Physician Assistant Orthopedic

Military Health Research Foundation•Killeen, TX

13h•Onsite

About The Position

Military & Health Research Foundation (MHRF) is seeking a Physician Assistant to provide orthopedic specialty care at the Ft Hood medical center. The role involves evaluating and managing musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, assisting with procedures, coordinating treatment plans, documenting care, and collaborating with orthopedic surgeons and multidisciplinary teams. Care may be provided in clinic, hospital, inpatient, and emergency settings to pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, within the PA’s training, privileges, and scope of practice. The position includes general and specialty medical care, assessment and treatment of acute and chronic conditions, preventive care, patient and family education, prescribing under approved protocols, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, referrals, and participation in staff education and quality improvement. Orthopedic duties include assessing and treating conditions such as fractures, infections, neoplasms, and congenital deformities; performing reductions, arthrocentesis, joint injections and aspirations, minor procedures, and selected surgical procedures; assisting surgeons in the operating room; interpreting imaging; evaluating surgical candidates; conducting inpatient rounds and documentation; and designing rehabilitation and palliative treatment plans. The role is based at a military treatment facility and may require flexible schedules based on mission needs, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, training holidays, federal holidays, and adjusted schedules. The position requires wearing PPE and may involve physical activity and exposure to infectious, chemical, radiation, electrical, and other workplace hazards.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Bachelor’s degree and graduation from an accredited college or university certified by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice as a Physician Assistant.
Current NCCPA certification.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the AHA or American Red Cross.
National Provider Identifier (NPI) from CMMS.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number.
At least one year of post-education/graduation and post-licensure clinical experience.
At least one year within the last two years, after graduation, providing direct care and routinely practicing as an Orthopedic PA in orthopedic medicine; alternatively, specialty PAs must complete at least 12 months of residency or fellowship training in an acceptable medical specialty program.
Ability to provide orthopedic care and perform procedures within scope of practice and granted privileges.
Must pass a TB test and pre-employment drug screening and undergo a background/security investigation.
Willingness to comply with DHA vaccination requirements and complete a physical examination.
Ability to wear PPE and meet the stated physical demands, including walking, prolonged standing, stretching, crouching, bending, stooping, lifting up to 50 pounds, and lifting more than 50 pounds with assistance.
Maintain good personal hygiene and a well-groomed, professional appearance in accordance with the policy at the place of performance.

Responsibilities

Provide physician assistant services in primary and specialty medical care within training and privileges, including screening, examinations, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and immunizations.
Assess and treat acute, chronic, and minor-trauma conditions; recognize emergencies and refer complex or serious cases to appropriate medical personnel.
Provide orthopedic care to adult and pediatric patients, including assessment and treatment of fractures, infections, neoplasms, congenital deformities, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Consult with non-orthopedic physicians and PAs regarding orthopedic diagnosis, care, and referral timing.
Perform fracture and dislocation reductions using appropriate anesthesia, arthrocentesis, joint injections and aspirations, and minor surgical procedures.
Perform incision and debridement, nail extraction, orthopedic hardware removal, wound closure, pin removal, and compartment pressure measurement and monitoring as indicated.
Respond to the Emergency Department for orthopedic injuries and provide emergency care when required.
Function as a first assistant to an orthopedic surgeon in the operating room.
Order and interpret skeletal radiographs, MRI, CT, bone scans, arthrograms, and electromyography.
Evaluate potential surgical candidates and refer patients for physician or orthopedic surgeon consultation when indicated.
Make daily inpatient rounds and enter progress notes in inpatient charts; conduct and dictate histories, physical examinations, and discharge summaries for orthopedic inpatients.
Coordinate treatment plans, document care accurately, and establish collaborative working relationships with physicians, nursing staff, and other team members.
Promote preventive care and health maintenance, including physical examinations, nutrition guidance, healthy behaviors, self-care, and education about common illnesses and child development.
Design rehabilitation programs and provide palliative treatment for chronic orthopedic conditions.
Counsel patients, families, and groups on general orthopedic care and wellness.
Prescribe medications and immunizations in accordance with approved protocols and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee approvals.
Technically direct and teach staff, provide educational lectures, participate in in-service training, and contribute orthopedic lectures or journal articles.
Attend staff meetings for case discussion, continuing education, and continuous quality improvement.
Perform physical examinations for purposes including school, employment, sports, annual, retirement, discharge, reenlistment, disability separation or retirement, and other special requirements.
Refer high-risk, unstable, or extremely complex patients to physicians or emergency medicine.