Physician Assistant at BoulderCentre for Orthopedics – Boulder, Colorado

This position is responsible for practicing medicine with physician supervision including conducting examinations and writing prescriptions. Within physician–physician assistant (PA) relationship, PAs exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. May have responsibility for education, research, and administrative services.

1. Obtains detailed history and performs physical examinations on assigned patients; assesses and treats acute/chronic medical problems and provides direct patient care to a specified patient population.
2. Orders, performs, and interprets diagnostic tests.
3. Assists in providing pre-op and post-op care; writes appropriate orders, including prescription of medications, and treats injuries including giving injections and suturing wounds.
4. Assists in diagnosing orthopedic problems, surgical procedures and makes clinical rounds accompanied by the physician.
5. Consults with physicians as needed and refers to physicians for more complicated medical cases or cases that are not a routine part of a PA’s scope of work.
6. Monitors therapies and provides continuity of care; may coordinate referrals as needed.
7. Reviews patient records to develop comprehensive medical status reports.
8. Documents patient information and care in medical record.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education: Bachelor’s degree and successful completion of accredited physician assistant program.

Experience: Four years of health care experience prior to applying to PA program, plus one year of experience as PA, preferably in an orthopedic clinic setting.

Other Requirements:

• National certification from the National Commission on Certification of PAs. To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and sit for a recertification every six years.
• State PA license also required.
• Current CPR certificate required.

Performance Requirements:

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of medical model and roles of physicians and physician assistants. Familiar with medical terminology, anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, and physical diagnosis.
2. Knowledge of patient assessment techniques including taking medical histories, performing physicals, evaluating health status including state of wellness, and compliance with care recommendations.
3. Knowledge of diagnosing and treating medical problems and developing care plans.
4. Knowledge of medical records documentation in confidential manner.

Skills:

1. Skill in gathering and analyzing physiological, socioeconomic, and emotional patient data.
2. Skill in accurately evaluating patient problems in person or via phone and providing appropriate advice, intervention, or referral.
3. Skill in developing/revising patient care plan based on patient status.

Abilities:

1. Ability to understand complex medical information.
2. Ability to make responsible decisions within scope of PA practice and function independently.
3. Ability to collaborate effectively with physicians on complicated cases.
4. Ability to educate patients, families, staff and external customers in user-friendly manner.
5. Ability to demonstrate eye–hand coordination, full range of motion, and manual dexterity.
6. Ability to competently use Microsoft Office.

Equipment Operated: Medical instruments required for physical exams and minor surgery and computer hardware/software.

Work Environment: Medical office and exam room settings. Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, biohazards, and other conditions common to clinic. Frequent contact with variety of people.

Physical Requirements: Must possess the physical and mental abilities to perform the tasks normally associated with a Physician Assistant such as standing, sitting, walking, bending, stooping, twisting. Requires ability to help transfer patients. Occasional stress from dealing with multiple tasks and tense patients. Requires full range of motion in all extremities, neck and back, manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination.