Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health- Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant

Position Summary
A certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA) performs a clinical role in providing pain management and anesthesia care. The CAA is a credentialed position and receives clinical supervision from an appropriately credentialed anesthesiologist.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned.

A supervising physician may authorize a CAA to:

• Obtain a comprehensive patient history, perform relevant elements of a physical examination, and present the history to the supervising anesthesiologist
• Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and obtain and interpret information from the systems and monitors, in consultation with an anesthesiologist
• Assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the implementation of medically accepted monitoring techniques
• Establish basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea and performing ventilator support
• Administer intermittent vasoactive drugs and start and adjust vasoactive infusions
• Administer anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs, and accessory drugs, including narcotics
• Assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the performance of epidural anesthetic procedures, spinal anesthetic procedures, and other regional anesthetic techniques
• Administer blood, blood products, and supportive fluids
• Provider assistance to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation team in a response to a life threatening situation
• Monitor, transport, and transfer care to appropriate anesthesia or recovery personnel
• Participate in administrative, research, and clinical teaching activities, as authorized by the supervising anesthesiologist, and
• Perform such other tasks than anesthesiologist assistant has been trained and is proficient to perform

Privileges not permitted
• Prescribe any medications or controlled substances.
• Practice or attempt to practice unless under the supervision of an anesthesiologist who is immediately available for consultation, assistance, and intervention.
• Practice or attempt to administer anesthesia during the induction or emergence phase without the personal participation of the supervising anesthesiologist.
• Administer any drugs, medication, devices, or therapies the supervising anesthesiologist is not qualified or authorized to prescribe

Emergency Situations - In an emergency situation, the CAA may render emergency medical services necessary to avoid morbidity or mortality of the critically ill patient until a physician arrives. Such emergencies require the practitioner to obtain supervision as soon as possible from a physician.

Non-Essential Functions (Responsibilities)
Helps to maintain a safe, clean and orderly work environment.

Organizational Responsibilities
• Understands and supports The GW Medical Faculty Associates and Cedar Hill’s mission statement, vision, and values and guiding principles.
• Carries out safety and infection control procedures to ensure patient, staff and visitor safety.
• Responds to customers in a friendly, prompt, and caring manner, maintaining confidentiality and respect.
• Demonstrates positive behaviors toward patients, families, physicians, and all coworkers.
• Promotes mutual respect and professionalism.
• Participates in Performance Improvement activities by identifying areas needing improvement and taking action to improve, trend, and report through PI process.

Minimum Qualifications
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
A graduate of an Anesthesiologist Assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Educational Programs. Must be licensed to practice in work location(s). Must be certified as an
Anesthesiologist Assistant-Certified through the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist
Assistants (NCCAA).

For reappointment, the CAA has to:

• Have met all continuing education requirements by demonstrating that he or she has been recertified by the NCCAA.

• Departmental Privilege Delineation - The Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care shall define the CAA responsibilities/activities which are specific to the field of anesthesiology, which shall not exceed and may be less than the privileges of the supervising physician.

• The Department shall define those activities that require the physical presence of a supervising physician above and beyond regulatory requirements.

• The Department shall list those activities which a CAA cannot perform.

• The CAA responsibilities/activities must be consistent with her or his statement of qualifications, and no procedure or service shall be provided without approval by the Credentials Committee as described in section 4.6.a of the bylaws of the Medical and Dental Staff.

• Identification of practice – the CAA practitioners, in their relationships with patients, must clearly state that s/he is a CAA as appropriate.

Experience
One to three years of experience in the area recommended. Microsoft Office software is required.
Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.

Supervision Received
Works under supervision of the Practice Administrator and Division Director of General Internal Medicine.

Supervision Exercised
No

Equipment To Be Used
Must be able to operate computer and anesthesia equipment, and to learn applicable software.

Typical 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.

Frequent mobility and/or sitting required for extended periods of time. Requires manual dexterity to operate computer keyboard, calculator, copier machine, and other equipment.

Typical Mental Demands
Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills; and be able to communicate in a professional manner. Must be able to follow and understand instructions. Must react favorably in all work situations showing flexibility and dedication to team engagement. Must demonstrate strong and effective facilitation, conflict resolution, and negotiating skills. Must be self-directed, and able to use sound decision making. Must have effective interpersonal skills with patients, families, physicians, and other health care team members; and be mentally adaptable and flexible in dealing with a variety of people at various levels within and outside the MFA. Must be capable and willing to accept new challenges, including developing programs from start to finish. Must be able to maintain confidentiality.

Working Conditions
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.

Reasonable Accommodation
Consistent with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), as amended, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position, when such an accommodation does not create an undue hardship for MFA.

About GW MFA

MFA physicians provide comprehensive patient care, offering one practice for the whole person with 52 medical and surgical specialties. As members of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences faculty, MFA providers are teachers and mentors for medical students, residents, fellows, and researchers preserving the rich tradition of academics, research, and healing. In addition to maintaining a closely integrated alliance with The George Washington University and The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH), separately owned and operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), the GW MFA has active referring relationships with 12 area hospitals.

The GW MFA’s leading healthcare presence in the DC metro region is complemented by a network of community-based practices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Given its geographic location in central NW Washington, DC, and proximity to more than 175 resident embassies, the MFA continues to evolve its international clinical outreach.