Physician Assistant

**Job Description**:
**Position Summary**:
The primary role of the physician assistant will be to participate in the assessment and care of medicine patients under the supervision of the attending physician. The PA will provide care using evidence-based clinical practice standards and will adhere to established protocols. All activity will be under the direct supervision of a physician and within the medical directives endorsed by the RVH Medical Advisory Committee.

**Education**:

- Undergraduate Degree
- Secondary School Diploma or Equivalent
- Graduate of a Canadian or US Accredited Physician Assistant Education Program
- Eligible to challenge the National Physician Assistant Certificate Exam, or Canadian Physician Assistant Certification - Mandatory
- BCLS, and ACLS

**Experience**:

- At least one year experience working in an acute care/inpatient setting

**Competencies**:

- Integrate all the core PA competencies to provide optimal, ethical and patient-centred medical care
- Perform a complete and appropriate clinical assessment of a patient and formulate a clinical treatment plan
- Use preventive and therapeutic interventions effectively
- Demonstrate proficient and appropriate use of diagnostic and procedural skills
- Recognize their scope of practice while demonstrating effective and appropriate consultation practice with other healthcare professionals in respect to patient care, education and legal opinions

**Responsibilities**:
General and Clinical
- Obtain health history as appropriate, including patient demographics, chief complaint, history of the present illness or injury, past medical, surgical, family and psychosocial history, medications, allergies and systems review
- Conduct comprehensive and focused physical assessments and interpret findings. This includes assessment of vital signs and examination of all major body systems
- Order and complete preliminary interpretation of necessary diagnostic tests, which may include, but are not limited to, hematology, microbiology, chemistry, serology, urinalysis, blood gas, pathology, ECG, and plain film x-ray
- Utilize primary and secondary assessment results to formulate a differential diagnosis and determine if further clinical investigation is required

Demonstrate at least an academic understanding of the performance of the following diagnostic procedures:

- Collection of blood samples (arterial and venous), including point of care
- Collection of secretions and bodily fluids (sputum, wound drainage, urine, and PD fluid)

Communication
- When/as directed by a registered physician:

- Provide relevant information and explanations, including a proposed treatment plan, to the supervising physician and seek further direction where appropriate.
- Provide education to patients, families and other health providers as appropriate to the clinical setting.
- Communicate with other members of the health care team and other hospital departments, both orally, in writing and electronically.

Medical Documentation and Record Keeping
- Maintain clear, accurate and appropriate records of the patient encounter and management plan
- Admission notes, progress notes and discharge notes as needed
- Dictated records as appropriate
- Consultation requests
- Other types of documentation as required by the particular setting

Collaboration with Affiliated Services (including Regional Sites)
- Emergency Department
- Critical Care
- Surgery
- Radiology
- Pathology

Exhibits the core values of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre: Work Together, Respect All, Think Big, Own It, Care