Labor Category: Physician Assistants (in Orthopedic Surgery )

HCW Qualifications (Contract PWS 5.2; 5.2.3; 5.2.4; 5.2.6.4.4):

• Degree/Education (5.2.4):

Degree: Bachelors or Masters Degree.

Education: Be a graduate Physician Assistant qualified by academic and practical

education to provide patient services as a physician extender under

supervision of a physician.

Be a graduate of a Physician Assistant Training Program accredited by the

Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant

(ARC-PA), or its predecessors, and acceptable to the Surgeon General, USAF,

is mandatory.

Certifications in addition to Basic Life Support (5.2.3): Certified by the

National Commission on Certification of Physician’s Assistants (NCCPA). In

addition, HCWs must have Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

.

Experience: As required to meet clinical competency requirements specified in

the Service-specific credentialing instructions. The HCW assigned to

orthopedic department shall have a total of 24 months experience in orthopedic

clinical setting and have worked in that setting within the last 2 years.

Board Certification (5.2.6.4.4): N/A

Licensure/Registration: Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to

practice as a Physician Assistant as required in the TO.

HCW Duties (5.1 Task 1): The duties for the HCW are as follows:

Core Duties:

• Provide a full range of Physician Assistant services in primary and specialty

medical care within the limits of their training and privileges granted by the MTF

(e.g., supervise and provide general screening and medical care and examinations

of patients for routine, acute and chronic conditions involving any and all organ

systems; provide immunizations; diagnose, treat, and counsel patients as

indicated).

• Technically direct and provide care for a variety of diseases and types of injuries

(i.e., acute, chronic and minor trauma), and the skills to recognize emergency

conditions in order to diagnose, prescribe for and treat diseases, disorders and

injuries, and refer the more complex cases and serious conditions to qualified

medical personnel and perform designated treatment.

• Technically direct and teach other staff, provide educational lectures and

participate in in- service training to staff members.

• Promote preventive care and health maintenance including annual physicals,

positive health behaviors and self-care through both formal and individual

education and counseling.

• Prescribe in accordance with approved treatment protocols and the Pharmacy and

Therapeutics Committee approved medications and immunizations.

• Identify a medical problem and determine appropriate action to meet the problem,

including referral to a physician.

• Perform specific diagnostic and therapeutic practices and procedures in

accordance with scope of practice.

• Establish collaborative rapport with physician, nursing and others in order to

promote and facilitate primary care services.

• Teach patients and family member's healthy regimen and responsibility for

achieving wellness.

• Attend staff meetings to provide case discussion, continuing education, and

continuous quality improvement.

Additional Duties:

• Performs histories and physical exams; orders and interprets appropriate

diagnostic tests; diagnoses and treats orthopedic patients, to include telephone

contacts for results reporting and answering patient questions.

• For all initial encounters with a patient, will review and document a thorough

history and examination. Subsequent visits need not be as complete, but should

document interval changes in history, physical examination, diagnostic studies

and plans.

• Performs examination of urgent or emergent patients and consults with the

Orthopedic Department in lieu of a surgical resident or surgical staff physician.

• Manages follow-up care for all orthopedic patients presenting to the clinic, to

include ordering labs, radiology studies, etc., as required for evaluation and care.

• Treats patients with compassion and empathy, recognizing and respecting cultural

diversity, and adapting communications to the patient’s ability to understand.

Uses professional phone techniques, effective and concise verbal and written

communication, and medical terminology appropriately. Receives, organizes,

prioritizes and transmits information.

• Communicates with the Flight Commander or designated Government

representative to arrange for treatment to be provided by another staff member

when religious, moral, or ethical objections to patient treatments arise.

• Maintains patient confidentiality; uses appropriate guidelines when releasing

information; practices within the scope of education, training, and personal

capabilities; and prepares and maintains medical records and documents

accurately.

• Ensures patient and staff safety through safety awareness, proper infection control

practices, and the promotion of a clean and orderly clinic environment.

Recognizes, reports and corrects potential safety hazards.

• Provides and documents feedback to patient of all abnormal laboratory,

radiographic tests, etc., as well as physical findings to include vital signs. Makes

entries in patient's permanent medical records.

• Participates in a team approach to patient care with surgeons, fellows, residents,

medical students, ancillary staff, other services, and patient and family members.

• Counsel’s patients on medical problems, use of drugs, expected effects of

treatment, family planning, child care, diet, and other therapeutic health

maintenance matters.