires eye-hand coordination sufficient to operate medical instruments, equipment, and computer keyboard.  Requires ability to life and carry items weighing up to 50 lbs.  Requires ability to handle and assist patients.  Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate reports.   Requires ability to work under stressful conditions.  Requires exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.  

Work Environment

Normal medical office environment.  Work may include irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.  Involves frequent contact with other staff, physicians’ offices, patients, and the public.   Contact may involve dealing with sick, angry, or upset people.  Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinic environment.  OSHA Category I – Tasks involve contact with blood or body substances.  

Neighborhood Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Neighborhood Health does not exclude people or treat them differently for any aspect of the organization because of race, color, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), or sex (including sexual orientation). 

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