Physician Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Physician Assistant

Clinic Team

Damien Center Values

Dignity-Collaboration-Accountability-Access-Quality-Innovation

Founded in 1987, Damien Center is Indiana’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization (ASO) and serves more than 8,000 individuals living with or at risk for HIV through a comprehensive, innovative approach to care and prevention. Our purpose is to be a trusted partner in providing services, education and advocacy for all people living with or at risk for HIV and any person seeking a safe and welcoming home for care. Our services include care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition. 

Position Summary:  

The Physician Assistant (PA) works within the Damien Center Clinic, providing primary care in an outpatient setting. Primary care services include wellness and preventive care, treatment of acute illnesses and injuries, and ongoing chronic disease management. The PA works as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team that includes physicians, nurse practitioners, mental health therapists, nurses, medical assistants, medical social workers, clinical pharmacists, and providers specializing in HIV and infectious disease care, behavioral health, and gender-affirming care. The broader care team includes medical and non-medical case managers, housing case managers, and other professionals who provide supportive services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills. 

• Conducts comprehensive and problem-focused patient evaluations, including health histories, physical examinations, and risk assessments.
• Diagnoses and treats acute and chronic health conditions within the Physician Assistant’s education, experience, privileges, and approved scope of practice.
• Develops individualized treatment plans in collaboration with patients and the multidisciplinary care team.
• Orders, performs, and interprets appropriate laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, screenings, and procedures.
• Prescribes medications and other treatments consistent with applicable laws, clinical privileges, and organizational policies.
• Provides preventive care, health education, risk-reduction counseling, and age-appropriate screenings and immunizations.
• Provides HIV prevention and treatment services, including PrEP, PEP, and ongoing HIV care, when qualified and credentialed to do so.
• Provides gender-affirming care and other specialized services when qualified and credentialed to do so.
• Initiates and manages referrals to specialists, hospitals, and community-based services and follows up on consultation findings and recommendations.
• Coordinates care with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, medical assistants, medical social workers, clinical pharmacists, behavioral health providers, case managers, and other members of the care team.
• Documents assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, referrals, and follow-up instructions accurately and promptly in the electronic medical record.
• Reviews and responds to laboratory results, diagnostic findings, medication requests, patient messages, and other clinical information in a timely manner.
• Educates patients about diagnoses, medications, treatment options, follow-up needs, and when to seek urgent or emergency care.
• Participates in quality-improvement activities, clinical meetings, care coordination, and organizational initiatives.
• Maintains compliance with clinical protocols, infection-control standards, privacy requirements, professional standards, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Supports responsible prescribing and referral practices consistent with Damien Center’s 340B program requirements while maintaining clinical independence and prioritizing patient needs.
• Performs special assignments and other duties as needed within the PA’s qualifications and scope of practice.

Education and/or Experience:

• Master’s or doctoral degree from a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) required.
• Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) required.
• Current, unrestricted Indiana Physician Assistant license or eligibility to obtain licensure in Indiana required.
• Current collaborative practice agreement with an Indiana-licensed physician or the ability to obtain one before beginning clinical practice required.
• Current, unrestricted Indiana Controlled Substance Registration and Drug Enforcement Administration registration, or eligibility to obtain both required.
• At least two years of primary care experience required.
• Experience in reproductive healthcare highly preferred.
• Experience providing care to LGBTQ+ patients, gender-affirming care, or infectious disease services, including HIV care, PrEP, and hepatitis C treatment, preferred.
• Bilingual, particularly in Spanish, highly preferred

*Work or lived experience may substitute for education requirements on a case-by-case basis. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Possess ability to efficiently complete clinical and nonclinical tasks with a high level of quality and detail while adhering to highest ethical professional standards. Excellent interpersonal and written communication abilities. Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and general computer/EHR use. Proactive approach to solving problems and communicating to leadership. Knowledge of office management systems, procedures, and office equipment required. Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual in this role must display the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. The individual should have effective communication skills, attention to detail and organization, and flexibility and adaptability. The individual will also maintain knowledge of trends in their area of responsibility.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are general representations of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to touch and handle objects. The employee frequently stands or walks.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Remote work is on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the supervisor. 

• Office setting, with sustained use of a computer.
• The noise level in the work environment is minimal to moderate.
• Individuals should maintain personal and professional competency and work to create an environment of courtesy, respect, inclusion, and positivity in all interactions both internal and external to the organization.

 

FLSA Status: Salaried, Full-time, Exempt

Leader: Medical Director

Salary: $112,747-153,746 annually

Benefits:  

• 150 hours of PTO in the first year followed by 195 hours per year moving forward.
• 12 paid holidays
• Medical coverage options include a PPO plan or a HDHP. 
• Dental & Vision plans
• Health Saving Account or Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403b Retirement Account with 5% matching and 100% vesting after 90 days
• Life Insurance @ 2 times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life Insurance Plan including spouse and child coverage options
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Plans
• Premium Subscription to the CALM APP which assists with anxiety, stress & other mental health challenges
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Annual performance review that includes an annual performance-based salary increase

Protecting our team members, clients, volunteers, and community partners is an integral part of how we ensure our continued work with the clients we serve. As a condition of employment, Damien Center requires team members to be vaccinated against influenza and receive a tuberculosis skin test (or chest x-ray) annually, barring an approved religious or medical exemption.

 

Damien Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Damien Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, other legally protected status, or genetic (including family medical history) information.

Damien Center complies with applicable federal laws and with all state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which Damien Center has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

Please apply at  

This position description does not constitute a contract of employment or guarantee of any terms or conditions of employment. Damien Center employees are employed on an at-will basis. Nothing in this position description restricts Damien Center’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.