Full Job Description
*This role is 5x8s*
The **Physician Assistant** reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
The Physician Assistant performs procedures in accordance with clinical privileges and/or the written collaborative agreement and within the specialty of the supervising physician. This role functions autonomously and collaborates with other health professionals to provide high-quality, cost-effective health care to patients, manage health care systems, and influence health care decision-making through expert clinical reasoning, research, and theory-based practice.
**Responsibilities:**
- Provides direct care to patients which demonstrates clinical expertise and advanced knowledge.
- Diagnoses and manages acute and chronic health problems within specialty area of practice.
- Collaborates and consults with physicians and other health care professionals in clinical expertise.
- Develops educational systems and strategies for teaching patients, families and staff on topics related to area of expertise.
- Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice.
- Actively participates in and/or conducts research and quality improvement pertinent to area of expertise.
Clinical
- Conducts comprehensive assessments of patients' health status by taking health histories and performing advanced physical examinations in specialty area.
- Provides direct clinical care to patients.
- Orders and interprets laboratory and diagnostic tests to establish diagnoses and develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
- Orders/prescribes medications, therapies, interventions, and procedures according to clinical privileges and PA scope of practice within specialty.
- Documents in the medical record all care provided and/or procedures performed for which the PA is responsible. Collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary team to develop and direct an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan.
- Coordinates the discharge planning process or after visit care with patients, families, and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Consults with other specialties and disciplines as appropriate to meet all health care needs of patients.
Leadership
- Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces and professional organizations.
- Advocates for patients, families, nursing staff and other members of the healthcare community.
- Assists in the development of policies and procedures in clinical area of expertise to establish standards for clinical practice.
- Consults with NM leadership in the identification, evaluation and problem solving of clinical system and process issues.
- Collaborates with NM leadership teams to develop, implement and evaluate strategic plans for quality improvement initiatives, utilizing evidenced based practice guidelines as appropriate.
- Collaborates with physicians to lead changes in clinical practice.
Education
- Teaches and counsels patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, plan of care, anticipated outcomes, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
- Develops and participates in programs to meet educational needs of the clinical team related to area of expertise
- Serves as a role model for NM staff and preceptor for graduate students.
- Provides formal and informal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of expertise.
- Provides formal and informal educational programs to nursing staff graduate students and other healthcare professionals pertinent to specialty area.
- Collaborates with academic institutions to provide and promote clinical learning experiences and educational programs for APRNs, PAs, physicians in training and all health care professionals.
Research/Quality/Outcomes
- Identifies relevant areas of clinical research and assists with development and coordination of research protocols and quality projects.
- Participate in/review evidence-based research/guidelines and apply to clinical practice.
- Collaborates with the multidisciplinary teams to conduct research and participate in clinical trials within area of expertise.
- Participate in service-line specific quality initiatives and development of outcome metrics.
- May perform other duties as assigned.
**Qualifications**
**Required:**
- Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physician Assistant Programs
- Physician Assistant in Medicine, Licensed (IL)
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care certification
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
- Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association) certification
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification required as specified by department
- Controlled substance license and DEA registration required as specified by the department
**Preferred:**
- 2 years of clinical experience in area of specialty.
**Benefits**
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.
**Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information **
**NorthwesternMedicine Career Page**
https://jobs.nm.org/benefits
Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.
**If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed:** Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. **Exception**: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.