Physician Assistant (SOM Pediatric Cardiology)

The School of Medicine Pediatric Cardiology Unit is seeking a Physician Assistant (PA) to join the Blalock Taussig Thomas Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology. The PA will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary health care team and would be responsible for providing comprehensive care to children with congenital and acquired heart disease in the acute care setting.

The Pediatric Cardiology Unit (PCU) is a designated space within the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Children’s Center to care for pediatric cardiology, cardiac catheterization, and cardiac surgery patients. The PCU team provides multidisciplinary care to neonates, infants, children, adolescents and young adults with cardiac intensive care step down and acute care needs. The PCU PA is expected to independently manage patients while working collaboratively with pediatric cardiology fellows and attending physicians.

As a birthplace of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, the Johns Hopkins Hospital has a rich history of surgical intervention and innovation for patients with congenital heart disease. The Heart Center has been rapidly expanding and evolving over the past few years, including the Division of Pediatric Cardiology. The PCU team works closely with cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac critical care, and cardiac anesthesia to provide a team-based approach to patient care in all locations of the Heart Center. Additionally, the PCU PA works closely with the physicians and other PAs in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and outpatient Pediatric Cardiology Clinic to support transitions in care throughout the hospital system. Thus, the ability to work collaboratively across a variety of disciplines and patient care spaces is integral to the PCU PA role.

As part of the PCU PA group, opportunities for professional development include, but are not limited to research, publication, quality improvement, multidisciplinary and/or interdepartmental collaborative efforts are available. Johns Hopkins University benefits incorporate funds to support annual conference attendance, continuing education, and more. Mentorship from senior Physician Assistants and faculty is foundational to our standing as an academic center focused on advancing the care of pediatric heart disease. The ability to work effectively with faculty and multi-disciplinary teams is particularly important. 

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Conducting comprehensive and/or episodic health assessments. Records and documents assessment necessary to maintain, coordinate, and/or expedite required services including

• Obtaining history and conducting physical exams, discriminating between normal & abnormal findings
• Identify differential diagnosis.

Working with a strong focus on quality and patient satisfaction, the PA will establish and implement Cardiology Care including

• Ordering appropriate lab, radiographic and other studies.
• Appropriately interpreting results of lab, radiographic and other studies.
• Performing tests and procedures as indicated within scope of practice.
• Establishing a plan of care related to patient’s identified problems (medication / therapeutic procedures).
• Consult with other team members regarding proposed treatment guidelines as necessary.

Implements Plan of Care in safe and effective manner. This will include

• Prescribe and regulate medications and performs other related procedures within Maryland Board of Nursing scope of practice for the PA.
• Record patient visit/interaction in concise clear logical and timely manner.
• Arrange referrals to appropriate specialties when needed.
• Triage patient telephone calls, messages, and interactions appropriately.
• Tracks patient compliance with treatment plan.

Organizes workload to meet patient and organizational needs including

• Utilize time management to see patients in an efficient manner as identified by departmental goals.
• Maintain consistent level of productivity. Identifies problems that impede overall functioning and initiates appropriate interventions.
• Work collaboratively with the health team members to facilitate smooth operations of the unit.

Communicates with healthcare team members to assure patient and organizational needs are met. This will include

• Supervise activities of team members as appropriate.
• Identify areas of weakness in operational systems making recommendations for improvements.
• Communicate significant information in an organized, logical, and concise manner to co-workers.
• Provide constructive feedback as it relates