Outpatient Physician Assistant - Orthopedic Surgery

POSITION SUMMARY:

Physician Assistant responsible for providing complete independent workup of all orthopedic conditions in an outpatient setting. Preferred experience in Orthopedics including spine, joints, hand, sports, and trauma related conditions.

Under the general supervision of the Chief Physician Assistant, Attending physician and Operations Director, the Physician Assistant is responsible for independent workup of all orthopedic conditions in an outpatient clinic setting. Ability to provide varied medical services, which may include: Initial and follow-up evaluation of orthopedic related complaints including formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and diagnostic studies; prescribing and/or dispensing medication; assisting in surgery or other invasive procedures; rounding on admitted patients; counseling patients and families, preforming pre-operative and other patient care duties. Additionally, the Physician Assistant may be involved in a patient's medical care in any capacity the attending physician deems proper and consistent with applicable law, hospital regulations, delineation of privileges, and the Physician Assistant's training, knowledge, skills, and experience.

Position: Physician Assistant       

Department: Orthopedic Surgery

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Provides direct care, counseling and teaching to a designated patient population in the ambulatory, inpatient, operative and/or procedure setting.

• Perform comprehensive and problem focused history and physical examination, interpret and correlate laboratory and diagnostic procedures. Interpret and correlate subjective and objective data to formulate a differential diagnosis and establish a working diagnosis. Formulate a management plan for orthopedic problems within scope of practice. Implement therapeutic intervention for specific conditions when appropriate. Exercise judgment on problems requiring consultation, referral, or evaluation by the supervising orthopedic surgeon or other health care professionals

• Order, collect, and perform appropriate laboratory or diagnostic procedures, and studies including but not limited to blood and tissue specimens. Ordering or performing diagnostic studies such as but not limited to EMG, electrocardiogram, compartment pressure measurements, and diagnostics including special x-rays, CT, MRI, and bone scans etc.

• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including but not limited to joint and bursa aspirations, closed reduction of fractures and dislocations, injections of joints, tendons, trigger points and bursa, as well as bracing, and cast and splint applications.

• Presents and discusses the findings of the initial evaluation with the Attending Physician to determine the treatment plan. Documents the treatment plan and writes appropriate orders and referrals.

• Oversees the entire clinical experience to assure coordination and consolidation of patient care plans and execution of those plans to tie the service together. Facilitates communication with other departments to ensure the delivery of excellent, cost effective, and efficient patient care. 

• Under the countersignature of the attending physician, is responsible for producing preoperative and postoperative orders, as authorized by applicable law and department protocol.

• Writes orders on patients admitted to the hospital including medication, labs, diagnostic and therapeutic tests, and nursing activities. May be authorized to write appropriate prescription orders, including those for narcotics, stimulants, and depressant drugs, investigational medications and pre and postoperative orders as necessary.

• Makes rounds to evaluate patients and writes progress reports.

• Educates patients and/or families about preventive care, medical issues, and use of prescribed medical treatments, injections, procedures and/or medications.

• Records and maintains legible, accurate and confidential patient medical records including initial evaluation, subsequent follow-up, unusual incidents or events, and patient progress to provide complete and up-to-date information for ongoing reference and evaluation.

• Provides pre-operative services including Pre-op H&P and SAFE protocol clearances.

• Participates in hospital level activities representing the department.

• Facilitates transitions of care from inpatient to outpatient setting, including performance of medication reconciliation, arrangement of appropriate and timely follow up, and completion of an accurate and concise discharge summary.

• Facilitates direct admission process as needed.

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