Physician Assistant

Summary: Provides health care services to patients under direction and responsibility of Practice Physicians by performing all Orthopaedic Physician Assistant Duties. This position requires compliance with OrthoEast's compliance standards, including its Code of Conduct, Compliance Program, and policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element required as part of the Physician Assistant job duties and is considered during performance evaluations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Office Responsibilities:

• Performs comprehensive physical examination of patients, and compiles patient medical data, including health history and results of physical examination
• Administers or orders diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests, and interprets test results for deviations from normal
• Performs therapeutic procedures such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and managing infection
• Develops and implements patient management plans, records progress notes, and assists in provision of continuity of care
• Instructs and counsels patients regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens
• Fulfills call responsibilities as required
• Perform rounding responsibilities at hospital as needed
• Maintains own clinical schedule, assessing and treating patients in accordance with clinic, department and supervising physician standards
• Performs minor surgical procedures
• Engage patients in care and education, counsel them as needed
• Maintains knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinic, and social sciences as pertinent to the field of Orthopaedics
• Uses scientific evidence and methods to investigate, evaluate, and improve own patient care practices
• Completes charge tickets and utilizes our EHR effectively to ensure that documentation supports charges
• Perform dictation duties timely and according to Practice protocols

Operating Room Responsibilities:
Exercise privileges granted under the supervision or direction of a member of the medical staff
Pre-Operative Management duties include:

• Serve as a resource for the Surgical (OR) personnel
• Assist with the preparation and positioning of the patient
• Serve as a "First Assistant" to the surgeon or surgeons
• Under the direction of the supervision surgeon (direct or indirect supervision) management of the intraoperative wound (i.e. opening and/or closing the wound)
• Request equipment (suture, instruments, durable goods, radiographs, etc.) from OR personnel before, during, and after surgery
• Request medications or fluids from the OR personnel as needed for the care of the patient. Request any laboratory tests when necessary
• Administer post-surgical wound care (dressings, suturing, etc.) when necessary
• Assist in the coordination of the Sales Representatives before, during and after surgery when necessary
• Perform delivering or "opening" any sterilized equipment or materials to the sterile field that may be necessary for the continuation of a surgical case when needed
• Supervise any Medical Students, Physician Assistant Students, Residents, and private surgical technicians present in the OR
• Assist in the safe delivery of the patient off of the surgical bed when necessary

Post-Operative duties include:

• Write the post-operative orders as necessary and serve as a resource for PACU nurses.

Hospital Responsibilities:

• Perform rounding and maintenance of chart documentation of patients.
• Facilitate timely discharges as necessary.
• Other related duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position may supervise medical students, Physician Assistant students, residents, and private surgical technicians in the OR.
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor's (B. S.) degree or Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies from an accredited Physician Assistant program required or,
Master's (M. A.) degree in Nursing and licensed as a registered nurse by the Board of nursing and graduation from a nurse practitioner program approved by the N.C. Joint Subcommittee.
Certification required, with ability to obtain and maintain licensure in the state of North Carolina as prescribed in the employment contract.
CPR certification required.
Required Behaviors:
Provide exceptional service to all of our patients.
Exhibit professionalism and ethical behavior at all times that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and understanding and sensitivity to diversity, and a responsible attitude toward patients, profession and society
Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information and business within the organization's policies.
Maintain OSHA and HIPAA regulations.
Treat everyone with respect, courtesy, and friendliness.
Adhere to all policies and procedures for our organization.
Respect staff and company property.
Communicate recommendations on improvements of policies and procedures to management team.
Participate in committees, discussions, internal PA Lectures Series meetings, and other team functions.
Submit PTO requests and get approval before making plans.
Abide by employee handbook and policies.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand for long periods of time, bending and stretching.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 200 pounds in positioning patients.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and manual dexterity.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position is a combination of working in the office clinic as well as at the Hospital and the Surgi-Center.