Physician Assistant

Job Description:
**Position Summary**:
The primary role of the physician assistant will be to participate in the assessment care of nephrology patients, under the supervision of the attending nephrologist. There will also be opportunity to assess and manage patients in an outpatient setting including in-centre and satellite dialysis units at RVH. All activity will be under the direct supervision of a nephrologist and within medical directives endorsed by the RVH medical advisory committee. This is a one year temporary position with the possibility to extend to a permanent position.

**Responsible to**:
Medical Director, Renal Program
Manager, Academic & Medical Affairs

**Qualifications**:
**Education**:

- Secondary School Diploma or Equivalent
- Undergraduate Degree
- PA Program
- Physician Assistant Certification - Canada Mandatory or awaiting certification
- BCLS, and ACLS

**Experience**:

- At least one year experience working in an acute care/inpatient setting (preferable).

**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**:
**Clinical Assessment of Patients**:

- 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.

**Consultation with Renal and Multidisciplinary Team**:

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

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

- General Internal Medicine and Hospitalists
- Emergency Department
- Medical Subspecialties including Intensive Care
- Surgery
- Radiology
- Pathology

**Supervision**:

- While not a requirement to exercise supervision, it is inherently a tenant of healthcare professions. There may also be opportunities for supervision/teaching roles as the Physician Assistant program grows at RVH; occasionally explains work procedures to new or inexperienced employees.

**Benefits**:

- Competitive Benefit Package
- Employee and Family Assistance Package
- Wellness Centre
- Dedicated Green Space
- Education Trust Fund Opportunity
- Opportunity to join an incredibly robust and developed Physician Program with growth potential