Physician Assistant

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Physician Assistant provides comprehensive primary health care, including emergency treatment, patient counseling, education and referral, as necessary to ancillary and support services under the direction of his/her supervising physician.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Receives medical consultation and/or direction from the Medical/ Clinical Director, supervising physician, and/or alternate supervising physician. Non-clinical supervision is the responsibility of the CEO. Collaborates with the CEO on all clinical issues and/or concerns.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Assists in the supervision and consultation of clinical Health Center Lab Technician, RN, LPN, MA, and other clinical staff as appropriate.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides comprehensive primary care through diagnosis, clinical judgment, and management to restore, maintain, and improve health status in accordance with evidence-based medicine and practice policies under the direction of the supervising physician.

• Assessment of patient, emotional development status of individual and family.
  
• Analysis of health behavior related to personality, life style, and culture.
  
• Prescriptive treatment for health problems defined by the State Board of Medicine.
  
• Counseling and client advocacy.
  
• Performs assessment of the environmental status of the community and its impact on health.
  
• Provides health education to patients, clinical support staff (CSS), and community organizations, including preventive/corrective counseling for noted unhealthy behaviors.
  

• In Coordination with other Health Center staff, develops and conducts bi-annual review and revision of the written Clinical Protocols governing the health care services that the Health Center provides.
  
• Works in collaboration and/or Coordination with other health care providers within the Health Center team and/or community agencies to provide comprehensive patient care, in accordance with the written Health Center policies.
  
• Assists in maintaining the quality of care in accordance with the continuous quality improvement plan.
  
• Participates in program and service delivery planning, implementation, and evaluation, relating to health care services and Health Center functions.
  
• Participates in professional and related community organizational meetings and activities.
  
• Participates in continuing education program designed to meet the accreditation requirements of the Physician Assistant program
  
• Participates in staff meetings, conferences, in-service training, and continuing education for Health Center staff members.
  
• Responsible for learning and implementing the DSHC electronic medical records (EMR) system following heath center policies.
  
• Responsible for following/implementing HIPAA, OSHA, corporate compliance policies, and regulations.
  
• Participates as required in on-call coverage of after-hours health care services.
  
• Supports and implements Meaningful Use (MU) criteria, completing accurate charting, data collection, orders/tracking/flowsheet/template documentation, and adoption of the PCMH model of care, including standards, elements and factors on a continuous basis.
  
• Follows and implements fiscal year health care plan objectives.
  
• Knowledge/oversight of Health Center operations, including crash cart, pharmaceuticals, lab, and x-ray.
  
• Works closely with the EMTs in emergencies, using ACLS guidelines, when cases are presented to the Health Center by the EMTs or instances when the PA calls EMTs.
  
• Participates in prescription drug control policies and prescribes according to state rules and regulations.
  
• Participates in clinical primary health care research and application of research to Health Center practice.
  
• Maintains strict confidence on information gained in the clinical practice of the position.
  
• Awareness/acceptance of cultural competency aspects and sensitivity.
  
• Merit increases will be based on random monthly or quarterly outcome reviews to evaluate productivity, and patient satisfaction. Ability to meet PCMH standards and outstanding performance over and above the job description.
  
• Performs all other duties as assigned by his/her immediate supervisor. Ability and transportation to rotate between three (3) health center locations as scheduled.
  
• Employee knows DSHC's 5 core values and demonstrates the specific valued behaviors on a daily basis.
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• MS degree from an accredited Physician Assistant program recognized in the state of Idaho.
  
• Completion of a formal family practice Physician Assistant program or documented evidence of course works to provide care to clients of all age groups.
  
• Physician Assistant license to practice in the state of Idaho.
  
• Willingness to work within the framework of a PHS health center project; including goals and objectives defined in the grant application.
  
• Sensitivity to the local customs related to health practices and medical care.
  
• Sensitivity to the needs of the farmworker families and other rural individuals.
  

Desert Sage Health Centers | Equal Opportunity Employer