Physician Assistant- Surgical First Assist - Bone and Joint Center, S.C.

Summary: Responsible for following Bone & joint's Mission and Vision objectives through exceptional patient care and customer service. Promotes and maintains health by providing medical services under the supervision of a physician. Provides leadership, clinical expertise, and functional direction to members of the health care teams to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Assists orthopedic surgeons in the hospital and clinic settings; performs routine clinical and procedural tasks at our Wausau, Merrill, Medford and Plover facilities including regional hospitals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Hospital and Call Duties:

1. Performs all duties associated with hospital rounds, consultations and surgical first assisting (Quality)
2. Consults Hospitalists or other Specialists for medical management (Quality)
3. Orders, interprets and manages lab results and medications through hospital EMR (Quality)
4. Completes consultations in hospital if surgeon is unable to respond (Service)
5. Gives report on all inpatients and potential problem patients to on call physician (On Friday for weekend; gives report to peer assuming call responsibilities (Service)
6. Responds to patient, hospital nurse, and extended care nurse calls within 20 minutes of page (Service)
7. Triages patient to determine most appropriate course of action and documents plan in EMR (Quality)
8. Follows B&J and CDC policy and procedures when prescribing controlled substances (Quality)
9. Communicates to B&J triage nurse higher risk patients or situations (Service)

Surgical Assist Duties:

1. Chart review of all cases to identify and rectify potential issues. (Quality)
2. Assists surgeon with sterile draping, retracting, clamping and tying bleeders. (Service)
3. Directs staff technicians and nurses during procedures. (People)
4. Closes all surgical wounds for each procedure. (Finance)
5. Applies dressings, casts, splints and/or immobilizing hardware. (Service)
6. Safely operates OR table specific for each case and equipment i.e.; Fracture tables and troubleshoots and rectifies all equipment failures during surgery. (Service)

1. Act as a liaison between hospital staff and B&J surgeon in the absence of the surgeon. (People)
2. Take responsibility for safety and welfare of patient while in the operating room.(Quality)
3. Orders and audits case specific instrumentation; insure instrumentation is available prior to the start of the case.(Quality)
4. Answers all staff questions specific to each patient. (Service)
5. Oversees and upholds strict sterility standards.(Quality)
6. Takes weeknight, weekend and holiday call, on a rotation basis. (Service)
7. Responds within 20-25 minutes when called in to assist on-call surgeon. (Service)
8. Completes daily hospital rounds on in-patients and consultations as directed by surgeon. (Service)

Clinical Duties:

1. Communicates to patients using AIDET tool, every patient every time (Service)
2. Performs accurate and thorough evaluation of musculoskeletal symptoms/conditions discriminates between normal and abnormal findings to make diagnosis (Quality)
3. Orders and interprets lab and imaging studies (Quality)
4. Tracks tests orders to ensure that all test results are given to the patient (Service)
5. Establishes treatment plan and educates the patient and/or family, tailors education to learning capabilities of individual (Quality)
6. Adjusts treatment plan/work flow according to feedback from physician(s) (Quality)
7. Completes documentation utilizing EMR templates; include CMS guidelines for MIPS, reviews and update problem list and medication list (Finance)
8. Performs pre-op H&P assessment of patients following anesthesia guidelines and immediately completes documentation (Service)
9. Develops optimal clinic template and schedule to meet patient and practice volume demands (Growth)
10. Promotes safe patient care by maintaining continuity and ensuring consistency and standardization at all sites. (Quality)
11. Demonstrates a concern for cleanness of self and work areas and practices proper infection control and universal precaution techniques. Understands and supports clinic's policy on pre-op MRSA / MSSA screening for TJA patients (Quality)
12. Supports triage staff by; answering questions, teaching, prescribing and giving orders. (Service)
13. Manages post op anticoagulation therapy per written protocol. (Quality)
14. Accepts add on patients as patient symptoms and volumes require (Growth)
15. Responds to pager 0700-1700 M-F (including when not on Call, when doing hospital rounds, unless scheduled out (arranges peer to cover). (Service)
16. Reviews and assists in writing standing orders, protocols, policies and procedures (Service)
17. Follow Bone & Joint policies, objectives and procedures. (Quality)
18. Assists organization in reaching and maintaining highest Customer Service scores and Star rating with ANI (Service)
19. Assists as requested by Business Development Officer to promote departments and providers to target audience. Maintains involvement with professional community to promote practice awareness. (Growth)

Education & Special Event Duties:

1. Provides staff education in-services (Service)
2. Attends quarterly QA radiology review sessions (Quality)
3. Provides coverage at special events (Sports physicals, Gus Macker, Sideline coverage, Health fairs) (Growth)
4. Participates in special projects (article writing, committees, QA / QI studies) (Growth)
5. Assists in training UW Family Medicine Residence, new hires and students (Finance)
6. Participates in a variety of educational activities/CME to maintain/increase competency and maintains professional certification. (Quality)
7. Serves as a role model for patient interaction and conflict resolution for all staff (people)

Education/Experience:

• Must have graduated from an accredited school of medicine
• Current or eligible for Wisconsin State license
• Professional certification or advanced practice
• Minimum 3 years of PA or NP experience in a clinical setting.
• Previous EMR experience
• CPR & ACLS certified.
• Valid WI Drivers License

Preferred:

• Previous orthopedic experience preferred
• Competency with MIPS and Quality Improvement measures/outcomes.

Qualifications:

• Must Demonstrate a high degree of professionalism
• Must demonstrate a high level of organizational skills with ability to work efficiently in a fast paced environment using problem solving skills
• Excellent verbal, written, communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to respond promptly in stressful situations with poise and tact
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to develop and maintain an excellent relationship with all staff
• Ability to influence and promote positive communication with hospital, community, providers and staff members.
• Diplomatic and self-motivation skills essential.
• Promote and cultivate a working environment by sharing knowledge and emphasizing teamwork and cooperation.
• Treats all customers with compassion and respect

Physical Requirements: 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.

This job requires frequent sitting, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching and bending, lifting and/or moving items up to 50 pounds; occasional ascending/descending stairs. Specific vision abilities to perform this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and/or fingers are required for typing and computer use. Ability to stand for extended periods of time. Occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials is anticipated from the performance of the employee's duties. Skin, eye, mucous membrane, and/or parenteral contact with blood or potentially infectious material are reasonably anticipated.