Physician Assistant- Reconstructive Surgery

Baylor Scott & White Health•Temple, TX

About The Position

The Physician Assistant in Reconstructive Surgery is a licensed, certified, non-physician healthcare provider who delivers direct patient care and has delegated prescriptive authority. The role is credentialed, privileged, and billed as an independent provider recognized by Medicare and Medicaid. Care is provided within the scope of practice established by the supervising physician. Surgical providers care for adult and pediatric patients across surgical specialties, including plastics and other areas. This outpatient position follows a Monday–Friday schedule of eight-hour days and sees approximately 15 patients per day. The Physician Assistant conducts patient assessments, orders and interprets diagnostic tests, develops and implements treatment plans, prescribes or recommends therapies, and performs procedures within the approved scope of practice. The role includes patient counseling, recordkeeping, timely referrals, specialty consultation, and pre- and post-operative follow-up. The provider may also round in the hospital or see patients in the Emergency Department and may need to provide care beyond the regular schedule to meet departmental coverage needs.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited program.
Less than one year of experience.
Current license to practice as a Physician Assistant in Texas.
Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA).
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 30 days of hire or transfer.
Knowledge of methods and procedures for diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating physical and mental dysfunctions.
Verbal and written communication skills.
Interpersonal skills.
Critical-thinking and complex problem-solving skills.
Skill in using computers and related software applications.
Ability to develop and implement comprehensive, outcomes-based patient treatment plans.
Ability to counsel patients about medical and psychological or psychiatric conditions, treatment plans, and behavior modification.
Ability to interpret and evaluate laboratory and other diagnostic tests.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ physical and mental conditions through comprehensive or problem-focused examinations and medical histories.
Order, collect, interpret, and evaluate laboratory and other diagnostic tests.
Prescribe or recommend drug therapies and other treatments, and perform procedures according to approved policies.
Recommend interventions to change behaviors linked to health risks.
Formulate and implement treatment plans based on assessments and evidence-based medicine; collaborate with physicians and team members as needed.
Evaluate patients’ responses to care and the effectiveness of treatment.
Counsel patients and families on medical processes, illness management, medications, nutrition, health promotion, drug regimens, and possible medication interactions or side effects.
Maintain records of patient treatment plans and outcomes.
Initiate timely consultation and referral when a patient’s needs exceed the provider’s scope or expertise.
Provide consultation-level services for conditions related to the provider’s specialty, experience, and training.
Manage patients in settings beyond the primary clinic, including inpatient and emergency-care settings.
Perform invasive procedures within the scope of practice and level of expertise delegated by the supervising physician.
Follow up with patients before and after surgery; may round on hospital patients or see patients in the Emergency Department.
Provide patient care beyond the regular schedule when required by departmental coverage needs.