CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY PA

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Comprehensive Cardiothoracic Surgery patient management.  The Physician Assistant (PA) performs physical exams, collects and documents data, conducts approved diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, orders and schedules laboratory studies and professional evaluations, prescribes appropriate interventions and medications, and provides direct patient care services, as well as Clinical Support for the Cardiothoracic Surgery Service Line initiatives in collaboration with CHSLI affiliated provider groups.

POSTION REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education:

PA must be a graduate of a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant; Master’s preferred – Will consider new grad with relevant PA electives or clinical background

Licensure/Certification:

• New York State PA license required
• PA must have current NCCPA certification
• Must be BLS/ACLS/AED Certified by the American Heart Association
• No other organizations will be acceptable
• DEA license required

Experience:

Previous Cardiothoracic Surgery preferred

CARDIOTHORACIC PA PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Will function as a first or second assistant under the direction of the surgeon during all major and minor Cardiothoracic surgical procedures (when competencies are met)
• Will harvest and prepare saphenous veins suitable for coronary artery bypass grafting (when competencies are met)
• Will be on-call at assigned times to be available to assist the attending surgeons in urgent or emergency surgical procedures at hours other than the usual working hours
• Will assist in the necessary preparation prior to surgery
• Participate with respect to all Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery patients, including the performance of H&Ps, the ordering of additional tests if indicated and the review of all PAT results, notifying the attending surgeon of all abnormal results
• Write appropriate admission orders on all patients being admitted to the Cardiothoracic Surgery service
• Assist in providing pre- and post-operative care under the supervision of the surgeon for those patients assigned
• Write appropriate orders, including those for lab tests, medications, narcotics, stimulants and depressant drugs for patients under the care of the supervising surgeon
• Write routine pre- and post-operative orders, as necessary, for patient care
• Perform routine procedures in the pre- and post-operative care of patients as assigned by the responsible attending surgeon
• Insert catheters, nasogastric tubes, intravenous infusions intra-arterial and urethral catheters
• Remove jugular, subclavian and arterial lines, Swan-Ganz lines, epicardial pacing wires and mediastinal and pleural chest tubes
• Perform emergency life-saving procedures in such cases as cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, massive hemorrhage, or similar catastrophes in the absence of a physician
• Provide training and instructions for students, paramedicals and/or other non-physician professionals associated with the Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
• Discuss with Surgeon attending prior to the case for appropriate conduit
• Write appropriate progress notes on patients’ charts indicating patient status, treatments and procedures carried out
• Responsible for notifying the supervising surgeon, as to any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation
• Write appropriate orders and enter the requisite documentation in the progress notes for the institution and maintenance of physical restraints for patients consistent with current hospital policy and applicable State law
• Remain in the hospital during regularly scheduled working hours unless excused by the Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery or his/her designee
• Perform other duties and procedures as required to insure proper care for patients and the functioning of the department in general.  The Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery or his designee will assign these additional procedures/duties
• Procedures to be performed for patients under the direction of the surgeon in charge include, but are not limited to, catheterization of urinary bladder; intestinal intubation; injections, immunizations, phlebotomy, care of surgical wounds, including re-dressing, removal of sutures, shortening or removal of wound drains;  starting intravenous infusions and blood transfusions, observing customary check and re-check procedures of the latter and removal of intra-thoracic catheters