Advanced Practice Provider

Department Overview

The Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery is a comprehensive team of surgeons focused on the areas of colorectal surgery, esophageal surgery, hernia surgery, treatment of pancreatic cancer and surgical nutrition. Our general surgeons support numerous clinical research trials and actively partner with scientists in the community to develop innovative surgical devices. The general surgery division also encompasses one of the largest residency programs in the country, as well as fellowships in minimally invasive surgery and colorectal surgery.

 

The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is a faculty member credentialed and privileged as a Physician Assistant (PA) or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). The APP is a member of the OHSU Professional Staff practicing in accordance with the respective bylaws. The APP shall provide services as assigned by the supervisor in furtherance of the university’s missions and goals of teaching, research, patient care, outreach and public service. The APP is expected to comply with scope of practice, other laws, regulations, OHSU policy, and other applicable professional standards of practice.

Function/Duties of Position

Clinical Responsibilities

• Inpatient Responsibilities: 
  • Providing inpatient care and follow-up of assigned surgical patients from the operating room (OR) to admission, and through discharge. Includes, but is not limited to: rounding on a daily basis with the faculty, developing and implementing, in conjunction with faculty physicians, clinical plans of care and/or protocols for inpatients on the General Surgery-Hernia/Abdominal Wall service with common conditions/diagnoses/procedures; educating the house staff and nursing unit staff on these protocols, with the goal of enhancing quality of care, enhancing quality of patient services, and decreasing length of inpatient stay; participating with hospital/unit staff in evaluating results of these protocols and continually improving effectiveness of same; working actively with hospital and unit staff to rapidly develop and implement discharge plans for inpatients on the General Surgery-Hernia/Abdominal Wall service and to address length of stay issues; promoting and maintaining health of inpatients on the General Surgery--Hernia/Abdominal Wall service through the use of ancillary services, educational materials, and counseling of patients and families; providing resident and intern training/education in utilization of plans of care to improve patient services and outcomes of treatment; providing and/or participating in clinical in-service training and staff educational programs for the inpatient service.
  • Procedural duties include, but are not limited to: wound care (dressing changes, debridement, washout), stoma-related services, IV & other line placement, catheter or enteral tube placement and/or exchange, drain management, other.
  • Appropriate billing for various inpatient duties, as outlined above. Following all patient care standards, as outlined above.
• Operating Room Responsibilities -Assistant Duties 
  • For APP designated with OR responsibilities: Provide operating room and procedural assistance to General Surgery-Hernia/Abdominal Wall surgeons as determined by the Division Head or their designee(s). Includes assistance in performing a variety of general surgery procedures, with a focus on hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstructive procedures, among other surgical procedures, various suturing, wound closure, dressing application, postoperative monitoring, postoperative orders and discharge.
  •  Appropriate billing for various operating room duties, as outlined above.
• Outpatient
  • Providing patient care in the outpatient setting for preoperative and postoperative care, wound care, unscheduled visits, and chronic follow-up as determined by the faculty. This includes but is not limited to: developing patient care plans with the faculty and house staff to ensure continuity of care and enhance quality of outpatient care. Training and supervision of General Surgery-Hernia/Abdominal Wall clinic team staff, house staff and medical students.
  • Promoting and maintaining health using ancillary services, educational materials, and counseling of patients and families as outpatients; providing same day response to medical advice/prescription phone requests and coordinating patient services with outpatient patient care staff and other departmental advanced care providers. Promoting a safe environment and adhering to policies and confidentiality to support the mission and goals of OHSU.
  • Recognizing clinical emergencies or urgent situations and acting autonomously, efficiently, and effectively to provide situational resuscitation and/or treatment. Assessing patients for outpatient clinic visits, determi