Physician Assistant

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute LLC•Westmont, IL

7d•$102,000 - $145,400

About The Position

The Physician Assistant (PA) provides professional patient care and support to physicians, surgeons, and clinical staff, primarily through direct patient care. The PA assists physicians in outpatient clinic and hospital settings, following physician-established protocols and written practice guidelines to support effective medical care and patient safety. Under the supervision of an assigned physician, the PA may perform initial patient evaluation and treatment within the scope of Illinois standards and the Physician Assistant Practice Act. The role collaborates with a board-certified, fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon specializing in complex fractures, total ankle arthroplasty, and sports medicine. The PA works across clinic and operating-room settings and must be available to travel to Joliet and New Lenox, as well as associated hospitals and facilities. Duties include assisting with surgical procedures, evaluating and treating patients, coordinating inpatient and outpatient care, documenting in the medical record, and educating patients and families. The position involves irregular hours, regular exposure to bodily fluids and clinical hazards, and physical work including patient handling and lifting.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited physician assistant program with completed residency.
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.
Current Illinois physician assistant licensure.
Active certification from NCCPA.
Current CPR certification.
Ability to make independent decisions about patient care.
Demonstrated competence, judgment, stability, and professional integrity.
Experience assisting physicians in surgery.
Experience diagnosing and treating patients.
Working knowledge of managed care basics and experience with managed-care and Medicare populations.
Knowledge of practice-management and EHR software.
Ability to lift and assist patients as needed.
Self-starter with strong organization and time-management skills; able to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills for documenting and recording information.
Strong interpersonal and professional communication skills with physicians, patients, and staff at all organizational levels.
Ability to develop and maintain constructive working relationships.
Ability to prioritize and organize information to support an efficient office workflow.
Ability to interpret and explain varied instructions, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to use logic and reasoning to assess alternative solutions and approaches.
Good judgment in determining when to consult or refer to the supervising physician or another healthcare professional.
Ability to travel to Joliet, New Lenox, and associated hospitals or facilities.
Ability to perform the physical requirements of the position, including patient handling and lifting.

Nice To Haves

Training in orthopedic care.
At least two years of experience in a physician’s office or hospital.
ACLS certification.

Responsibilities

Round on hospital patients and perform hospital consultations as directed.
Assist the surgeon with major and minor operating-room procedures; position, prep, and drape patients as needed.
Close surgical wounds, provide postoperative wound care, and apply dressings, casts, splints, braces, and other supportive devices.
Perform minor surgical procedures and assist with traction, adjustment, realignment, and removal of traction within licensure and privileges.
Coordinate care between the office and hospital, write pre- and postoperative surgical patient orders, and report hospitalized patients’ condition and care to the physician.
Coordinate patient discharges, including prescriptions, instructions, summaries, and patient education.
Ensure operative reports are dictated within 48 hours of a procedure and participate in physician-assigned on-call activities according to medical-center policy.
See clinic patients independently and under supervision; dictate progress notes, histories and physicals, consultations, and discharge summaries.
Order appropriate tests and develop treatment plans with physician approval; perform joint aspirations and injections and interpret x-rays.
Apply casts, splints, and braces under physician supervision; remove staples, sutures, and drains; triage physician calls.
Review laboratory, x-ray, MRI, and CT results and discuss new patient findings, diagnoses, and treatment options with the physician.
Provide diagnoses and treatment for established and postoperative patients; prescribe medications and treatments under physician protocols and maintain required records.
Formulate and update patient care plans, order preoperative tests and imaging, and document using EHR software while following ICD-10 and billing guidelines.
Return patient phone messages, take appropriate follow-up action, and document actions in patient charts.
Perform initial and ongoing clinical assessments, obtain medical histories, conduct physical examinations, and develop treatment plans under the supervising physician’s direction.
Provide basic patient care, including wound assessment, dressing changes, and suture removal; perform authorized procedures such as fracture reduction, suturing, joint injections, traction-pin placement, and reduction of dislocated prostheses.
Assist as first or second assistant in approved operating-room procedures and provide preoperative and postoperative education to patients and families.
Write treatment, diagnostic-test, and specified medication orders at the direction and with the co-signature of the sponsoring or attending physician; dictate medical reports.
Perform other duties within department guidelines, policy, and the scope of the sponsoring or attending physician’s practice and clinical privileges.