Physician Assistant – Dept of Surgery – Gastrointestinal Surgery

The Physician Assistant in the Department of Surgery’s Gastrointestinal Surgery division functions as an independent healthcare provider who, working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary health team, is responsible for providing comprehensive care to patients in the Colorectal Surgery clinic. Demonstrates a high degree of clinical expertise in caring for Colorectal Surgery patients with acute and chronic illnesses commonly encountered within surgery, including pre- and post-operative surgical management, pre-operative optimization, post-operative complications, and anorectal disease evaluation and management. Responsible for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management, education, health promotion, and care coordination for patients and families with acute and chronic Colorectal Surgery health needs. Demonstrates an advanced level of clinical knowledge, communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, professionalism, and systems-based practice. Works within an interdisciplinary team with administration, nursing, physician, and other involved university faculty to assure safe, effective, quality patient care and to promote UIHC’s educational and research missions. Provides care within the scope of practice as outlined by state law, licensing, regulations, institutional policy, and practice agreements. May begin practice after credentialing and privileging process has been completed by the University of Iowa Health Care Clinical Staff Office. Active hospital privileges will be required and reviewed on a semi-annual basis to maintain employment within the Department.

Role Expectations:

Patient Care: Practitioners are expected to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease, and care at the end of life.

• Comprehensive pre-operative evaluation, identification of pre-operative risk factors with appropriate referral for optimization, post-operative follow-up and management of common complications, and admissions within a multidisciplinary team.
• Develop and implement treatment plans with multidisciplinary team, including admissions, pre- and post-operative management, and referrals.
• Ability to write history and physical and interval notes in an accurate and concise manner with documentation for appropriate billing.
• Procedures in accordance with privileging process may include but are not limited to anoscopy, incision and drainage of abscesses, and sharp wound debridement.
• Education of patient and family, residents and medical students, and nursing staff regarding treatment plan.
• Evaluate and develop a treatment plan within a multidisciplinary team for pre- and post-operative Colorectal Surgery patients, as well as manage acute and chronic diagnoses with and independent of staff physicians.

Medical/Clinical Knowledge: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical and social sciences, and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others.

• Perform a comprehensive history and physical.
• Evaluate and interpret pertinent lab and imaging studies.
• Possess working knowledge of appropriate pharmacology, antibiotic stewardship, and narcotic prescriptive practices.
• Participate and meet or exceed metrics for OPPE as set forth by UIHC Chief Medical Officer and Department of Surgery.

Practice-based Learning and Improvement: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of health care teams.

• Participation in Quality Assurance and research endeavors.
• Development and implementation of clinical guidelines, protocols, and educational materials.
• Participation in educational and multidisciplinary rounds and conferences.

Interprofessional and Communication Skills: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of healthcare teams.

• Demonstrate respect when communicating with staff, patients, family, and visitors.

Professionalism: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, an understanding and sensitivity to diversity and a responsible attitude toward their patients, their profession, and society.

• Support the vision, mission, and core values of UIHC.
• Comply with Code of Ethical Behavior, organizational and Departmental policies.
• Comply with Departmental guidelines for hours of work.
• Meet national and state Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant continuing education requirements.

Systems-Based Practice: Practitioners are expected to demonstrate both an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve and optimize health care.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve and optimize health care.

UIHC’s WECARE Core Values:

Welcoming: We strive for an environment where every voice is heard, emphasize regular communication, and seek transparency whenever possible.

• Demonstrates active listening skills in interactions.
• Seeks out opportunities to welcome new hires.
• Engages with patients and their families to build positive relationships.
• Offers constructive feedback and tactfully accepts feedback given.
• Explains why a suggested action should be taken.
• Models transparency to the highest degree possible.

Excellence: We strive to achieve excellence in all that we do.

• Contributes to a positive work environment through their interactions with others.
• Demonstrates concern for the larger community served by the organization.
• Takes initiative to learn higher level skills that enhance ability to contribute to the organization.
• Sets high goals and works to achieve them. Pushes self and others to reach milestones.
• Looks for opportunities to help move a project along; volunteers to help others with projects or assignments.
• Responds to setbacks with renewed and increased efforts; is persistent in the face of difficulty.
• Willingly puts in extra time and effort in crisis situations; goes the “extra mile” to ensure the goal is met.
• Thinks in terms of desired outcomes, not just reactive, quick solutions. Finds ways to turn the ideal into reality. Experiments with new ideas, methodologies, and procedures.
• Sees opportunities for creative problem solving while staying within the parameters of good practice. Generates unique but workable and useful solutions to difficult problems.

Collaboration: We believe teamwork is the best way to work.

• Promotes cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and deliverables.
• Knows and supports teammates’ work and deliverables. Helps teammates who need or ask for support or assistance.
• Acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of teammates. Praises the team and its achievement to others.
• Encourages team unity through sharing information or expertise, working together to solve problems, and putting team success first.
• Responds in a prompt and friendly manner to requests and inquiries.
• Provides clear instructions and expectations.
• Demonstrates flexibility by adapting to changes in priorities and the work environment.

Accountability: We behave ethically, act openly and with integrity in all that we do, taking responsibility for our actions.

• Meets assigned deadlines without additional prompting by supervisor or others.
• Adheres to established work schedule.
• Provides consistent, timely, high-quality work.
• Displays a positive and professional image of UI Health Care to others.
• Demonstrates initiative consistent with job expectations to improve performance.

Respect: We honor diversity and recognize the worth and dignity of every person.

• Treats others fairly and respectfully.
• Polite, courteous, empathetic.
• Does not initiate conflict and takes measures to ensure conflict does not occur.
• Demonstrates tact and diplomacy when resolving conflicts, addressing concerns directly with the individual(s) involved.
• Demonstrates appreciation, thanks others for their assistance.
• Works effectively with individuals from all backgrounds.
• Assumes positive intent in daily interactions.

Equity: We dedicate ourselves to equity and fairness.

• Exhibits ability to be fair and positively acknowledges similar efforts from others.
• Seeks diversity in candidates and hiring practices.
• Builds an inclusive work environment where each person is seen and acknowledged for their individual skills.
• Encourages and supports building awareness of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles.

Percent of Time: 50%

Schedule: 40 hours during a two-week period. A 30-minute lunch is included. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the Department.

Location: UIHC Main Campus

Benefit Highlights:

• Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa.
• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life, and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. For more information on benefits, please visit: UIHC Benefits.