Physician Assistant – Total Joint

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the guidance of the physician, assist and participate in all aspects of the medical and surgical care of orthopedic patients by providing diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic health services to the patient.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform comprehensive and problem focused history and physical exams, interpret and correlate laboratory and diagnostic procedures, and make critical evaluations.

• Interpret and correlate subject and objective data to formulate a differential diagnose and establish a working diagnosis.

• Discriminate between normal and abnormal findings to recognize early stages of serious physical problems and implement management in conjunction with the physician.

• Formulate a treatment plan for Orthopedic problems within the scope of practice.

• Implement therapeutic intervention for specific conditions when appropriate.

• Exercise judgment on problems requiring consultation, referral, or evaluation by the supervising Orthopedic surgeon or other health care professional.

• Order, collect, and perform appropriate laboratory or diagnostic procedures, and studies including x-ray examinations, MRI, bone scans, etc.

• Prepare patients for surgery, including education, positioning, and skin preparation.

• Perform minor outpatient surgical procedures such as tendon repair, wound closure, wound management, wound debridement, incision and drainage, needle biopsy, percutaneous pinning of fractures, k-wire removal, and hardware removal.

• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including but not limited to joint and bursa aspirations, closed reduction of fractures and dislocations, injections of joints, tendons, trigger points and bursa, as well as brace, cast, and splint applications.

• Assist in surgery to include but not limited to first assist, deep and superficial tissue closures, application of appliances and any other action delegated by the surgeon.

• Conduct hospital rounds, write orders, and take call for the Orthopedic surgeon, as requested.

• Evaluate and clarify clinical conditions, formulate and implement treatment or therapeutic plan for patients, dictate discharge summaries, histories and physicals.

• Order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medication, orthotics, braces and other Orthopedic devices as allowed by state legislation.

• Evaluate, screen, and council patient on health maintenance and promote utilization of community resources.

• Manage discharge of patients with appropriate disposition, follow-up planning, adjunctive therapy management, and education.

• Respond to telephone inquiries of patients and provide appropriate medical care.

• Communicate with referring or primary care physicians regarding patient care and treatment.

• Perform other responsibilities associated with this position as deemed appropriate.

GENERAL COMPENTENCIES DESIRED

• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and the medical environment, especially with orthopedics for the ability to take a detailed medical history, conduct a physical examination, follow observation procedures, order and perform diagnostic and therapeutic tasks, and to exercise a degree of judgment in integrating and interpreting findings.

• Ability to effectively communicate and work with physicians, nurses, patients, families, staff, other health care professionals, and management.

• Ability to work with and maintain confidentiality of patient, patient account, and personnel data.

• Ability to work as a true team player seeking continuously to improve the quality of care provided by the Orthopedic surgeon.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Requires standing and walking for prolonged periods of time. Occasionally lifts and carries items weighing up to 50 pounds. Requires normal visual acuity and hearing. Requires exposure to communicable disease and bodily fluids. Requires working under stress in emergency situations or during irregular hours.

CREDENTIALS DESIRED

Successful completion of a physician assistant program, certification by the NCCPA. State licensure along with maintaining the required continuing education credits.