PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT I - CERMAK

Cook County•Chicago, IL

23h•Onsite

About The Position

Cermak Health Services provides healthcare to detainees at the Cook County Department of Corrections. Under the direction of the Chair of the Department of Correctional Health and the Medical Director at Cermak, the Physician Assistant I performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the normal scope and characteristics of the collaborating physician and in compliance with the Illinois Physician Assistant Practice Act. The position may perform other job-related duties as assigned. The role is based at Cermak Health Services in Chicago, Illinois, within Med/Surg Administration. Shifts rotate and vary, including 8 a.m.–4 p.m., 1 p.m.–9 p.m., and 2 p.m.–10 p.m., as well as rotating weekends. The position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules.

Requirements

Graduate from an Accreditation Review Commission (ARC) Physician Assistant program; proof must be provided at the time of interview.
Be board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), or be able to obtain certification before starting employment.
Hold a valid Illinois Physician Assistant license, or be able to obtain one before starting employment.
Hold a valid Illinois Controlled Substances License (ILCS), or be able to obtain one within six months of starting employment.
Hold a valid federal DEA license, or be able to obtain one within six months of starting employment.
Possess Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; proof must be provided at the time of interview.
Meet all required qualifications at the time of application filing.
Meet Cook County Health and Hospitals System credentialing standards, including obtaining the Illinois PA license and any other required license, certification, or specialized training no later than two weeks before the start date.
Successfully complete required professional and employment reference checks, healthcare and criminal background checks, credentialing, a physical, and a pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Valid Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Responsibilities

Provide and manage direct patient care.
Conduct patient health needs assessments.
Obtain comprehensive patient histories and perform detailed physical examinations to determine accurate diagnoses.
Order appropriate diagnostic tests or laboratory work, such as X-rays, MRI scans, and complete blood counts.
Communicate patient test results and diagnoses effectively to patients.
Identify and communicate patient care issues to a supervisor, and offer research-guided recommendations for improvement initiatives when applicable.
Develop and implement patient management plans to provide continuity of care.
Perform procedures, treatments, and subspecialty-dependent modalities within the collaborating physician’s scope to improve patient outcomes.
Follow CCH quality and patient safety standards.
Follow infection control policies and protocols, including hand hygiene.
Prescribe and dispense medications using best practices.
Comply with federal, state, and local legal and professional requirements.
Maintain professional licensing requirements and technical knowledge through continuing education programs and workshops supporting emerging healthcare trends.