Physician Assistant, Cardiothoracic

Jackson Health•Miami, FL

About The Position

The Cardiothoracic Physician Assistant performs professional technical work that relieves physicians of essential and time-consuming tasks. The role includes interviewing patients, taking medical histories, conducting physical examinations, ordering laboratory tests, making diagnoses, prescribing appropriate treatment, providing postoperative care, and assisting with complicated medical procedures. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a physician. The position is with the Miami Transplant Institute’s Lung Acquisition service.

Requirements

Generally requires 3 to 5 years of related experience.
Advanced degree in the specialty is required.
Valid Florida Physician Assistant license and DEA board certification are required.
Certification by the National Commission of Certified Physician Assistants is required.
Other specialty certifications related to the specialty are required as needed.
AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) certification with at least 6 months of validity is required.
AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification is listed as a unit-specific credential.
Ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize work accurately while meeting multiple deadlines.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
Ability to understand and follow instructions.
Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment.
Knowledge and skill in using job-appropriate technology and software applications.
Current demonstrated competence and adequate volume of current experience with acceptable results, and certification by—or formal active participation in the examination process leading to certification by—the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) and/or the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Nice To Haves

Florida licensure evidence and documentation of having first assisted on at least 400 clinical cardiothoracic surgical cases or 1,500 clinical cardiothoracic hours at a JCAHO-accredited facility during the last two years, with the applicant listed as the surgical assistant, is preferred.

Responsibilities

May serve as First Assist in adult and pediatric thoracic surgery, including robotic procedures, bedside assistance, robotic port placement, and docking.
May serve as First Assist in adult and pediatric lung transplantation, including donor-lung back-table preparation, procurement and implantation, closure of the clamshell incision, and ECMO decannulation.
Harvest saphenous vein for CABG using open and endoscopic techniques.
Close saphenous vein and median sternotomy incisions; remove sutures and drains.
Dictate or write histories and physicals for physician countersignature within 24 hours.
Dictate or write progress notes for physician countersignature within 24 hours and dictate discharge summaries for physician countersignature within 24 hours.
Assist with acute medical emergencies in the presence of the sponsoring physician.
May assist in the critical care unit with emergency ECMO evaluation, cannulation and management; tracheostomies; cut-down procedures; emergency intubation and subclavian IV placement; emergency chest-tube insertion; emergency pacing-wire insertion; and opening and closing wounds, in the presence of the sponsoring physician.
Perform venous and arterial punctures, urinary bladder catheterization, nasogastric intubation, gastric lavage, culture collection, injections, and EKG tracings.
Participate in patient-care rounds, preoperative and postoperative care, consultations, and admissions.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Demonstrate service excellence and CARE values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Expertise.