Major Responsibilities :
- Evaluates, diagnoses, treats, and manages acute patients within an urgent care setting for the majority of work shift.
- Acts as the primary patient contact. Works one-on-one with the physician to facilitate access to the specialty team for the patient.
Provides for continuity of care by ensuring smooth transitions between care settings and tracks patient along the care continuum including post-discharge.
- Provides clinical direction to nursing staff regarding the continued care of patients. Follows through with nursing staff to ensure patient receives recommended care.
- Prescribes, recommends and regulates pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies across multiple care settings, including controlled medications that are warranted by patient's diagnosis or changing medical condition.
- Provides complex care coordination, which includes managing a variety of ancillary services, preoperative plans, discharge planning, and provider referrals.
- Orders, performs, and interprets procedures and diagnostic tests or studies, in the field of clinical specialty trained and within advanced practice provider scope and licensure, to manage simple conditions such as those produced by infection or trauma, as well as to assist in the management of more complex illness and injury.
Examples could include : injections, immunizations, suturing, wound care, and biopsies.
- Counsels, instructs and educates patients on physical and mental health including : diet, preventive health measures, health behaviors, self-care skills, disease, treatment options, and normal growth and development.
- Interprets and evaluates patient data within advanced practice provider scope and licensure for the purpose of determining management and treatment of patients.
Consults with physician as appropriate.
- Adjusts patient care plan by reviewing and monitoring treatments and therapy plans.
- Prepares, dictates and signs patient care plans and summaries of patient care. Maintains records according to established standards and guidelines.
- Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his / her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures.
Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.
Licensure, Registration, and / or Certification Required :
- Physician Assistant license issued by the state in which the team member practices, and
- Physician Assistant (PA-C) certification issued by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), and
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration, and
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification (ACLS) issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required.
Education Required :
Bachelor's Degree in Physician Assistant.
Experience Required :
Typically requires 2 years of experience in providing and coordinating care for patients with acute, critical and chronic health conditions as a physician assistant.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required :
- Maintains 85% of practice within an urgent care setting.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as an effective member of a health care team.
- Ability to work in a fast paced, high stress environment while managing multiple demands.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively collaborate with and establish / build relationships with others.
- Proven organizational skills and ability to prioritize effectively.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions :
- Must be able to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and twist continuously throughout the workday.
- Must have functional speech, vision, touch, and hearing.
- Must be able to :
- lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
- lift up to 20 lbs. over the head.
- carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.
- Must be able to :
- push / pull with 30 lbs. of force.
- perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
- Will be exposed to the following hazards : mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation as well as blood and body fluids;
therefore, protective clothing and equipment (i.e., goggles, lead apron, gloves, gowns, etc.) must be worn as necessary.
Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent.
Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.