What are the responsibilities and job description for the Physician Assistant position at UNC Health Appalachian?
- Position Summary
- The Physician Assistant will play a crucial role in providing high-quality primary care to patients, contributing to the overall health and well-being of our community. This position involves comprehensive patient assessments, diagnosis, treatment, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Patient Care:
- Conduct thorough patient assessments, including medical history, physical exams, and diagnostic tests.
- Formulate accurate diagnoses and develop individualized treatment plans.
Treatment and Prescribing:
- Prescribe medications, administer treatments, and provide health education to patients.
- Monitor patient responses to treatment and adjust plans as needed.
Collaboration:
- Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care.
- Consult with specialists as necessary for complex cases.
Health Promotion and Education:
- Provide health promotion and disease prevention education to patients.
- Assist patients in managing chronic conditions and adopting healthy lifestyles.
Record Keeping:
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic health records, documenting patient encounters, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
- Ensure compliance with privacy and confidentiality regulations.
Quality Improvement:
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care and clinic processes.
- Stay informed about evidence-based practices and incorporate them into daily practice.
- Position Qualifications
- Minimum Education
- Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies from an accredited program.
- Experience
- 2 years of experience in acute care preferred.
- Required Registration/License/Certification
- Current and active license as a Physician Assistant in the state of practice.
- Certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
- Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association is required at the time of hire.
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- In-depth knowledge of primary care principles and evidence-based practices.
- Strong diagnostic and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
- Proficient in electronic health record systems.
- Physical Demands
- Lifts, positions, pushes, pulls, and/or transfers up to and greater than 50 pounds
- Manual dexterity and mobility
- Prolonged, extensive or considerable sitting/standing/walking
- Bending, squatting, twisting, and turning
- Near acuity: ability to see clearly at 20 inches or less
- Working Conditions
- Regularly exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases
- Frequently exposed to hazards from electrical/mechanical/power equipment, odorous chemicals, and specimens and unpleasant elements (accident, injury, slippery surfaces, uneven surfaces), etc.
- Subject to irregular hours (days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays) and emergencies
- Continuous standing and walking long periods = to or greater than > 8 hours per shift
- Speaking, reading, and writing, expanded > 8 hours per day
- Exposed to vibration and cramped spaces > 1-hour day
- Frequently mobilizes patients > 4 hours per day
- Frequently per shift lifts, carries, pushes, and/or pulls > 50 lbs.
- Frequently per hour: bends, squats, kneels, twists, turns, and reaches
- Frequently per minute: hand, finger, and wrist repetition and moderate dexterity
- Frequently per hour: exposed to soft voices > 3 feet away
- Frequently per hour: exposed to close eye work
- Infrequently exposed to Ionizing/nonionizing radiation exposure, including x-ray and microwave