Physician Assistant - Orthopedic Clinic - Sign-On & Retention Bonus

Overview:
Resolution Think, LLC, through its joint venture partner Cognito Systems, LLC, is seeking a skilled Physician Assistant (PA) for the Orthopedic Clinic at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC), Fort Hood, TX, near Killeen. You will support orthopedic specialty care by evaluating and managing musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, assisting with procedures, coordinating treatment plans, documenting care accurately, and working closely with orthopedic surgeons and multidisciplinary teams.

The ideal candidate has recent hands-on orthopedic experience, strong clinical judgment and professionalism, and can provide safe, patient-centered care in clinic and hospital settings. This opportunity suits a dependable PA who values teamwork, continuity of care, and service in a mission-focused military treatment facility.

This position offers a sign-on bonus, a retention bonus and relocation assistance.

Location: Fort Hood, TX; Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8-hour shifts during outpatient clinic hours between 0700 and 1800. The schedule may change based on clinic needs.

Benefits: Resolution Think Full-Time Employees
We value our team and offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports both your professional and personal well-being:

• Sign-On and Retention Bonuses
• Relocation Assistance
• 80 hours of Paid Time Off (PTO) + 56 hours of Sick Leave annually
• 11 Paid Federal Holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement and Professional Development Support
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Voluntary Benefit Options through MetLife
• Pet Insurance Discounts
• Employee Discount Program through LifeMart
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Essential Functions and Job Responsibilities:

• Provide a full range of PA services in primary and specialty care within your training and the privileges granted by the MTF. This includes screening, examinations and care for routine, acute and chronic conditions involving any organ system; immunizations; and diagnosing, treating and counseling patients as indicated.
• Technically direct and provide care for a variety of diseases and injuries (acute, chronic and minor trauma). Recognize emergency conditions in order to diagnose, prescribe for and treat them, and refer more complex or serious cases to qualified medical personnel.
• Technically direct and teach other staff, give educational lectures and participate in in-service training.
• Promote preventive care and health maintenance, including annual physicals, positive health behaviors and self-care, through formal and individual education and counseling.
• Prescribe according to approved treatment protocols and medications and immunizations approved by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• Identify medical problems and determine the right action, including referral to a physician.
• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within your scope of practice.
• Build collaborative relationships with physicians, nursing and other staff.
• Teach patients and family members healthy habits and their role in achieving wellness.
• Attend staff meetings for case discussion, continuing education and continuous quality improvement.
• Apply a full range of orthopedic PA principles, practices and procedures to adult and pediatric patients in the orthopedic clinic.
• Bring specialized knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, and of orthopedic equipment and techniques, including traction, casting and splinting.
• Assess and treat acute presentations, including infections, fractures, neoplasms and congenital deformities.
• Take consultations from non-orthopedic physicians and PAs on the diagnosis, care and referral timing of orthopedic patients.
• Perform fracture and dislocation reductions with appropriate anesthesia (hematoma, digital and nerve blocks), and perform arthrocentesis independently.
• Respond to the Emergency Department for orthopedic injuries, and serve as first assistant to an orthopedic surgeon in the operating room.
• Perform minor surgical procedures such as wound closure, pin removal, and compartment pressure measurement and monitoring.
• Perform surgical procedures including incision and debridement, nail extraction and orthopedic hardware removal.
• Perform joint injections and aspirations.
• Order and interpret skeletal radiographs, MRI, CT, bone scans, arthrograms and electromyography.
• Complete appropriate work-ups to evaluate potential surgical candidates.
• Make daily inpatient ward rounds and enter progress notes in the inpatient chart.
• Conduct and dictate histories and physicals and discharge summaries for orthopedic inpatients.
• Provide preventive care to healthy individuals, including guidance on nutrition, common illnesses, and child growth and development.
• Design rehabilitation programs and offer palliative treatment for chronic orthopedic conditions.
• Counsel patients, families and groups on general orthopedic care.
• Use sound judgment to decide when a patient needs referral to or consultation with an orthopedic surgeon.
• Develop lectures or journal articles for the Orthopedic Clinic.
• Perform a variety of physical exams, such as school, employment, sports, annual, retirement, discharge, reenlistment and disability separation physicals.
• Refer high-risk, unstable or highly complex patients to physicians and emergency medicine, and provide emergency care when required.
• Treat pediatric, adult and geriatric patients in specialty areas.

Minimum Requirements:

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Education: Bachelor's degree from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). You must also have either:
  • Residency or fellowship training of 12 months or more in a medical specialty program acceptable to the DHA, or
  • At least 1 year of post-graduate experience within the last 2 years routinely practicing as an Orthopedic PA.
• Experience: At least 1 year of post-graduation, post-licensure clinical experience within the last 2 years providing direct care and routinely practicing as an Orthopedic PA. Experience must show recent hands-on skill in evaluating, diagnosing and managing musculoskeletal injuries and conditions in ambulatory or hospital-based orthopedic services.
• Licensure: Current, full, active and unrestricted license to practice as a Physician Assistant (any U.S. state).
• Certifications and registrations:
  • Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
  • BLS from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Online-only courses are not accepted.
  • National Provider Identifier (NPI).
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number.
• Resumes must list work history with full dates (month, day, year), employer name and address, work status (FT, PT, PRN, travel) and hours worked per week.

Physical Demands / Additional Info:

• TB screening required (two PPD skin tests or one QuantiFERON Gold test with negative results within the past 12 months).
• Must comply with DHA vaccination requirements, including Tdap, MMR, varicella, Hepatitis B and an annual flu shot (or titers showing immunity).
• Willing to complete a physical examination.
• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Pre-employment drug screening.
• Random drug screening/testing: subject to random drug urinalysis within 2 hours of notification. Refusing will result in automatic termination.
• Required to wear PPE while performing services.
• Walking, long periods of standing, stretching, frequent crouching, bending, stooping, lifting up to 50 lbs, and lifting over 50 lbs with assistance.
• Exposure to infectious and contagious diseases; toxic, hazardous or irritating chemicals; carcinogenic materials; noxious fumes; flammable liquids; radiation; pathogenic bacteria; and electrical hazards.