Collaborates with physicians to provide clinical oversight and medical management of patients in accordance with CHI Franciscan Health standards/guidelines, applicable statutory requirements and accepted clinical practice for the profession. Work includes admitting, consulting and advising on treatment plans for clinic patients under supervising physician, following established protocols as determined by the Medical Director. Additionally, incumbent obtains complete medical history, physical data, and reviews patient records, history, imaging studies, and performs a physical exam. Delivers direct patient care by examining, diagnosing and analyzing the patient’s current health condition relative to disease management, and developing short- and long-term goals and treatment plans, in collaboration with a physician and/or established protocols/standards. Maintains familiarity with the patient throughout the outpatient treatment plan, and tailors care and education to meet the needs of each patient based on current clinical guidelines. Orders appropriate laboratory and diagnostic procedures, prepares written prescription orders, and advises patients regarding health and illness prevention, and recommends community resources to meet patient and family needs.
Accountable for keeping abreast of trends, developments and regulatory requirements impacting matters within designated scope of responsibility; participating in professional development activities; developing and maintaining professional contacts with appropriate community resources; participating in continuous performance improvement activities; maintaining established departmental policies and procedures, quality improvement, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
All job duties are defined by, and performed under the direction of, a supervising physician who assumes responsibility for providing the appropriate instruction/training in the functions and procedures that the incumbent performs. Unusual problems or proposed deviations from guidelines, practices or precedents are discussed with a physician before being initiated.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:The following section contains representative examples of job duties that might be performed in positions allocated to this job class. CHI FH is a dynamic organization, and the environment can be fluid. Roles and responsibilities may be altered to accommodate changing business conditions and objectives as well as to tap into the skills and experience of its employees. Accordingly, employees may be asked to perform duties that are outside the specific work that is listed. It is not required that any position perform all duties listed, so long as primary responsibilities are consistent with the work as described. Performance standards developed for incumbents allocated to this job class may also contain relevant job content information and are referenced hereto.
Assesses and interprets the health of critical care patients by taking extensive personal and family medical histories and triages according to type and seriousness of injury or care needs.
* Contacts and/or consults with primary care physician in cases where additional medical information regarding previous illness or treatment is required.
* Communicates the progress and needs of the patient during outpatient treatment; presents pertinent data to referring physician/provider, supervising physician and Medical Director.
* Interprets monitoring data to determine when a change in care is appropriate and makes decisions regarding treatment changes within defined scope of responsibility; follows up to ensure treatment is delivered as ordered, and to ensure continuity of medical care; advises supervising physician of developments in patient’s condition when indicated.
Performs thorough physical examinations of patients utilizing the techniques of observation, inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation and related methods.
* Explains/interprets results, findings and diagnosis to patient and/or patient’s family; answers questions and provides counseling and advice on methods of treatment, control/prevention.
* Makes referrals to other healthcare providers as necessary; confers directly regarding diagnosis or care-management problems.
Evaluates patient’s clinical diagnosis and initiates, carries out, and manages treatment plan(s) in accordance with medical guidelines and protocols.
* Manages cases from initiation into program to program completion for various conditions/diseases related to specialty area, under the direction of a supervising physician or Medical Director.
* Prescribes and administers appropriate medications within the limits of the applicable legal statute; refers patient to specialized services as needed.
* Collaborates with physicians, professional staff and ancillary members of the specialty area team in determining care, treatment and the general management of outpatients; interprets and facilitates the application of standards of nursing practice to the patient care process.
Performs routine therapeutic and screening procedures (e.g. placing central lines, intubating, administering injections, inotropic infusions etc.); performs routine laboratory and screening techniques such as drawing venous blood and interpreting laboratory findings, taking cultures and performing pulmonary function tests.
* Arranges, orders and evaluates patient’s screening, diagnostic and therapeutic services/tests as necessary to obtain additional data upon which evidence-based patient care protocols will be determined; reviews and evaluates results.
* Performs and evaluates lab results in a timely manner.
Cultural Sensitivity and Competence: Demonstrates proper use of communication tools/materials for effective communication and understands how the culture(s) of patient populations can affect communication, collaboration and the provision of care, treatment and services. Patient Population Served: Demonstrates knowledge and proper skills associated with the department’s defined specific populations served.
Performs related duties as required.
MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:The following section contains representative examples of competencies and job qualifications directly related to successful performance in the position. The categories are broad, reflecting minimum requirements. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible requirements nor does it include general competencies, expectations and/or skills that are universally applicable to the work, but are not critical for recruitment purposes or to overall job performance.
Education/Work Experience Requirements
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university that shows successful completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program (Family Practice or Internal Medicine preferred) and three years of work experience that demonstrates attainment of the requisite job knowledge skills/abilities.
Job Knowledge/Abilities:
* Knowledge of professional and advanced medical management theory/practice and clinical therapeutic models and protocols sufficient to assess, diagnose, plan, execute and evaluate patient care for disease management.
* Knowledge of science basic to medicine (e.g. anatomy, pathophysiology, microbiology, etc.), diagnostic techniques, and current treatment methods for common human diseases, disorders and injuries.
* Knowledge of CHI policies, standards and procedures and legal regulatory requirements applicable matters within designated scope of responsibility.
* Knowledge of medications, medical equipment, supplies and tools sufficient to conduct patient care activities.
* Knowledge of L&I billing practices and reimbursement levels.
* Knowledge of current principles, methods and procedures for the delivery of medical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.
* Knowledge of theory and practice of patient management/treatment within scope of certification.
* Knowledge of CHI procedures, safety and infection control standards sufficient to maintain the expected level of efficiency.
* Knowledge of diagnostic tests/procedures used in clinical settings to determine the health status and appropriate care of patients.
* Ability to construct and interpret a medical history, perform a physical assessment, evaluate patient behavior, perform/interpret laboratory tests and develop/implement treatment plans for patients.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as required by the duties of the position, including patients and other health professionals and paraprofessionals.
* Ability to use critical thinking skills in making decisions regarding patient care within assigned scope of authority.
* Ability to understand and accurately execute the provisions of policies and procedures and the instructions of physicians and other healthcare staff.
* Ability to understand and apply quality, safety and infection control standards.
* Ability to make clear and accurate explanations of technical conditions to professionals and laypersons.
* Ability to prepare accurate written reports, medical records and other documentation.
* Ability to understand and apply appropriate coding and billing protocols for professional services rendered.
* Ability to adapt, interpret and apply written guidelines, precedents and standardized work practices to a variety of unprecedented and problematic situations.
* Ability to keep abreast of trends, developments and regulatory requirements impacting matters within designated scope of responsibility.
* Ability to read, understand and communicate in English sufficient to perform the duties of the position.
* Ability to use office equipment and automated systems/applications/software at an acceptable level.Licensure/Certification
* Possession of a valid Washington State license to practice as a Physician Assistant
* Possession of current license as a Physician Assistant (with prescriptive authority) in the State of Washington.
* Current healthcare provider BLS Certification.
All About Franciscan: The Franciscan Health System, based inTacoma, Wash., includes seven full-service hospitals. (St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma; St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way; St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood; St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw; Highline Medical Center, Burien, and Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton.);
Franciscan Medical Group is home to over 700 physicians and professional providers representing a unique network of primary care and specialties.
Franciscan is a faith-based, non-profit 501-c 3 organization and is affiliated with Catholic Health Initiatives(CHI). CHI operates in 19 states and includes 76 hospitals; 40 long-term care, assisted- and residential-living facilities; two community health-services organizations; two accredited nursing colleges; and home health agencies. CHI - Core Values – Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence serve as our guiding principles. They are the roots, or anchors, from which all of our activities, decisions, and behaviors follow.
Clear views of Mount Rainier and the beautiful waters of Puget Sound offer a dramatic backdrop for life in Tacoma. As Washington’s third-largest city, Tacoma continues to grow as an economic and cultural core of Pierce County.
Tacoma is located just 30 miles south of Seattle. It offers all the advantages of a major metropolitan area while living in a mid-size city with easy access to some of the finest outdoor recreational areas.
Catholic Health Initiatives
Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) is a nonprofit, faith-based health system formed in 1996 through the consolidation of four Catholic health systems and expresses its mission each day by creating and nurturing healthy communities in sites across the nation where we provides care.
One of the nation’s largest health systems, CHI is based in Denver, CO and operates in 19 states and comprises 105 hospitals, including four academic health centers and major teaching hospitals and 30 critical-access facilities; community health-services organizations; accredited nursing colleges; home-health agencies; and other facilities that span the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care.
In fiscal year 2014, CHI provided $910 million in charity care and community benefit -- a nearly 20% increase over the previous year -- for programs and services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. Charity care and community benefit totaled more than $1.7 billion with the inclusion of the unpaid costs of Medicare. The health system, which generated revenues of almost $13.9 billion in fiscal year 2014, has total assets of $21.8 billion.
At CHI, we’re investing in our physician enterprise because we know that our physicians, mid-level providers and medical practice staff are the heart of CHI and the high-quality care we provide to our patients. Our physician enterprise includes CHI’s employed physicians and non-physician providers, and currently makes up 20% of the medical staff providing care in our hospitals. These highly talented medical professionals serve our communities, shape our approach to patient care and manage clinical functions. In short, they make it possible for us to sustain and grow our ministry of care.
The mission of Catholic Health Initiatives is to nurture the healing ministry of the Church by bringing it new life, energy and viability in the 21st century.
Our Core Values –Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence