Physician assistants in this role are required to provide healthcare services to surgical patients under the direct supervision of a physician, including specialized duties in a surgical setting, and general duties in ambulatory clinics, inpatient areas and the emergency department. ED - Physician assistants working primarily in the emergency department provide healthcare services to acutely ill and injured patients of all acuity levels under the indirect supervision of a physician.
Pre-op Care: Obtains complete health history and physical exam. Documents patient assessment, history, physical, diagnoses and care plan. Surgical Care: Assists surgeon(s) as a first or second assisting in OR cases. Under direction of surgeon, assists with surgery in the OR/ICU, participating in surgery as directed. Post-op Care: Manages transfer of patients from OR to floor, ICU by providing detailed post-op orders and communicates with ICU attending physicians and staff on arrival to ICU as needed; communicates to floor nursing, covering MD residents/fellows, or advanced practice clinicians as appropriate. Discharge Preparation: Writes discharge summaries and care plans in progress notes/medical record and provides appropriate correspondence with referring physician. Formulates health care plan and provide educational teaching to patients and families of assigned surgical patients. Continuing Education and Quality Improvement: Records any Adverse Events (SERS) for the department on the date of occurrence. Participates in continuing education, quality assessment, medical rounds, conferences and research studies. Keeps abreast of advances in pediatric surgical patient care including in advances in the assigned specialty. Emergency Department Care: - A PA working primarily in the Emergency Department obtains histories and perform physical exams, orders and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribes medications and therapeutic treatments, performs basic and advanced procedures, and provides patient instruction and counseling as appropriate under indirect supervision of an attending physician. Under supervision of an MD, meets or exceeds operating room competencies with a fair level of assistance.assistance. MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE - must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In addition, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations INTERPERSONAL & COMMUNICATION SKILLS – must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, their patients families, physicians, professional associates, and the health care system. PATIENT CARE - must demonstrate care that is effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of wellness. PROFESSIONALISM - Physician assistants must know their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency or mental illness. Physician assistants must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT - must be able to assess, evaluate and improve their patient care practices. SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE - must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that is of optimal value. PAs should work to improve the larger healthcare system of which their practices are a part.
