Physician Assistant, Neurosurgery

HealthPartners•Saint Louis Park, MN

6h•$143,163 - $159,070•Onsite

About The Position

Provides advanced, specialized assistance to physicians in the treatment and care of patients in hospital, operating room, emergency room, outreach, and clinical settings. Such care includes but is not limited to preparation for and assistance in surgery; issuance of inpatient orders; patient assessment and treatment; independent patient caseload management; and patient and staff instruction/education. Administers highest quality patient care under consultation of physician, and in accordance with Park Nicollet Medical Center standards. Serves as a patient advocate by maintaining patient confidentiality, protecting patient rights, and resolving concerns or complaints regarding care or service.

Requirements

Graduate from an American Medical Association and C.A.H.E.A. approved physician assistant program resulting in a Bachelor of Science degree in Medicine.
Three or more years of related clinical and surgical experience in the specialty area of medicine.
If informally trained prior National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (N.C.C.P.A.) certification.
This position requires credentialing, following the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) guidelines.
CPR certification
Incumbent must have successfully passed the examination and maintain current certification through the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Demonstrates knowledge of age-related growth and development principles necessary to provide appropriate service and ensure safety of patients.
Proven proficiency in the operation of the following: Telephone, Photocopier, Fax Machine, Operating Room Equipment, Traction Devices, Syringes, Catheters, Electrodes, Dressing Applications, Scalpels, Incision Closure Devices, Debridement Equipment, and Pager.

Nice To Haves

Strong clinical, human relations, leadership, verbal, and written communication skills.
Extensive knowledge in surgical methodologies for specialty area of practice.
Proven ability to accurately assess patient conditions, utilizing sound judgment in problem solving and responding to patient needs.

Responsibilities

Provides surgical assistance to physician. Schedules and prepares operating room and equipment; properly preps, drapes, and positions patients; scrubs; and assists physician in the performance of surgical procedures.
May perform under the direction of physician, surgical procedures such as but not limited to incisions, vein harvesting, vessel exposure, and incision closure.
Makes hospital rounds in both intensive care and ward settings and performs patient care services which include but are not limited to such procedures as lumbar punctures, traction, debridement, halo application, injections, catheter insertion and/or adjustment, dressing, application, removal of tubes and electrodes, wound/incision care, urethral, dilation, catheterization, and ultrasound, related to prostrate biopsies.
Independently provides patient and/or family management including education, counseling, medication management, and general health care or home care instructions.
Maintains independent clinical schedule, providing patient assessment and treatment under the direction of or in consultation with physician. Makes referrals for evaluation or treatment by a physician when appropriate.
Writes hospital orders on individual patient treatment plans and/or medication regiments and conducts patient discharge planning.
Acts as liaison between the patient/family and the physician, hospital, medical staff, or outside agencies involved with the patient care.
Initiates emergency care of acutely ill/injured patients in emergency room, intensive care, or hospital ward settings (under physicians’ direction or consultation), until physician can presume treatment.
Consults with physician on unusual or abnormal cases and makes appropriate referrals for evaluation or treatment.
Documents effectively by completing within 24 hours a report on any communication with or about the patient that directly affects his/her care. This will include the physician assistant's assessment, intervention, and plan, as well as progress notes and discharge summaries. Completes reports requested by schools, outside agencies, referral sources, and payers in a timely manner.
Performs patient follow-up including returning phone calls, evaluating, and processing test results, dictating medical record information, compiling reports, and maintaining necessary paperwork.
Serves as resource to nursing staff providing continuing education.
Assists in the development of new policies, programs, procedures, materials, or techniques for department.
Takes rotation of on-call duty, responding promptly and effectively to patient care needs during scheduled on-call shift.
Performs other tasks as assigned.