Senior Physician Assistant - Neurospine

UCSF•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Senior Physician Assistant (PA) works in the Neuro-Spine practice under the supervision of the UCSF Department of Neurosurgery and in accordance with UCSF Medical Center policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and bylaws. The PA performs delegated functions within their approved scope of practice, which may include management of chronic stable conditions, routine and acute care, critical care, and medical or surgical procedures authorized through standardized procedures and privileges. The role may provide care to approved age groups in UCSF Health-licensed settings and is accountable for the quality of care for an assigned patient population across UCSF Medical Center locations. Credentialing through the UCSF Medical Staff Services Office and approval of applicable standardized procedures are required before the first workday; this process typically takes 30–60 days. The PA evaluates and manages patients in inpatient and outpatient settings, independently and in collaboration or shared encounters with physicians. Duties include taking histories, performing examinations, interpreting diagnostic studies, developing and implementing care plans, ordering or furnishing medications and services, documenting care, coordinating consultations and referrals, and supporting discharge and follow-up planning. Outpatient responsibilities include independent and shared clinic encounters, including telehealth, and care coordination. The PA may first-assist in the operating room if appropriately privileged and after completing required certification and proctoring. The role also involves coordinating care across the continuum, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, responding to clinical documentation integrity inquiries, and participating in quality and efficiency improvement activities. All APPs must be credentialed by UCSF Medical Staff Services and practice within their approved privileges and standardized procedures.

Requirements

Graduation from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
At least five years of experience as a PA in an adult multidisciplinary surgical specialty.
California Physician Assistant license without restriction.
National Board Certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Drug Enforcement Administration registration with Schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, and 5 registered to a California address.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Credentialing through the UCSF Medical Staff Services Office and approval of applicable standardized procedures before the first working day.
Practice within the PA’s approved scope of practice, privileges, and standardized procedures.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or doctoral degree and/or completion of a NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualification 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.
California driver license if required for the position.

Responsibilities

Evaluate and manage inpatient and outpatient patients independently or collaboratively with physicians, including in telehealth encounters.
Take patient histories, perform physical examinations, assess changes in patient status, and provide consults and treatment recommendations.
Order or furnish medications, diagnostic tests, treatments, therapies, consultations, referrals, durable medical equipment, and home health services as appropriate.
Perform procedures authorized by granted privileges and standardized procedures.
Recognize acute decompensation or failure, respond to the hospital plan of care, and review findings with a physician.
Initiate consultations and identify high-risk groups and complex cases for attending physician review.
Participate in service rounds, patient evaluation, treatment planning, huddles, and multidisciplinary care planning.
Review and interpret laboratory tests, radiographs, procedures, and other diagnostic studies, and act on results in a timely manner.
Develop individualized plans of care, including rehabilitation, disposition, and transition to lower levels of care.
Document assessments, plans, episodic care, telephone encounters, discharge summaries, and other clinically relevant information in the electronic medical record in accordance with UCSF rules and regulations.
Communicate findings, treatment options, and care plans to patients and their families.
Monitor patients for discharge; establish continuity-of-care parameters with the multidisciplinary team; prescribe or furnish discharge medications, order DME, arrange follow-up, provide discharge teaching, and complete discharge summaries.
Coordinate care across hospital admission, consulting services, staff, and discharge planning; coordinate episodic care and routine clinic follow-up.
Manage the outpatient EHR, including patient and staff messages and other in-basket tasks.
Consult with nursing staff on individualized nursing care plans.
Provide case summaries for disability, insurance, workers’ compensation, work releases, and medical supply agencies.
Formulate and implement protocols to improve quality and efficiency and control waste in the clinical specialty.
Participate in department quality improvement meetings and patient evaluation and planning.
Respond to clinical documentation integrity inquiries from the Department of Quality and Patient Safety within three days.
Bill provider services to reflect the performing provider and comply with UCSF APP billing policy.
May first-assist in the operating room if appropriately privileged through OMAG and after completing required certification and proctoring.