Spine Physician Assistant

Main Function:

Diagnose illness and physical conditions and may perform corrective measures within her/his specialty area of practice in collaboration and under direction of the surgeon within the practice and practice protocol. Additionally will assist with chart review and quality measures to assure the quality and efficacy of the practice.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Performing comprehensive and problem focused histories and physical examinations, interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
2. Formulate a differential diagnosis establish and a working diagnosis. Develop a treatment plan for neurosurgical conditions within the scope of practice and in conjunction with the neurosurgeon. Implement therapeutic intervention for specific conditions were appropriate.
3. Exercise judgment on conditions requiring consultation, referral, or evaluation by the supervising neurosurgeon or other healthcare professionals.
4. First assistant in surgery, closure of deep and superficial wounds to assist with all neurosurgical procedures to include craniotomies, spinal procedures including instrumentations, microscopic procedures.
5. Conduct hospital rounds on a daily basis of all patients including intensive care units, write orders, progress notes, perform all admission history and physicals, order appropriate laboratory and radiographic tests such as MRI's, myleograms, bone scans, and other radiographic studies as needed or indicated.
6. Perform appropriate laboratory and diagnostic studies, such as Lumbar punctures, ventriculostomies, myleograms, placement of tong traction, halo fixation devices.
7. Evaluate and clarify clinical conditions, formulate an implement a treatment and therapeutic plan for hospitalized patients, discharge planning, dictate discharge summaries.
8. See all new office patients and complete a thorough history and physical examination that is problem oriented for neurosurgical conditions. Present that patient to the attending neurosurgeon's and then help formulate a treatment plan, order appropriate radiographic studies and perform office procedures.
9. Evaluate postoperative patients and routine follow up visits. Be available to see those patients that require a same day office visits.
10. Assist with phone calls from patients, handle prescription refills, review radiographic reports laboratory reports for abnormalities, suture removals.
11. Review x rays MRIs CT scan's of hospitalized patients and office patients with the attending neurosurgeon.
12. Obtain informed consent as needed for surgeries, studies and procedures.
13. Provide education, instruction and counseling to patients, families and groups of individuals. Including physician, professional and community groups.
14. Maintain appropriate billing information and monitor adequate completion of patient note.
15. Coordinate care with patient primary physician and other agencies as necessary.
16. Document appropriately and accurately in a timely fashion the patient interaction, care and treatment of patient.
17. Assist in quality monitoring reviews for the practice. Including coordination of M&M with residents and fellows. Assist with NYPORT reviews and QA reporting to hospital as identified.
18. Perform chart reviews to assure quality of documentation.
19. Recommend practice procedural changes in coordination with clinical coordinator (Office Manager) and administration.
20. IP consult and other Kaleida facility consult in coordination with attendings.
21. Arrange and coordinate patient transfers form outside facilities.
22. Follow-up with PMD's rehab MD's weekly for coordination of care.
23. Other duties as requested.

Qualifications:

1. Graduation from accredited PA program
2. Registration and current license as a PA
3. Current professional liability insurance
4. Current practice agreement with UBNS Inc. attending
5. Willingness to participate as a team member
6. Excellent communication organization skills
7. Ability to travel to multiple sites
8. Ability to use wide range of computer programs including EMR