General Surgery Physician Assistant

General surgery succeeds when the right clinician is in the room before the incision, after the complication, and between the cases that never quite go as planned. This role puts a physician assistant at the center of operative care, floor management, and the decisions that get patients home safely. You will own a defined slice of the service—not shadow it—so surgeons can operate, patients move, and the team stays ahead of risk.

Performance Objectives

• First-assist in a full general surgery case mix and anticipate the next step so cases finish cleanly and on schedule.
• Run preoperative evaluation and consent support so patients arrive optimized, informed, and cleared for the planned procedure.
• Manage postoperative orders, complications, and daily progress so length of stay and readmissions stay within service targets.
• Cover consults and acute changes with a clear plan the attending can act on, including escalation when the picture shifts.
• Close the loop on discharge: meds, follow-up, and handoff written so the next clinician can continue care without a phone call.
• Document operative and inpatient care the same day, accurate enough for billing, quality review, and the next shift.
• Teach residents, students, and new staff the service standard so coverage does not drop when you are in the OR.

Environment & Resources

You join a general surgery service that pairs attending surgeons with advanced practice clinicians across the OR, clinic, and inpatient units. Expect a defined panel, dedicated OR block, and a reporting line to the surgical lead, with medical direction on privileging and protocols. Tools include the hospital EHR, order sets, and on-call backup. Support covers credentialing, CME time, and a recruiter who stays with you through start—not just the offer.

Essential Qualifications

• NCCPA certification and state PA licensure, or eligibility to obtain both before start.
• Graduation from an accredited PA program, with general surgery, acute care, or surgical residency/fellowship experience preferred.
• Demonstrated first-assist skill in open and laparoscopic abdominal cases, including tissue handling, exposure, and closure.
• Independent management of post-op pain, drains, wounds, and common complications under collaborative practice.
• Current BLS and ACLS; ATLS or equivalent trauma exposure is an advantage where the service takes emergency cases.
• Clear written and verbal handoffs that attending surgeons and nurses can use without rework.

Role Selling Points

• Real operative time, not a clinic-only PA role with occasional OR days.
• Breadth across elective, urgent, and inpatient general surgery rather than a single procedure line.
• A clinical placement process built for licensure, privileging, and start-date reality—not a generic tech search.
• Partnership that continues after day one, with room to grow scope as privileges and trust expand.

Call to Action

If you want your name on the board and your judgment in the chart, apply with your CV and a short note on the cases you assist and the patients you own. We will tell you quickly whether this service fits how you practice.