Physician Assistant - Orthopedic Surgery

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the general supervision of the Chief Physician Assistant Attending physician and Operations Director the Physician Assistant is responsible for providing varied medical services which may include: Initial and followup evaluation of orthopedic related complaints including formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and diagnostic studies; prescribing and/or dispensing medication; assisting in surgery or other invasive procedures; rounding on admitted patients; counseling patients and families preforming preoperative and other patient care duties. Additionally the Physician Assistant may be involved in a patients medical care in any capacity the attending physician deems proper and consistent with applicable law hospital regulations delineation of privileges and the Physician Assistants training knowledge skills and experience.

Position: Physician Assistant

Department: Orthopedic Surgery

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Provides telemedicine care for orthopedic patients conducting virtual evaluations followups and consultations.
• Triages incoming orthopedic referrals ensuring timely and appropriate scheduling based on patient needs and urgency.
• Supports inbasket coverage for the APP group addressing patient messages coordinating care and managing clinical inquiries.
• Provides direct care counseling and teaching to a designated patient population in the ambulatory inpatient operative and/or procedure setting.
• Perform comprehensive and problem focused history and physical examination interpret and correlate laboratory and diagnostic procedures. Interpret and correlate subjective and objective data to formulate a differential diagnosis and establish a working diagnosis. Formulate a management plan for orthopedic problems within scope of practice. Implement therapeutic intervention for specific conditions when appropriate. Exercise judgment on problems requiring consultation referral or evaluation by the supervising orthopedic surgeon or other health care professionals
• Order collect and perform appropriate laboratory or diagnostic procedures and studies including but not limited to blood and tissue specimens. Ordering or performing diagnostic studies such as but not limited to EMG electrocardiogram compartment pressure measurements and diagnostics including special xrays CT MRI and bone scans etc.
• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including but not limited to joint and bursa aspirations closed reduction of fractures and dislocations injections of joints tendons trigger points and bursa as well as bracing and cast and splint applications.
• Presents and discusses the findings of the initial evaluation with the Attending Physician to determine the treatment plan. Documents the treatment plan and writes appropriate orders and referrals.
• Oversees the entire clinical experience to assure coordination and consolidation of patient care plans and of those plans to tie the service together. Facilitates communication with other departments to ensure the delivery of excellent cost effective and efficient patient care.
• Under the countersignature of the attending physician is responsible for producing preoperative and postoperative orders as authorized by applicable law and department protocol.
• Writes orders on patients admitted to the hospital including medication labs diagnostic and therapeutic tests and nursing activities. May be authorized to write appropriate prescription orders including those for narcotics stimulants and depressant investigational medications and pre and postoperative orders as necessary.
• Makes rounds to evaluate patients and writes progress reports.
• Educates patients and/or families about preventive care medical issues and use of prescribed medical treatments injections procedures and/or medications.
• Records and maintains legible accurate and confidential patient medical records including initial evaluation subsequent followup unusual incidents or events and patient progress to provide complete and uptodate information for ongoing reference and evaluation.
• Provides preoperative services including Preop H&P and SAFE protocol clearances.
• Participates in hospital level activities representing the department.
• Facilitates transitions of care from inpatient to outpatient setting including performance of medication reconciliation arrangement of appropriate and timely follow up and completion of an accurate and concise discharge summary.
• Facilitates direct admission process as needed.
• Provides faculty support by monitoring all incoming patient requests including: phone calls MyChart messages and any patient care related paperwork or correspondences.
• May assist in surgery to include but not limited to first assist deep and superficial tissue closures application of appliances and any other action delegated by the surgeon. Conduct hospital rounds write orders and respond to patient related calls for the orthopedic surgeon. Evaluate and clarify clinical conditions formulate and implement a treatment or therapeutic plan for hospitalized patients construct H&Ps and discharge summaries. Provides general Wound Vac setup placement and monitoring. Supports in clinic casting/splinting as needed.
• In addition to providing direct clinical support to our surgeons holds independent clinical sessions as needed.
• Ensures treatment and consultations consistent with NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) TJC (The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) and federal and state regulatory standards.
• Engages in inpatient orthopedic care including but not limited to patient discharge planning patient rounding/monitoring and bedside procedures.
• Works closely with the social work case management partners to develop discharge strategies to support postsurgical home care.
• Attends scheduled weekly staff meetings monthly departmental grand rounds and department daily huddles.
• Assist with research projects and their implementation as needed
• Order prescribe dispense and administer Medication orthosis orthotics braces and other orthopedic devices (durable medical equipments) as may be allowed by state legislation.
• Ensures professional growth and development through participation in educational programs and workshops and maintaining knowledge of industry standards and practices.
• Maintains patients confidentiality.
• Conforms to hospital standards of performance and conduct including those pertaining to patient rights so that the best possible customer service and patient care may be provided.
• Adheres to all of BMCs RESPECT behavioral standards and utilizes hospitals cultural beliefs as the basis for decisionmaking and to support the hospitals mission and goals.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
• Performs other duties pertaining to patient care and practice operations as required.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Qualified Physician Assistants will hold at least a Masters degree and must be a graduate of a PA Program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant Inc. (ARCPA) or its predecessor.

CERTIFICATES LICENSES REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• In order to apply for the position the PA must be National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) PANCE eligible and eligible for PA licensure in the State of Massachusetts. Documentation of Massachusetts PA license and initial NCCPA certification are required upon hire. Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration and federal DEA Controlled Substance Registration are required.

EXPERIENCE:

• 3 or more years experience in Orthopedics and telemedicine preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Successful candidates will be selfdirected demonstrate initiative and professionalism and exercise expert clinical judgment to function independently in this role.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English are required in order to communicate complex medical information to collaborators such as patients and their families physicians staff and community health workers.
• Physician assistants who have exceptional problem solving and conflict resolution skills are preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans