JOB DUTIES

Scope of the Job

The Physicians Assistant is licensed in the State of Florida and, under administrative direction, provides medical/ surgical services to patients within the scope of the supervising physician’s practice; assists with specific medical program and clinical operations; counsels patients regarding their health; prepares reports and summaries. Performs minor procedures within the scope of the supervising physician’s practice for which he/she is credentialed.  Assists in the operating room under the direction of the supervising physician.

Essential Functions

The essential functions are the primary dimensions for performance review.

1.

Assesses patient health status including state of wellness, compliance with care plan and determines appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

2.

May perform those routine medical treatments and diagnostic procedures for which they are qualified to perform by training and which fall within the normal scope of practice of the supervising physician

3.

Provides acute and chronic patient care including taking histories, doing physicals, monitoring therapies, giving injections and medications, suturing wounds

4.

Triages patient calls and evaluates patient problems

5.

Recognize serious, life-threatening emergencies, evaluate them appropriately and ensure patient receives prompt care to stabilize

6.

Documents patient information and care provided in patient record and maintains department statistics.  Uses computer to access/enter needed data

7.

Instruct and counsel patients/ families with regard to their illness or injury, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, treatment regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, problems of daily living and routine health maintenance.  Provides continuity of care

8.

Consults with other staff as necessary

9.

Maintains patient confidentiality.

10.

Responds promptly to pages and request from team members and nursing staff;

11.

Provides coverage of inpatient units as required

12.

Participates in morning reports and patient rounds as required

13.

Provides coverage of the General Surgery Clinic as required

14.

Calls consults, handles discharge planning and schedules procedures routinely.

Secondary Functions

 Maintains flexibility regarding work schedule and acknowledges that night time work hours may be required Provides coverage of the Surgical Step Down Unit, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and less acute floor patients as required. Provides coverage of Clinic, Trauma Center and Emergency Rooms, as required. Assists with Pre-Operative planning with respect to History & Physical, as well as initiating appropriate referrals for Pre-Operative clearance.

Ages of Patients

Temperament

Must be able to perform under stress when confronted with emergency, critical, or unusual situations.  Must be capable of dealing with periodic cyclical workload pressures and levels of responsibility.  Required to make independent judgments without supervision.  Must be able to make generalizations, evaluations, or decisions based on sensory or judgmental criteria.  Must have the adaptability to perform a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.  Requires the ability to work with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.

SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Skills

Knowledge of acute and chronic care protocols, administration of medications, delivering physical care following treatment plan; 

Knowledge of how to assess patient health and measure/ record physiologic and growth indices;   Knowledge of health promotion principles and techniques and patient learning measurements;  Ability to make responsible decisions within the scope of a dependent medical practitioner; 

Ability to develop health education programs and materials; 

Ability to work collaboratively with all members of health care team.

Experience

Graduate of AAPA approved Physician Assistant training program.

Education and Certifications

National Certification by the NCCPA; Licensed to practice in the state of Florida; Prescribing license in the state of Florida; BCLS certified. Must meet the hospital credentialing requirements.