Senior Physician Assistant - Neurospine

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Senior Physician Assistant (PA) is assigned to the Neuro-Spine practice under the supervision of the UCSF Department of Neurosurgery and in accordance with UCSF Medical Center policies, procedures, rules, regulations, bylaws, and applicable nursing and medical staff policies. The PA performs delegated functions within their approved scope of practice and standardized procedures, which may include management of chronic stable medical conditions, routine care, acute or critical care, and medical and surgical procedures. Patient care is provided to approved age groups in UCSF Health-licensed settings and locations. The PA is accountable for the quality of care provided to a specified patient population and is expected to demonstrate self-direction and accountability in developing the role. Credentialing through the UCSF Medical Staff Services Office and approval of applicable standardized procedures are required before practicing; this process takes 30–60 days and must be completed before the first working day. Responsibilities may include inpatient direct patient care and care coordination, outpatient independent and shared encounters with physicians (including telehealth), and outpatient care coordination. The PA evaluates and manages patients, develops and documents care plans, orders or furnishes medications and diagnostic tests or treatments, coordinates consultations and referrals, interprets diagnostic and radiographic studies, and supports continuity of care, rehabilitation, and discharge planning. The PA may first-assist in the operating room if appropriately privileged and after completing required 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 Physician Assistant with fewer than five years of PA experience: one year of PA experience in an adult multidisciplinary surgical specialty.
For a Physician Assistant Senior with five or more years of PA experience: five or more years of PA experience in an adult multidisciplinary surgical specialty.
Experience in non-surgical management of spine problems, including diagnostics and injection therapy.
Unrestricted California Physician Assistant license.
National Board Certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration with Schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, and 5 registered to a California address.
American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
California driver license if required for the position.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or doctoral degree and/or completion of an NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) aligned with the patient population and clinical role.
Two years of practical experience in a surgical outpatient setting, preferably orthopedic or neuro-spine/pain management.

Responsibilities

Independently or collaboratively evaluate and manage inpatient and outpatient patients, including taking histories, performing physical examinations, responding to changes in patient status, and providing care during telehealth encounters.
Order or furnish medications, diagnostic tests, treatments, therapies, consultations, referrals, durable medical equipment, and home health services as appropriate to the role and approved scope of practice.
Document care in the electronic medical record in accordance with UCSF rules and regulations, and ensure provider services are billed to reflect the performing provider and comply 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 patients with acute decompensation or failure, respond to the hospital plan of care, and review the situation with a physician.
Initiate consultations as indicated and identify high-risk groups and complex cases for review with an attending physician.
Document independent assessment findings and recommend appropriate treatments; collaborate with physicians on evidence-based assessments and plans when working in shared encounters.
Participate in service rounds, patient evaluation, treatment planning, clinic and hospital huddles, and department quality improvement meetings.
Review laboratory tests, x-rays, diagnostic tests, procedures, and radiographic studies; interpret results and act on them in a timely manner.
Evaluate complex cases and establish individualized plans of care, including disposition to a lower level of care, rehabilitation, and coordination of occupational and physical therapy or physical medicine and rehabilitation consultations.
Complete clinically relevant paperwork and EHR documentation, including medication orders, episodic care notes, telephone encounters, and discharge summaries.
Communicate findings, treatment options, and care plans effectively to patients and their families.
Monitor and evaluate patients for discharge; establish continuity-of-care parameters with the multidisciplinary team and define discharge regimens.
Discharge patients, including prescribing or furnishing medications, ordering durable medical equipment, referring for ongoing follow-up care, providing discharge teaching, and completing discharge summaries.
Coordinate care across the continuum, including hospital admission, coordination with staff and consulting services, and hospital discharge planning; outpatient coordination does not include management of inpatients.
Coordinate episodic care and determine timing of routine clinic follow-up; anticipate patients requiring close management or intervention.
Manage the EHR, including patient and staff messages and other in-basket tasks.
Consult with nursing staff on individualized nursing care plans.
Provide case summaries independently for disability, insurance agencies, workers' compensation, work releases, and medical supply agencies.
Formulate and implement protocols to improve quality and efficiency and control waste in the clinical specialty.
May first-assist in the operating room if privileged through OMAG and after completing required certification and proctoring.