Advanced Practice Provider (APN or PA), Neurological Surgery - Spine

Department

BSD NSU - Clinical Providers

About the Department

Neurosurgeons at UChicago Medicine are devoted to patient care, research, and teaching. These experts in the Department of Neurological Surgery offer the full spectrum of neurosurgical services for children and adults with brain diseases including aggressive brain tumors, back and spine degenerative diseases, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. Our surgeons are truly at the forefront of neurosurgical care, utilizing the most advanced and sophisticated technologies and techniques to treat diseases of the brain and spine. Our expertise goes beyond that of delivering the best medical care; research is an integral part of our mission. With significant funding from the NIH in both bench and translational research, our staff and faculty are actively investigating complex conditions that affect the central nervous system, including cancer stem cell theory and aggressive brain cancers as well as the mechanisms behind cerebrovascular anomalies. This work serves as the groundwork for many new applications in neurosurgery, which will benefit patients for many years to come.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Advanced Practice Provider (APN or PA) to join our dynamic team and play a pivotal role in the management of adult spine neurosurgical patients. This position will consist of ~90% outpatient and ~10% inpatient. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with leading neurosurgeons, residents, and APPs, contributing to both minimally invasive procedures and complex spine reconstructions. The APP will independently evaluate and manage non-operative spine conditions, streamline surgical patient access, and provide comprehensive care in an acute care setting. This position offers a pathway for professional growth within a world-renowned neurosurgical spine team, with potential for participation in research, publications, and education.

Schedule: M-F, days; no nights/weekends. 5x8s throughout orientation/onboarding (~6-12 weeks), with the opportunity to shift to 4x10s once orientation is successfully completed.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive appraisals of neurosurgical patients' health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations.

• Supports the supervising physician’s clinical practice by managing patient assessments, pre- and post-operative care.

• Provides direct clinical care to patients.

• Conducts independent evaluations and workups for spine neurosurgical patients.

• Manages primary spine surgery ICU and floor patients.

• Performs spine surgery consults and participates in rounds, independently or with surgeons.

• Coordinates and manages patient care as assigned by supervising physicians.

• Independently manages non-operative spine conditions and facilitates surgical patient access.

• Develops and implements comprehensive care plans in collaboration with inpatient and outpatient teams.

• Ensures quality, safety, and cost-effective healthcare delivery.

• Provides appropriate preoperative and postoperative instructions and facilitates discharge planning.

• Translates new knowledge and best practices into clinical care.

• Prescribes/orders medications, therapies; orders/interprets laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to approved clinical privileges.

• Evaluates patients to determine their need for additional care. 

• May provide first assist in OR case coverage.

• Fosters patient access through effective triage processes.

• Communicates directly with patients regarding messages, imaging/study follow-ups, and treatment plans.

• Provides patient education on medical processes, medication, nutrition, and preventative care.

• Serves as a clinical expert to the interdisciplinary team.

• Participates in self and peer evaluation to enhance quality of care.

• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with healthcare colleagues.

• Participates in research, publications, and education as opportunities arise.

• Evaluates goals and outcomes taking into account the benefit-versus-burden, safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness for the patient, family and the organization.

• Develops diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions needed to achieve the goals and outcomes of the patient’s plan of care.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree from an accredited school/college.

Work