Physician Assistant

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute LLC•Westmont, IL

4d•$102,000 - $145,400

About The Position

The Physician Assistant (PA) provides professional patient care and support to physicians and clinical staff, primarily through direct patient care. Working under the supervision of an assigned physician and within established protocols, written practice guidelines, Illinois standards, and the Physician Assistant Practice Act, the PA supports effective medical care and patient safety in outpatient clinic, hospital, and operating-room settings. This role works alongside a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in upper extremity and microvascular surgery. The PA provides clinical assessments, develops treatment plans, performs procedures within the scope of licensure and privileges, assists with surgery, coordinates care across office and hospital settings, and documents care in the medical record. The position involves travel to associated hospitals and facilities and work in a clinical environment with irregular hours and exposure to bodily fluids and other common clinical hazards.

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 and experience working with managed care and Medicare populations.
Knowledge of practice management and EHR software.
Ability to lift and assist patients as needed.
Strong organization, time-management, multitasking, and prioritization skills; able to work in a fast-paced environment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills for professional interactions and documentation.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain constructive working relationships with physicians, patients, and staff.
Ability to interpret and explain a wide variety of instructions, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to use logic and reasoning to assess alternative solutions and determine when consultation, referral, or supervising-physician evaluation is needed.

Nice To Haves

Training in orthopedic care preferred.
At least two years of experience in a physician office or hospital preferred.
ACLS desirable.

Responsibilities

Round on hospitalized 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 devices.
Perform minor procedures within the scope of licensure and privileges, including joint injections, wound care, and fracture or dislocation-related procedures.
Assist with patient traction, adjustment, realignment, and removal of traction.
Coordinate patient care between the office and hospital, write pre- and postoperative orders, and report hospitalized patients’ condition and care to the physician.
Coordinate patient discharge, including prescriptions, instructions, summaries, and patient education.
Ensure operative reports are dictated within 48 hours after procedures and participate in assigned on-call activities according to medical-center policy.
See clinic patients independently and under supervision; dictate progress notes and develop treatment plans with physician approval.
Dictate histories and physicals, consultations, and discharge summaries.
Interpret x-rays; review laboratory, x-ray, MRI, and CT results before patient visits; and discuss findings, diagnoses, and treatment options with the physician.
Apply casts, splints, and braces under physician supervision; remove staples, sutures, and drains; and assist with triaging physician calls.
Review preoperative instructions and explain surgical processes to patients; provide preoperative and postoperative education to patients and families.
Provide diagnosis and treatment services to established and postoperative patients; formulate and update care plans and consult with the physician as needed.
Prescribe medications and treatments according to physician protocols, and ensure prescriptions and required notes are documented in the medical record.
Order preoperative tests, CT scans, MRIs, and other diagnostic tests as directed, documenting through EHR software.
Return and act on patient phone messages at designated times and document actions in patient charts.
Perform initial and ongoing clinical assessments, obtain medical histories, and perform physical examinations, with required physician countersignature.
Function as first or second assistant in the operating room for approved primary or incidental procedures.
Write treatment, diagnostic-test, and specified controlled-substance medication orders at the direction and with the required co-signature of the sponsoring or attending physician.
Follow applicable ICD-10 and billing guidelines and perform other duties within departmental policy and the sponsoring physician’s practice and clinical privileges.