Chief PA - Inpatient 40 Hours Variable-Rotation - Bwh Cardiac Cath Lab

The Chief Physician Assistant will work with theInterventional Cardiovascular Medicine Service within the CardiovascularDivision of the Department of Medicine.This individual will assist the attending cardiologists in all areas ofpatient care in the Cardiovascular Interventional Medicine Service. He/she will supervise and coordinate thedaily activities of the Staff Physician Assistants. He/she will work to promote the service andhelp to guide its strategic direction in concert with the Medical Director ofthe Cath Lab and Medical Director of the Interventional Cardiovascular MedicineService Work schedule will bedetermined by patient need and may include weekend coverage. He/she will be available by phone or email onnon working days to provide support as needed particularly relating to anystaffing issues.

1. NonClinical Responsibilities

A. Administrative Responsibilities

The Chief PhysicianAssistant will insure that a schedule of duties is maintained distributed andposted in the department. He/she willadjudicate scheduling conflicts and organize time off and time away for thestaff physician assistants. He/she willupdate the staff PA job description as needed.He/she will perform the annual merit review with each staff PA inconjunction with the director of the ICVM service. He/she will provide ongoing feedback to eachstaff PA with regards to their job performance in the form of the OngoingProfessional Practice Evaluation. TheChief Physician Assistant will act as administrative liaison between Hospitalphysician and nursing staffs and the Interventional Cardiovascular MedicineService PhysicianAssistant team. As part of such dutieshe/she will provide educational support to nursing and technical staff. Work with the cath lab and cardiology floornurse educators to provide consultative advice on the development of clinicalcare protocols. Sit on various PA departmentand hospital administrative boards that impact the care of Interventional Cardiologypatients and relay any relevant information back to those on his/her team asrequired. He/she will provide trainingto cardiology fellows as they rotate through the cath lab as well as to anymedical or PA students. He/she willparticipate in the formal evaluation of general and interventional cardiologyfellows as related to their work with the PA team.

B. Continuing Education Research and Quality Assurance

The Chief physicianassistant will be responsible for the organization of continuing education andteaching exercises for the physician assistant group and will work with thenurse educators to develop and maintain optimal medical practice in all areasof the CDIC. The Chief PhysicianAssistant will organize the orientation and training of new staff Physicianassistants and will sign off on their competence in concert with the MedicalDirector and supervising physician(s).The Chief Physician Assistant will organize the groups participationin research involving planning performance and analysis of data andpublications. The Chief PhysicianAssistant will complete the 100 hours of continuing medical education necessaryduring each 2year period of employment to maintain his/her PA certification status. He/she must pass a National PA recertificationexam every six years. He/she will beafforded time and expense (up to $2000 to travel to one major conferenceyearly. The PA shall be afforded timeand supplemental expenses in order to maintain and enhance clinical competenceand technical skills. He/she will becompensated per year for membership in AAPA and MAPA. The PA is to be an ACLS provider and is to berecertified every two years. He/she willattend internal and external education meetings and read appropriateprofessional journals in order to maintain and enhance skills and clinicalcompetence. The physician assistantwill be expected to advance his/her medical and technical skills asappropriate to deliver optimum patient care.The Chief PA will work with the medical director of the cath lab inconjunction with the IT and QA directors to help create and ensure compliancewith all cath lab policies and computer data collection especially as relatedto the tracking of patient outcomes.

A. PreprocedurePatient Care:

The Physician Assistant will be responsible forobtaining and coordinating the following general items: history and physicallaboratory results charting of clinical findings admission orders nursinginstructions and other required elements.The Physician Assistant in collaboration with the Laboratory FlowManagers will coordinate admissions and transfers to the hospital and ensurethat informed consent for procedures is obtained. The Physician Assistant will perform preprocedureassessments in the Preadmission testing center Recovery room/holding area oroutpatient setting as needed.

1. Interface between Cardiac Catheterization and Intervention Laboratory and Recovery Area:

The Physician Assistant will be knowledgeable aboutthe Cardiac Catheterization and Intervention Laboratory scheduling procedureroom turnover and availability of resources.He/she will be called upon to manage patients after their procedures andwhile they await transfer to patient floor and will assure availability ofequipment for special procedures. ThePhysician Assistant will ensure blood bank preparation and formal or standingsurgical backup when required for patient care. The Physician Assistant will assist in familyliaison.

1. Medical Treatment and Postprocedure Care:

The Physician Assistant will be responsible for manyaspects of care under the supervision of the attending physician including butnot limited to: fluid and electrolyte management nutrition pain managementtransfusion therapy anticoagulation management education and postdischargeplanning. Following procedures thePhysician Assistant will manage vascular access monitor and managearrhythmias pacing drug therapy O₂ therapy and other noncardiacmedications under the supervision of the attending physician. The Physician Assistant will assist in theevaluation and management of clinical events such as fever alteredhemodynamics CHF pulmonary complications abrupt vessel closure arrhythmiasaccess site complications and others.The Physician Assistant will assist in transfers to and from theintensive care units.

1. Procedure responsibilities:

The PhysicianAssistant will assist the attending physician during diagnostic interventionaland research procedures performed in the Cardiac Catheterization andIntervention Laboratory and other clinical areas.

1. Discharge Planning

The Physician Assistant will perform patienteducation regarding discharge including preventive care and risk factorreduction. He/she will write dischargeorders prescriptions and dictate discharge summaries in collaboration with theattending physician. The PhysicianAssistant may act as a liaison between the attending cardiologist and family membersand will schedule followup care as necessary including VNA if needed.

1. Research and Education:

The Physician Assistant will be offered theopportunity to participate in aspects of research involving planningperformance and analysis of data and publications. The Physician Assistant will complete the 100hours of continuing medical education necessary during each 2year period ofemployment.

The Physician Assistant will attend internal and external education meetings and read appropriate professional journals in order to maintain and enhance skills and clinical competence. The Physician Assistant will be encouraged to advance his/her medical and technical skills as appropriate to deliver optimum patient care.