Physician Assistant - Cardiac Surgery

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Join UCSF’s inpatient Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery advanced practice provider team. The service provides advanced surgical treatments, including coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic and mitral valve replacement, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and heart transplantation. CT surgery APPs collaboratively manage patients across the inpatient continuum, including the ICU and floor, working with CT Surgery Fellows, Cardiac Surgeons, and Intensivists. They perform bedside procedures and may assist in the operating room when appropriately privileged. The expanding team emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, professional communication, and exceptional patient care. The role requires completion of UCSF credentialing and privileging requirements before the first working day, as well as maintaining any credentialing and privileges required at other facilities where clinical care is provided. APPs are expected to understand productivity metrics for their clinical practice, take accountability for their practice, participate in patient and staff education, serve as a resource to colleagues and learners, demonstrate leadership, and mentor newly hired APPs. APPs evaluate and manage patients independently or collaboratively with physicians. Care includes assessment, treatment planning, procedures within granted privileges, documentation, communication with patients and families, and coordinating care and discharge. Operating-room first assistance may be performed if the APP has the required privileges, certification, and proctoring.

Requirements

Graduation from a Physician Assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the PA (ARC-PA).
For a PA with fewer than five years of PA experience: clinical rotation in cardiac surgery in operating-room, ICU, and floor settings.
For a PA with five or more years of PA experience: at least two years of inpatient cardiac surgery experience in ICU and floor settings.
For the senior PA pathway: experience as a first or second assist in the operating room, including endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) and radial artery harvest.
For the senior PA pathway: experience managing ECMO, heart transplant, complex aortic, CABG, and valvular surgery patients.
Unrestricted California Physician Assistant license.
National Board Certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
California driver license if required for the position.
DEA registration for Schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, and 5 registered to a California address.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
American Heart Association Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
Complete required UCSF credentialing and privileging before the first working day and maintain applicable requirements.
Respond to clinical documentation integrity inquiries within three days.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or doctoral degree.
Completion of a NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) aligned with the patient population and clinical role.
At least two years of PA experience managing cardiac surgery patients in critical-care and acute-care environments.
At least two years of cardiac surgery operating-room experience, including EVH and first assistance.
Ability to perform radial artery harvest.
Experience managing post-heart-transplant patients.
Ability to place chest tubes and central lines.
Additional required certifications such as ENLS are mentioned, but the posting lists the specific certification as “XXX.”

Responsibilities

Independently or collaboratively evaluate and manage patients, including taking histories, performing examinations, responding to changes in status, and conducting consultations.
Order or furnish medications, diagnostic tests, treatments, therapies, consultations, referrals, durable medical equipment, and home health services as appropriate.
Document care in the electronic medical record in accordance with UCSF rules and regulations, and ensure provider services are billed in accordance with the APP Billing Policy.
Respond to clinical documentation integrity inquiries from the Department of Quality and Patient Safety within three days.
Perform procedures authorized through privileges or standardized procedures.
Identify acute decompensation or failure, respond to the hospital plan of care, and review the situation with a physician.
Initiate consultations when indicated.
Document independent assessment findings and recommend appropriate treatments.
Participate in service rounds, patient evaluation, and treatment planning.
Review laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic tests, and initiate appropriate team plans.
Evaluate complex cases and establish individualized plans of care for transition to a lower level of care.
Interpret and act on completed tests, procedures, and radiographic studies.
Complete clinically relevant paperwork and EHR documentation, including medication orders, episodic care notes, and discharge summaries.
Communicate findings, treatment options, and care plans effectively to patients and their families.
May first assist in the operating room if privileged through OMAG and after completing required certification and proctoring.
Monitor and evaluate patients for discharge and set continuum-of-care parameters with the multidisciplinary team, including defining discharge regimens.
Discharge patients, including prescribing or furnishing medications, ordering DME, recommending or referring for follow-up care, providing discharge teaching, and completing discharge summaries.
Participate in patient and staff education, serve as a resource for APPs and other clinical staff, demonstrate leadership, and mentor newly hired APPs.
Maintain required credentialing and privileges at UCSF and any other facilities where clinical responsibilities require patient care.