PA/NP Surgical Services - South Shore Health

A physician assistant is defined as a person who is a graduate of a school approved by the AMA Board of Approval and Certification of Physician Assistant Programs, who may provide medical services appropriate to his or her training, experience and skills, under the supervision of a registered physician.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Education - Preferred

A graduate of an AMA recognized Physician Assistant training program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission or Education for Physician Assistant (ACR-PA)

Required Licenses / Registrations

PA - Physician Assistant

Classes/Skills -

ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (required)

ATLS – preferred

1 - The PA practices in accordance with acceptable medical standards, informs each patient that he / she is not a physician, and that a PA renders medical services only under the supervision of a full licensee.

   a - A physician reviews all historical and physical data according to medical staff by-laws and regulations.

   b - The PA will work as a member of the general surgery team: consisting of Attending Physicians, BWH surgical residents, and PAs.

2 - In any emergency situation, a PA may render emergency medical service necessary to avoid disability or death of an injured person until a doctor arrives.

3 - The PA will participate in the hospital’s quality improvement and risk management programs.

4 - The PA will complete medical records in a timely manner according to the medical staff by laws and rules and regulations.

5 - The responsibilities of the General Surgery PA will include but not be limited to the following:

   a – Write admission orders and perform detailed histories and physicals on general surgery & trauma patients

   b – First assist in the operating room for general surgery coverage & other surgical subspecialties

   c -- Perform daily patient rounds and follow up on all patients and consults including physical exams, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention and ordering routine labs, diagnostic tests and consults

   d - Perform a variety of procedures, not limited to, phlebotomy, insertion and removal of chest tubes, management of pleurovacs, surgical drains, percutaneous tubes, insertion and management of NGT, DHT, foley catheters, simple wound closures.

   e - Provide patient education and participate in the education of surgical residents, fellow PA’s, nurses and students.

   f - Perform BLS and ACLS measures as needed.

   g – Be the primary responding clinician receiving pages from the nursing staff regarding patient care

6 - A PA may not obtain surgical consents, autopsy permission or organ donation permission.

7 - RECORD KEEPING AND WRITTEN ORDERS

   a - PA’s will write and sign progress notes.

   b - PA’s will write and sign discharge summaries, as well as transfer summaries..

   c - Rules governing house officer order-writing preference shall apply to the PA in the same manner as their supervising physician.

8 - RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEDICATION ORDERING

   a - Written Orders:  The PA may write orders according to delineated approved by the Medical Executive Committee and the board of Trustees in accordance with the PA prescription regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and may renew or rewrite orders previously approved by the supervision physician.

   b - Verbal Orders:  Verbal orders may be communicated from the supervising physician to the PA. The PA shall indicate the order is being written per the verbal order of the supervising physician.  In an emergency, the PA may give verbal orders.

9 - Safety

   a - All required safety education programs have been attended.

   b - Provides complete and accurate responses to safety questions

   c - Operates assigned equipment and performs all procedures in a safe manner as instructed.

   d - Maintains work area and equipment in condition required by department standards.

   e - Demonstrates proper body mechanics in all functions.

   f - If Manager/Leader, provides for the safety of department employees.