Job Description

Join our dynamic, highly skilled Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery inpatient APP team. The CT surgery service provides advanced surgical treatments, including coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic and mitral valve replacement, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and heart transplantation. We value individuals who are professional with strong interpersonal and communication skills and able to prioritize and adapt to changing situations. Our CT surgery APPs manage patients collaboratively across the inpatient continuum of care (in the ICU setting as well as the floor) with CT Surgery Fellows, Cardiac Surgeons, and Intensivists, perform bedside procedures, and may assist in the operating room.

Responsibilities

1.1 Independently (independent APP encounter) or collaboratively (shared physician and APP encounter) evaluates and manages patients.

1. Includes taking histories, performing physical examinations, responding to changes in patient status, performing consults, ordering or furnishing medications/diagnostic tests/treatments/therapies/consultations/referrals/durable medical equipment (DME)/home health services.
2. Care provided must be documented in the electronic medical record in accordance with the UCSF Rules and Regulations.
3. Provider services must be billed to reflect the performing provider and comply with the APP Billing Policy 3.08.01.
4. APPs must respond to clinical documentation integrity inquiries from the Department of Quality and Patient Safety within 3 days.

1.2. Performs procedures granted to them via privileges/standardized procedures.

1.3. Identifies patients with acute decompensation or failure and responds to the hospital plan of care and reviews with physician.

1.4. Initiates consultations as indicated.

1.5. Documents independent assessment findings and recommends appropriate treatments.

1.6. Participates in service rounds and patient evaluation and treatment planning.

1.7. Reviews lab tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic tests, and initiates appropriate team plans.

1.8. Evaluates complex cases, establishes individualized plans of care for disposition to a lower level of care.

1.9. Interprets and acts upon completed tests, procedures, and radiographic studies.

1.10. Completes clinically relevant paperwork/electronic health record (EHR) documentation, including but not limited to ordering medications, completing episodic care notes and discharge summaries in accordance with the UCSF Rules and Regulations.

1.11. Effectively communicates findings, treatment options, and care plans with patients and their families

1.12. May first assist in the operating room if privileged to do so through OMAG after completing the required certification and proctoring.

1.13. Monitors and evaluates patients for discharge. Sets parameters and guidelines for continuum of care with multi-disciplinary team. This includes evaluating and defining discharge regimen.

1.14. Discharges patients including prescribing/furnishing medications, ordering DME, and recommending or referring for ongoing follow up care, providing discharge teaching, and completing discharge summaries.

Qualifications

1. California Physician Assistant (PA) License without restriction

2. National Board Certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

3. California Driver License (if required for position)

4. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration with Schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, and 5 registered to a California address

5. American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

6. Additional required AHA certifications: ACLS

7. Additional required certifications (such as ENLS): XXX

Graduation from a PA Program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the PA (ARC-PA).

Physician Assistant (less than five (5) years of experience as a PA):

1. Clinical rotation with cardiac surgery within OR, ICU & floor setting
2. Experience as first or second assist in the OR including EVH and radial artery harvest
3. Experience with management of ECMO, heart transplant, complex aortic, CABG and valvular surgeries

Physician Assistant Senior (five (5) or more years of experience as a PA):

1. Minimum of 2 year of inpatient cardiac surgery experience in the ICU & floor setting
2. Experience as first or second assist in the OR including EVH and radial artery harvest
3. Experience with management of ECMO, heart transplant, complex aortic, CABG and valvular surgeries

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
2. Judgement skills to effectively meet the needs of patients
3. Self-direction and organizational skills to function in an independent role

4. Ability to cope with personal stress experienced by health care providers and team members
5. Ability to meet minimum standards for hospital credentialing and billing standards as a billable provider

6. Submit health plan (Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial for all APPs; also, CCS for pediatric providers) enrollment by first clinical day

7. At all times, must adhere to the UCSF Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, Code of Conduct, PRIDE values, and applicable medical center/campus/departmental policies and procedures

8. At all times, must adhere to all UCSF policies regarding HIPPA, privacy, communication, documentation, encounter closure, and billing

9. Mandatory attendance at the Office of Advanced Practice Providers Orientation Sessions

10. Mandatory attendance at the APP Onboarding Committee APP Onboarding Series

11. This position requires flexibility for the APP to work at all UCSF Health facilities/locations

12. Performs other duties as assigned