The primary purpose of the Physician Assistant (PA) is to provide direct diagnostic and therapeutic patient care. The PA impacts quality of patient care and patient outcomes throughout the care continuum. The Physician Assistant position performs the increasingly independent and complex tasks of a routine and standardized nature, which would otherwise be performed by a physician. The incumbent in this position will provide advanced patient care in relation to the patient's prescribed diagnosis, treatment, age group, development, and other identified needs. This position provides quality direct and/or indirect patient care clinically, administratively and/or academically. The incumbent in this position will provide direct plastic surgery services to patients within the education, training, and patient care parameters of the Department of Plastic Surgery. The duties of this position are carried out in accordance with policies established by the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff and consistent with the Texas State Board of Physician Assistants and Medical Examiners, and existing state laws.KEY FUNCTIONSFirst and Second Surgical Assist
Performs first- and second-assist duties in the operating room daily, or as needed, as directed by the physician.
Demonstrates manual dexterity in the use of all instruments and equipment.
First and second assist duties would include, but is not limited to, the use of a scalpel, needle-driver, forceps, and bovie cautery. able to tie suture with acceptable knot-tying techniques, both with hands, and with instruments. performs retraction, cutting suture, direct hemostasis, placing drains, and multi-level skin and donor site closures.
Performs harvest of complex flaps, full and split thickness grafts, and placement of complex wound dressings.
Perioperative Patient Management
Assesses patient before surgery and completes the H&P update in a consistently timely manner.
Communicates and assists OR staff (Anesthesia, CRNA, Anesthesia Assistants, Nurse circulator, Scrub technician, Perioperative Nursing Assistants (PNA).
Ensures all necessary supplies, equipment, and medications are available. Assists in properly positioning the patient on the OR bed.
Writes postoperative orders, and transitions with the patient to the PACU/ICU.
Gives reports to PACU/ICU staff.
Communicates with family members if assigned to do so.
Performs post-operative checks on patients as assigned by attending.
Inpatient Care
Makes daily rounds with or without faculty on in-patients, before clinic, conference, or OR duties, by walking from office to inpatient rooms.
Performs a variety of inpatient patient care activities included but not limited to wound care and dressing changes, removal of drain and sutures, etc.
Communicates, in a timely fashion, all physical findings and other pertinent information regarding the patient to attending and associated medical staff.
Notifies other health care professionals (e.g. speech pathology or radiology) regarding required interventions, and complete in-patient consults as indicated.
Facilitates communication between patient/family members and physician/interdisciplinary team; assists with patients' problems, questions, concerns and provides support.
Assists with discharge planning for inpatients and helps to anticipate family needs regarding adequate post-discharge care.
Assists with arranging home health care, and other post-discharge allied health needs.
Arranges follow-up care in the Plastic Surgery clinic by discussing with patient and completing electronic CSR.
Responsible for inpatient consults when attending physician is unavailable.
Completes and authenticates discharge summaries within 24 hours of discharge according to Medical Records standards.
Outpatient Care
Performs assessment of the following patients in clinic: Consults, second opinions, preoperative and postoperative follow-ups.
Obtains histories and physical of patients for preoperative history and physical exams or primary medical evaluations which are performed according to institutional standards set by Medical Records.
Ensures that data is complete, accurate, current, and reflects clinical physiology/pathophysiology.
Ensures that data collected is communicated to attending physician and associated medical staff in a complete, concise and organized fashion. Completes Surgery/Anesthesia Request Form (SARF) with all surgical procedures and needed positioning and equipment.
Confirms amount of time needed for surgery. Obtains signed surgical consent forms, either in paper or electronic form. Provides preoperative preparation and education for the patient and family.
Assists with ordering breast implants, bioprosthetic material, and any necessary preoperative tests.
Documents findings of all patient types in the appropriate dictation title (primary medical evaluations, preoperative histories and physicals, progress notes, follow-up notes) according to institutional standards as set by Medical Records.
Communicates clinical evaluation to attending physician and medical staff. Performs appropriate interventions as indicated by the clinical assessment.
Carries out diagnostic/therapeutic procedures under the direction of attending physician, including nipple areolar tattooing and tissue expansion procedures on patients which require above average manual dexterity and the use of specialized instruments and materials.
Dictates or writes primary medical evaluations, preoperative histories and physicals, progress notes, follow-up notes, discharge summaries, summary lists, and follow-up letters to referring physicians.
Dictates items in a clear, pleasant, and understandable voice using a telephone or manually writing legible notes.
EDUCATIONRequired:Master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant (PA) program by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), except for Physician Assistants who graduated from a PA program prior to 2013.EXPERIENCEPreferred:Prior experience as Physician Assistant.Experience in Plastic Surgery.LICENSURE / CERTIFICATIONRequired:All of the following:PA certification by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants.Licensed by the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners.MAY BE REQUIRED: Eligible to be granted limited prescriptive authority by the State of Texas.Must meet the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) , ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) or PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) if working in one of following department: Pediatrics - Patient Care (113100).It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.htmlAdditional Information
Requisition ID: 161276
Employment Status: Full-Time
Employee Status: Regular
Work Week: Days
Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 100,000
Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 125,000
Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 150,000
FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay
Fund Type: Hard
Work Location: Onsite
Pivotal Position: Yes
Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes
Science Jobs: No
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