PA/ARNP Hospitalist - Cardiothoracic Surgery

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is seeking a full-time PA/ARNP. This position will focus on the care of hospitalized (inpatient) and ambulatory (clinic) patients, manage length of stay, improve resource utilization, and decrease costs to patients and the institution while providing personalized care to the cardiothoracic surgery patients within the Department of Surgery and UI Heart and Vascular Center. To be part of a team that cares for the cardiac and thoracic patient population across the continuum of care, pre-procedure, intraoperative and post-operative management.  This position requires weekend, holiday and night call coverage responsibilities as clinically indicated.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Clinical
•    Provide comprehensive medical and surgical management of patients residing within the cardiothoracic surgery service, as well as patients that are managed collaboratively with other services such Anesthesia, Cardiology, and Critical Care.
•    Facilitate timely admissions, discharges and transfers.
•    Obtain complete health and medical histories from the patient and family.
•    Perform comprehensive physical exams on patients.
•    Exhibit current and comprehensive knowledge of vascular, cardiac and thoracic diseases.
•    Assess and facilitate referrals and consultation per patient needs.
•    Demonstrate accountability for evaluation of clinical practice including adherence to organizational, state, and national practice standards and codes.
•    Perform medical diagnosis, therapeutic procedures, and prescribes medications as clinically indicated for patient care.
•    Order and evaluate lab, x-ray, EKG, echo, and other tests as clinically indicated.
•    Provide anticipatory guidance and counseling to patients and families receiving vascular/thoracic/cardiac surgery.
•    Document patient assessment and plan of care in the electronic medical record and generate appropriate health reports for outgoing correspondence.
•    Attend rounds/bed huddles in the ICUs and step-down units.
•    Insert and remove chest tubes, discontinues epicardial wires and documents procedures in the electronic medical record.
•    Manage intra-aortic balloon pumps and discontinue as clinically indicated.
•    Perform Extracorporeal Life Support Device management and device interrogation.

Consultation
•    Serve in a consultative and resource capacity to other divisions, departments and health care professionals as needed for management of cardiac, vascular and thoracic patients.
•    Provide expert knowledge and model behavioral skills that appropriately impact clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Education
•    Provide education and serve as a resource for nursing staff, medical and advanced practice provider students, and residents in area of clinical expertise.
•    Participate in the development, utilization and evaluation of resources to meet patient/family educational needs.
•    Contribute to professional sharing of expertise and knowledge with others.
•    Participate in thoracic, cardiac and vascular surgery conferences and presentations.
•    Maintain necessary continuing medical/nursing education requirements for licensure.

Administration
•    Contribute toward the achievement of divisional and departmental goals.
•    Perform other projects or tasks designated by supervisor.

Research/QA/QI
•    Participate in the development and implementation of di