Physician Assistant

Job Summary & Requirements
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.
• Perform procedures such as ECG, casting, suturing, application of orthopedic devices, slit lamp examination, measuring intraocular pressure, visual acuity.
• Collect blood samples (arterial and venous), minor surgical samples, body secretions and body fluids (semen, sputum, wound drainage, and urine).
• Supporting physicians with health care technology and applications such as Connecting Ontario and hospital applications including the Meditech Expanse System, Order Set repository, and bedside ultrasound

Academic and Learner Supervision

• Participate in the supervision and support of medical learners as part of RVH's academic health sciences mandate. This may include Physician Assistant students, Clinical Clerks, Medical Residents, and other trainees.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and feedback to learners in collaboration with the attending physician and multidisciplinary team.
• Contribute to a positive learning environment that promotes patient safety, evidence-based practice, and professional development.

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