Physician Assistant Orthopedic

Military Health Research Foundation•Killeen, TX

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Military & Health Research Foundation (MHRF) is seeking a Physician Assistant to support orthopedic specialty care at Ft Hood medical center. The role evaluates and manages musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, assists with procedures, coordinates treatment plans, documents care, and collaborates with orthopedic surgeons and multidisciplinary teams. Care is provided in clinic and hospital-based settings to pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients. Shifts may vary according to mission needs and may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, training holidays, and federal holidays. The position provides physician assistant services within the practitioner’s training and granted privileges, including screening, examinations, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, preventive care, and referral. Orthopedic duties include evaluating acute and chronic conditions and injuries; performing procedures such as fracture and dislocation reductions, arthrocentesis, injections and aspirations, wound closure, and other minor or specified surgical procedures; assisting orthopedic surgeons in the operating room; ordering and interpreting imaging and diagnostic studies; evaluating surgical candidates; conducting inpatient rounds and documenting care; and designing rehabilitation and palliative treatment plans. The PA also educates patients, families, and staff, participates in meetings and quality improvement, and collaborates with physicians, nursing, and other clinical personnel. MHRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to discovering and transitioning lasting solutions for troops on the battlefield and across civilian healthcare settings. The position is at a military treatment facility and requires compliance with applicable DHA vaccination requirements, security screening, pre-employment screening, PPE use, and professional appearance policies.

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 certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
National Provider Identifier (NPI) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration number.
At least one year of post-education/graduation and post-licensure clinical experience within the last two years, providing direct care and routinely practicing as an Orthopedic PA in orthopedic medicine.
Complete specialty residency or fellowship training of 12 months or more in a medical specialty program acceptable to the DHA, or have at least one year of post-graduation experience within the last two years routinely practicing as an Orthopedic PA.
Knowledge of orthopedic physician assistant principles, practices, and procedures; musculoskeletal anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology; and orthopedic equipment and techniques, including traction, casting, and splinting.
Ability to assess and treat orthopedic conditions and perform the described diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical procedures.
Ability to obtain and interpret orthopedic imaging and diagnostic studies and make appropriate referral decisions.
Must pass a TB test and pre-employment drug screening and be subject to 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 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 care within training and granted privileges, including screening, examinations, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and referral.
Evaluate and manage acute, chronic, and minor-trauma conditions, recognize emergencies, provide designated treatment, and refer complex or serious cases to qualified medical personnel.
Provide orthopedic care to pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, including assessment and treatment of infections, fractures, neoplasms, congenital deformities, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Perform fracture and dislocation reductions using appropriate anesthesia, arthrocentesis, joint injections and aspirations, and minor procedures such as wound closure, pin removal, and compartment-pressure measurement and monitoring.
Perform specified surgical procedures, including incision and debridement, nail extraction, and orthopedic hardware removal.
Respond to the Emergency Department for orthopedic injuries and 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.
Work up potential surgical candidates and determine when consultation or referral to an orthopedic surgeon is appropriate.
Make daily inpatient rounds and document progress notes, medical histories, physical examinations, and discharge summaries.
Design rehabilitation programs and provide palliative treatment for chronic orthopedic conditions.
Provide preventive care and educate patients and families about wellness, nutrition, common illnesses, child growth and development, and orthopedic care.
Prescribe medications and immunizations in accordance with approved protocols and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee approvals.
Establish collaborative working relationships with physicians, nursing staff, and other personnel to facilitate care.
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 examinations.
Refer high-risk, unstable, or extremely complex patients to physicians or emergency medicine and provide emergency care when required.