Physician Assistant

Title Code

009203

Title Name

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Working Title

Physician Assistant

Home Dept Code

171700

Home Dept Name

Department of Medicine

Description

Type Supervision

General Direction

Job Summary Text

The position of Physician Assistant (PA) in the Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Division, requires a highly competent, independent yet team-oriented individual who will be a critical part of the team caring for patients. Under the supervision of Medical Director(s) and the Advanced Practice Provider (APP), and guided by the applicable policies and procedures, the PA will participate in the comprehensive care of patients in the ambulatory and/or infusion center settings at the Irvine Ambulatory Treatment Center (ATC) and provide multi-disciplinary care coordination, treatment, education, monitoring, and communication with patients and referring physicians. A Physician Assistant is an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) who possesses the advanced education, knowledge, clinical skills and experience necessary to provide advanced care in their area of specialization.

This position may perform:

• Functions as appropriate to their "scope of practice" (In general, the "scope of practice" includes the management of chronic stable medical conditions, routine care, acute or critical care, and medical and surgical procedures per their approved Practice Agreement). Familiarity with state statute for their licenses is necessary.

• Approved privileges are unique to each person and are unlikely to include ALL privileges

• The PA professional may provide patient care in age groups based on educational preparation and at all Health licensed settings and affiliates.

• The PA has responsibility for the standards of care for their specified patient population and evidences self-direction and accountability both to quality of care and in the development of their role within the all Health locations and affiliates.

• Advanced Practice Practitioners (APP) are required to be credentialed to practice and be privileged through Medical Staff to function in their clinical role. Credentialing and approval of privileges must be completed prior to the first working day.

• The PA is accountable to, evaluated, and provided feedback by the supervising/collaborating physician, physician designee(s) in the same clinical specialty, or the Administrative Manager.

POPULATION SERVED: Adult and/or Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) patient populations

Employee Supervised

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Required:

• Licensure through the California Physician Assistant Board of the Medical Board of California as a physician assistant.

• Applicant must have completed a physician assistant training program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

• Must have a National Provider Identifier (NPI), or obtain an NPI, prior to employment start date and meet current Medicare requirements for billing.

• Hematology/Oncology Experience (at least 2 or more years)

• Applicant must hold a current DEA Registration with schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4 and 5.

• Current BLS certification and ACLS certification.

• Evidence of completion of Controlled Substances Education Course that meets requirements pursuant to California Code of Regulations Sections 1399.610 and 1399.612. PAs who have completed a one-time Controlled Substances Education Course may order or furnish a Schedule II drug pursuant to the Practice Agreement without patient-specific advance approval.

• National board certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) at the time of initial appointment.

• Applicant must provide documentation of provision of care (# and type of cases/procedures performed) during the past 24 months, representative of the scope and complexity of the privileges requested.

• Previous experience working as an PA in Hematology/Oncology (at least 2 or more years)

• Previous experience with HSCT patients (at least 2 or more years)

• Experience in working with patients receiving adoptive cellular, gene replacement, and/or immune therapies.

• Experience in working with patients undergoing single and combined modality treatment plans.

• Possess clear understanding of core internal medicine, hematology and oncology principles.

• Knowledge of the elements of a medical history and skill in the history-taking process.

• Expertise and appropriate physical exam skills.

• Demonstrated experience in review and use of standard protocols for chemotherapy and oncology patients.

• Direct patient care for chemotherapy side effects.

• Must possess experience in educating patients, nursing staff and community in chemotherapy treatments, side effects and general cancer information.

• Ability to obtain UCIMC Allied Health Professional Privileges prior to hire.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the program and UCI Health System.

• Ability to exercise diplomacy and flexibility in interacting with physicians, nurses, other paramedical personnel, administrators, emergency and law enforcement officers.

• Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.

• Skill to clearly communicate medical information to a broad variety of people, both in person and over the telephone.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Writing skills to prepare clear medical reports, laboratory data and progress notes. Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload.

• Must possess the skill, knowledge and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties.

• Ability to be trained in the use of specialized medical equipment and procedures.

• Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and procedures related to Protected Health Information (PHI) or other sensitive and personal information.

Desired:

• Experience caring for patients enrolled in clinical trials and functioning as a sub-investigator.

Description

First Essential Function

Percent of Time:

80%

GENERIC CLINICAL DUTIES/PATIENT CARE:

• Work collaboratively with the physicians/fellows/APP colleagues and other clinical and administrative staff to ensure efficient patient management based on accepted practice, including but not limited to, performing histories and physicals, pre-operative planning/coordinating with anesthesia/outside providers and PCPs as applicable, responding to change in patient status, providing needed prescriptions/evaluations/referral/treatments as permitted under their Practice Agreement.

• Provide expert level consultation, referrals, procedures (e.g. bone marrow biopsies and intrathecal chemotherapy administration), and order radiographic or diagnostic requests, specialized treatment privileges (e.g. chemotherapy with the approved privilege).

• May also provide patient education, arrange follow-up appointments, and engage in any approved privileges the APP has completed the necessary proctoring or FPPE through prior to competency for independent practice and procedural activity.

• To evaluate, assess and create a documented plan of treatment per patient's presenting HPI or established plan of care under the collaboration/supervision of an attending physician.

• Identify and manage adverse drug reactions and medication side effects.

• Direct patient care for blood product administration including side effects or adverse reactions.

• Utilize universal precautions.

• To answer clinically relevant patient medical advice calls or during bedside communications or coordination with health care professionals, patients and their families as necessary.

• To independently or in a shared visit model, evaluate routine, acute, critical, new patients, or specialty consultations when needed or required and discuss with attending and staff as appropriate and document in the EHR.

• Interpret and act upon ordered tests, procedures, and radiographic studies.

• Assist in formulating and implementing protocols to improve efficiency in the clinical specialty.

• Effectively communicate with family or patients in person, telephone and/or other electronic modalities in a timely manner.

• Ensure in their absence, appropriate clinical coverage has been arranged for patient management and communication as appropriate.

• At all times adhere to all policies and procedures of Health in terms of HIPPA/Communication/Privacy/Code of Conduct, and any other or Med Center Policies, which includes meeting the encounter closure requirements of the Med Staff Bylaws.

• Some duties, essential or intrinsic to the job, but are performed routinely or periodically may be unique to the specific clinical services provided.

Second Essential Function

Percent of Time:

10%

EDUCATION AND CONSULTATION:

• Develops and implements education programs for patients, family members, and the community.

• Actively engages in teaching medical students, residents, fellows, nursing staff, and other allied health care providers under the guidance of physician faculty.

• Serves as an expert resource to Hematology/Oncology faculty and patients as well as to others in the University community.

• Provides education and information to external agencies, community, and other health professionals.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Third Essential Function

Percent of Time:

5%

CLINICAL RESEARCH/QUALITY:

• Serves as an expert resource for implementation of approved and relevant clinical research protocols.

• Actively manages patients enrolled on clinical trial protocols as sub-investigator.

• Collaborates with research staff in the development and conduct of research as well as the dissemination of research findings through written publications, professional meetings, and community programs.

• Provides scientific or intellectual contributions for grant and manuscript preparation.

• Leads and participates in department and divisional activities along with other functions as requested by the Medical Director, Division Chief, or the Chair of Medicine.

• Completes all educational/compliance activities required by the Department.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Fourth Essential Function

Percent of Time 5%

PRACTICE QUALITY & COMPLIANCE

• Participates in school, department and divisional required activities including but not limited to peer reviews, quality improvement activities (e.g. ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative), and other functions as requested by the Medical Director, Division Chief, Chair of Medicine or the Chief Medical Officer.

• Participates in and complies with requirements for requisite certifications, e.g. FACT.

• Completes all required School of Medicine compliance training and occupational health requirements by the required due date.

• Participates in the ASCO sponsored QOPI, in which the Division is a participant and longstanding certified practice.

Description

Special Condition APP's who provide direct patient care require a statement concerning Populations Served Competencies. Department to add any competencies required.

Competencies to admit, evaluate, diagnose, and provide treatment or consultative services to adult or Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) patients, except as specifically excluded from practice and except for those special procedures listed below, with illnesses and neoplastic disorders. Privileges include, but are not limited to, bone marrow aspirations and biopsy, administration of anti-neoplastic therapy, the management and care of indwelling venous access catheters.

Specific Competencies include:

History and Physical Examination, including SOAP note format documentation

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Emergency EKG interpretation

Emergency cardioversion

Peripheral artery catheterization

Endotracheal aspiration

Bone marrow biopsy

Bone marrow aspiration

Cancer chemotherapy and other anti-neoplastic therapy

Access of Ommaya reservoir

Installation of chemotherapy through Omaya reservoir

Intrathecal chemotherapy (post lumbar puncture)

Physical Requirements, Mental Requirements and Environmental Working Conditions

Bend: Occasionally

Squat: Occasionally

Crawl: Not Applicable

Climb: Not Applicable

Kneel: Occasionally

Handle Objects: Occasionally

Push/Pull: Frequently

Reach Above Shoulder Level: Frequently

Sit: Frequently

Stand: Frequently

Walk: Frequently

Use Fine Finger Movements: Constantly

Carry/Lift Loads up to 25 Pounds: Frequently

Carry/Lift Loads up to 25-50 lbs: Not Applicable

Carry/Lift Loads over 50 Pounds: Not Applicable

Read/Comprehend: Constantly

Write: Constantly

Perform Calculations: Constantly

Communicate Orally: Constantly

Reason and Analyze: Frequently

Chemical/Biological Agent: Frequently

Construction Activities: Not Applicable

Contact with Water/Liquids: Frequently

Drive Motorized Equipment: Not Applicable

Confined Spaces: Occasionally

Elevated Work Location: Constantly

Radioactive Materials: Not Applicable

Temperature Variations: Not Applicable

Gas Systems: Not Applicable

Other Working Conditions

May require weekend and/or holiday shifts, depending on patient care and operational needs.