Physician Assistant - Total Joint (Dr. Daniels)

Job Purpose:

The Physician Assistant provides medical care and services independently and collaboratively under the direction and supervision of the assigned physician, and in accordance with established policies and procedures.  This includes initial and ongoing assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the patient’s medical and/or surgical status, and performing and assisting the assigned physician on specialized surgical procedures in the operating room.  

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assesses, diagnoses, and treats medical and surgical problems in accordance with Practice protocols and records the same for review by the supervising physician

• Provides care that is patient centered, compassionate, appropriate and effective

• Maintains a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients in accordance with Practice standards.

• Elicits medical history and conducts physical exams on patients to provide health assessments and screens for abnormal conditions

• Performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and orders, performs, and interprets routine laboratory, X-rays, EKGs, and other related studies as required

• Assists physician during surgical procedures, following prescribed guidelines for draping and positioning the patient, providing the surgeon with surgical instruments, suturing and/or stapling, and removing stitches and/or staples, casts, pins after surgery

• Performs therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management

• Advises and directs medical personnel in the execution of patient care, as appropriate

• Notifies physician of abnormal patient conditions

• Consults with and/or refers patients to department physicians, other specialists and medical and community resources as necessary

• Provides pre- and post-operative teaching, basic instruction to patient such as changing dressings, caring for wounds and rehabilitative procedures

• Instructs and counsels patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance

• Orders, prescribes, dispenses, and administers medications, orthosis, orthotics, braces, and other orthopedic devices according to standard protocols

• Manages general medical and surgical conditions based on knowledge of the indications,

contraindications, side effects, interactions and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and other relevant treatment modalities

• Maintains patient records through timely documentation of all necessary information

• Adheres to patient and patient data, confidentiality per OrthoIllinois’ HIPAA and PHI policies

• Conducts and/or participates in research studies, if appropriate

• Performs quality assurance according to department protocols 

• Participates in call rotation responsibilities

• Maintains knowledge of trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate articles, journals, and related material, and by attending seminars, and conferences

• Other duties as assigned

Competencies:

• Service:  We align our actions and decision making with the organization’s guiding platform keeping our patients at the center of all we do.

• Change Agent:  We support and contribute to positive change in the organization.

• Communication and Interpersonal Relations:  We communicate honestly and with compassion to build connections with our patients and each other.

• Effectiveness:  We take ownership of work, doing the right thing for our customer and doing it well.

Organizational Culture:

All OrthoIllinois employees focus on service by putting the mission, vision, and value statements into practice and using the guiding principles of Compassion, Respect, Trust, Integrity, Innovation, Education Fiscal Responsibility, Practice Independence, Accountability, and Empowerment to direct their interactions and decision making.  Employees promote and model the service standards to create lasting impressions, extraordinary moments, exceptional on-stage experiences, and meaningful and compassionate connections.    

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree (M.A./M.S.) or equivalent from an accredited college or university

• 1-year experience in a similar position and/or performing similar tasks

• Current license to practice in the state of Illinois

Environmental/Working Conditions: 

Working environment is in an office/clinic/OR setting. Requires work outside of normal business hours, including evenings and weekends.

Physical/Mental Demands:  

• Stand for long periods of time, walk for periods of time, and climb stairs

• Requires lifting, carrying, or moving heavier objects (i.e. pushing or pulling up to 100 pounds and lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds

• Possess full range of motion in shoulders and arms, including reaching above or below the shoulder in order to operate power tools and medical equipment when needed

• Finger dexterity, the ability to twist hands/wrists repetitively, pushing/pulling against stiff joints, using a variety of holds; demonstrating exercises, lifting/raising over shoulder height

• Vision: Posses close, distant, peripheral and color vision and ability to adjust focus

• Hearing: Ability to detect high pitch, soft or distant sounds 

This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements.  Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve