Physician Assistant

**Job Description**:
The primary role of the Physician Assistant (PA) will be to participate in the assessment and care of Emergency Department 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 an Emergency Department Physician, and within the medical directives endorsed by the RVH Medical Advisory Committee. As an integrated member of the health care team and support to the ED Physician, the PA will have a strong desire for life-long learning, quality improvement, patient safety and collaborative team-based care.

**Education**:
Undergraduate Degree
Graduate of a Canadian or US-Accredited Physician Assistant Education Program, including the Canadian Forces Physician Assistant Training Program
Eligible to challenge the National Physician Assistant Certificate Exam, or Canadian Physician Assistant Certification - Mandatory
BCLS and ACLS

**Experience**:
Experience working in an Emergency Department setting is strongly preferred

**Competencies**:
Integrate all the core PA competencies to provide optimal, ethical, and patient-centered 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 with respect to patient care, education, and legal opinions

**Responsibilities**:
**Clinical and General Responsibilities**

Obtain health history, including but limited to, demographics, chief complaint, history of the present illness or injury, past medical, surgical, family, and psychosocial history, medications, and/or allergies
Perform comprehensive assessments, make differential diagnoses, order appropriate testing, coordinate and plan the management of ED patients. This includes assessment of vital signs and examination of all major body systems.
Under the direction of the RVH medical directives, complete preliminary interpretations of necessary diagnostic tests including but not limited to haematology, microbiology, chemistry, serology, urinalysis, blood gas, ECG, peak flow and plain film x-ray.
Collect blood samples (arterial and venous), minor surgical samples, body secretions and body fluids (semen, sputum, wound drainage, and urine).

**Communication**

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
Dictated records as appropriate
Consultation requests
Other types of documentation as required by the particular setting

**Collaborate with the Multidisciplinary Team**

Collaboration with all aspects of the Emergency Department team including (but not limited to) physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, clerical staff, technicians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, social workers, patient representatives, volunteers, and administrative staff to provide high-quality care for patients.

**Collaboration with Affiliated Services (including Regional Sites)**

General Internal Medicine and Hospitalists
Medical Imaging
Paediatrics
Obstetrics
Critical Care
Surgery
Pathology