Physician Assistant, Ortho CCH

Cape Cod Healthcare•Hyannis, MA

About The Position

The Physician Assistant provides orthopedic care across emergency, inpatient, surgical, and outpatient settings. The role includes evaluating orthopedic emergency patients, preparing patients for surgeon evaluation and treatment, supporting preoperative clearance, serving as a surgical first assistant, and helping manage inpatient and outpatient care in collaboration with orthopedic surgeons and other members of the health care team. The Physician Assistant works closely with the attending surgeon supervising each patient and follows that physician’s clinical priorities and scope of practice. The role also involves coordinating services with orthopedic residents, hospital physicians, and other surgical PAs and NPs; maintaining accurate clinical documentation and billing records; maintaining required certifications and medical staff privileges; and providing hospital call coverage as needed. The position requires effective communication, patient-focused service, sound judgment about when to seek assistance, and compliance with CCH medical staff, human resources, and corporate compliance policies. The Physician Assistant is also expected to contribute to continuous improvement and support CCHC Pillars of Excellence.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant training program.
Currently licensed as a Physician Assistant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
U.S. Department of Justice and Massachusetts Controlled Substance DEA registrations are required for prescribing practitioners.
Current BLS certification.
Obtain ACLS certification within three months of starting the position.
Be able to work well under pressure, remain patient-focused, work independently, and know when and how to ask for help.
Communicate effectively and participate actively on the health care team.

Nice To Haves

Two years of orthopedic surgical experience, including serving as a first assistant in the operating room, preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform histories and physical examinations for orthopedic emergency patients after a decision to admit.
Arrange necessary consultations and testing to ensure adequate medical clearance for orthopedic preoperative patients.
Serve as surgical first assistant to orthopedic surgeons in elective and emergency surgeries.
Provide initial orthopedic evaluation and treatment in the emergency room for patients already evaluated by an emergency room physician; prepare patients for attending orthopedic surgeon evaluation and treatment when appropriate.
Collaborate with orthopedic residents to avoid duplication of services.
Provide services for orthopedic inpatients, including responding to nurses’ calls, expediting discharges, and completing documentation at an attending surgeon’s request as time allows.
Conduct outpatient office visits for new patients, routine follow-ups, and acute care.
Order and interpret laboratory and radiology results and formulate a medical plan of care according to protocols.
Participate in daily medical management of inpatients in collaboration with a physician.
Coordinate orthopedic emergency admissions and medical management of preoperative and postoperative patients with Hospital Physician Service physicians.
Coordinate functions with other surgical PAs and NPs to avoid duplication or omission of services.
Coordinate clinical services with the orthopedic surgeon and defer to the surgeon’s decisions regarding clinical priorities and assignments.
Maintain complete and accurate documentation of clinical work and submit billing encounter sheets promptly.
Maintain necessary certifications and CCH medical staff privileges as an orthopedic PA.
Collaborate closely with the attending surgeon supervising each patient and remain within that supervisor’s scope of practice.
Provide hospital call coverage for the supervising physician as needed.
Comply with CCH Medical Staff By-Laws and Rules and Regulations, Human Resource policies, and CCH Corporate compliance policies.
Provide service excellence to patients, family members, visitors, volunteers, and coworkers.
Identify opportunities to improve processes and present recommendations and solutions to management.
Participate in, support, and promote CCHC Pillars of Excellence and the organization’s culture of continuous improvement.
Perform other job functions as required.