Physician Assistant

Where compassion meets innovation and technology and our employees are family. Thank you for your interest in joining our team! Please review the job information below.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB:

The Physician Assistant is a skilled individual, qualified by academic and clinical education who provides assistance in the conduct of clinical research. The APP will utilize medical knowledge and experience, under the direction of the principal investigator, research manager and/or clinical director, to oversee and direct clinical course of pediatric research participants. Assess physical health and administer treatments throughout the study aligned with scope of practice delegated responsibilities. Oversee study conduct and assure study participant safety and work with clinical research coordination and reporting.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS:

• Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
• Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
• Function within scope of practice, under the supervision of an attending.
• Have excellent communication and customer service skills, proven excellence in clinical care and supervisory skills.
• Participate and assist with coordination and continuity of care.
• Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines.
• If applicable, performs and records history and physical examinations.
• Assist with physician directed care including: 1) Write appropriate orders (e.g. nursing care, medication orders, laboratory and imaging/radiological examinations). 2) Review pertinent findings in the patient's history, physical examination, radiological and laboratory data with supervising physician, obtain appropriate referral/consultation, additional laboratory or radiological studies as needed, and initiate appropriate medical and/or protocol-directed intervention(s). 3) If applicable, completes consultations approved by the supervising physician with follow-up as indicated. Ensure testing has been completed, results verified, review labs/studies and vital signs. Complete progress note as indicated. 4) Review of laboratory and radiologic data. Make appropriate interventions as indicated. 5) Advise supervising physician of unexpected events, providing an accurate synopsis of events related to a major change in the patient’s condition and describing corrective measures already taken. 6) Oversee and, as needed, administer medications and treatments per study protocol and scope of practice. 7) Collaborate with clinical staff, researchers, outside vendors, and other staff to administer treatment and study protocol-directed interventions and assessments. 8) Identify, recruit, and enroll study participants, as well as maintain study participant records; determine study participant criteria. 9) Assists with the coordination of discharge planning and/or follow-up. 10) Serve as a resource for clinical and research staff. 11) Assess, perform, and document parent/patient education. 12) Ensure the safety of study participants, and maintain communication with the patient/family and clinicians. 13) Participates in investigator meetings and monitoring visits. 14) Completes protocol-specific training as required by study sponsors. 15) Conducts informed consent discussions and obtains informed consent / assent for research in accordance with applicable regulations, IRB requirements, and institutional standards.

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVDER (APP) PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP:

• Ensures safe care by using effective communication and interactions with the health care team.
• Identifies conflict and helps to initiate resolution, seeking assistance when appropriate.
• Delegates appropriately, and oversees delegated tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel.
• Effective performance/practice autonomy within scope of practice/services.
• Maintains composure, effectiveness, and flexibility under pressure.
• Demonstrates clinical competency.
• Systematically assesses the patient’s health status and develops a plan of care.
• Develops an individualized plan of care and communicates data that reflects the patient’s status.
• Demonstrates accurate medical coding, billing and documentation.
• Demonstrates accurate evaluation of the patient’s response to the plan of care.
• Demonstrates leadership in the APP role.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s or Post Master’s Degree, Required.
• Completion of an Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) approved program (prior to January 2001 - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs), required.
• 2-3 years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience in Pediatrics, Required.
• Experience with clinical trials, Preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSURE, REGISTRATION:

• Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA),
• Physician Assistant, Certified (PA-C), required.
• Active and unencumbered license in the State of Texas, required
• Advanced specialty courses and ongoing education requirements as required by DCH.
• DCH Credentialing obtained within time frame required and continuously maintained ongoing.
• Must obtain DCH credentialing as an active member of medical staff and appropriate medical privileges, required.
• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) Training in Good Clinical Practice, Protecting Human Research Participants, and Conflict of Interest in Research, required.

Until all children are well. Driscoll Children’s Hospital and its specialty centers, urgent care centers, and after-hours facility serve a vast area covering 31 South Texas counties. The hospital is a 191-bed tertiary care center offering 32 medical and 13 surgical specialties. Combined with our non-profit, community-based Health Plan, Driscoll Health System is an exceptional workplace for anyone with a big heart and a drive for success. Smiles, hugs and a soothing touch are as much a part of Driscoll’s approach to treating children as is its advanced medical treatments and technologies. The core values at Driscoll Heath System are: Compassion, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship. These values are exemplified through every position - from treating the most critical patients hands-on, to maintaining a clean environment, to keeping the organization running from behind the scenes. We invite you to learn about Driscoll’s rich history and explore the laidback lifestyle South Texas has to offer.