Physician Assistant - Pediatrics Psychosocial Oncology Program

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

22h

About The Position

The Psychosocial Oncology Program (POP) is a team of multidisciplinary professionals working with children and families affected by cancer. Commonly known as the POP Team, our mission is to help children, teens, young adults, and their families navigate emotional, social, and cognitive concerns after cancer diagnosis. The UI Stead Family Department of Pediatrics is seeking an APP to join our division of Hematology-Oncology as a member of the POP Team. In this role, the APP works in an integrated care model with the medical oncology team to assess and facilitate management of mental health aspects of pediatric cancer care. POP APPs perform comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments for children following cancer diagnosis and periodically throughout the cancer trajectory. Based on assessment findings, the APP facilitates appropriate referrals and connection to several psychosocial resources. The APP provides therapeutic support with all visits and, when necessary, prescribes and manages psychiatric medications as an intervention. This position will be required to work either Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm or 4 days per week 10-hour days. Duties to include: Obtains and documents a comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and developmental health history; performs and documents complete, system-focused, or symptom-specific physical examination, assessment, and plan of care. Focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive aspects of pediatric oncology care and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to incorporate these components into the overall plan of care. In collaboration, provides healthcare services for primary, acute, and complex care of patients and manages patient's overall care, initiates appropriate referrals and consultations, and identifying expected outcomes for diagnoses. Orders, performs, interprets, and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information and diagnostic procedures where indicated. Forms differential diagnoses and treats acute and chronic conditions. Prescribes therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and needed to achieve expected outcomes. Utilizes evidence-based, approved practice protocols in planning and implementing care. Provides specialty specific consultation services upon request and within specialty scope of practice. Facilitates the patient’s transition between and within health care settings, such as admitting, transferring, and discharging patients. Participates in departmental educational conferences and clinical care meetings. Accurately and appropriately complete documentation of patient care in the electronic medical record (EMR) and other records for compliance, billing, and other regulatory standards. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as requested/assigned. About the Department of Pediatrics: The Stead Family Department of Pediatrics is a national leader in pediatric medicine. The Department's mission is to provide outstanding care to the children of Iowa and beyond by being a leader in state-of-the-art clinical care to children, performing cutting-edge research to find new treatments and cures for childhood illnesses and educating the next generation of pediatric health care providers. The Department comprises the medical and research staff of UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s top-ranked pediatric care and research institutions, and Iowa’s only comprehensive children’s hospital. About the Division of Hematology/Oncology: The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital is a pioneer in the care and treatment of childhood cancers and blood disorders. It is part of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a national consortium of pediatric cancer centers. The COG is well known for its new and innovative ways of treating childhood cancer. The division has a long history of success in bringing hope to patients with programs such as our blood and bone marrow transplant, comprehensive sickle cell program, and comprehensive hemophilia center. The mission of the division is to treat and cure children and adolescents with cancer and blood diseases who live in Iowa by delivering personalized multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art care, through participation both in nationally and locally designed protocols. Education Requirements: Must comply with registration and licensure requirements as specified by the Iowa Board of Physician Assistant Examiners which include graduation from an accredited PA educational program and/or certification by the NCCPA.

Requirements

Current certification as Physician Assistant.
Current license to practice as a physician assistant in the State of Iowa.
Demonstrated ability to work independently with indirect supervision and critical thinking/problem solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification.
Federal DEA license.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience or knowledge in the clinical care of pediatric patients.
Knowledge and experience in hematology.
Knowledge and experience in ambulatory care.

Responsibilities

Obtains and documents a comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and developmental health history
Performs and documents complete, system-focused, or symptom-specific physical examination, assessment, and plan of care.
Focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive aspects of pediatric oncology care and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to incorporate these components into the overall plan of care.
In collaboration, provides healthcare services for primary, acute, and complex care of patients and manages patient's overall care, initiates appropriate referrals and consultations, and identifying expected outcomes for diagnoses.
Orders, performs, interprets, and collects data using appropriate assessment techniques, relevant supporting diagnostic information and diagnostic procedures where indicated.
Forms differential diagnoses and treats acute and chronic conditions.
Prescribes therapeutic interventions both pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and needed to achieve expected outcomes.
Utilizes evidence-based, approved practice protocols in planning and implementing care.
Provides specialty specific consultation services upon request and within specialty scope of practice.
Facilitates the patient’s transition between and within health care settings, such as admitting, transferring, and discharging patients.
Participates in departmental educational conferences and clinical care meetings.
Accurately and appropriately complete documentation of patient care in the electronic medical record (EMR) and other records for compliance, billing, and other regulatory standards.
Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as requested/assigned.