Establishes administrative and clinical support in the Urology clinics and six centers (CBOCs) including surgery. Provides direct clinical support to physicians in the care and treatment of patients in the Urology clinics and surgery service lines. Some potential dangers and discomfort are present when constantly working with psychiatric or drug abuse patients. Special precautions are required when working under such conditions.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Physician Assistant (PA) provides access to outpatient Urological care to the Hines outpatient Urology Clinic by performing comprehensive consultation and follow up evaluations. Provides clinical support to help maintain appropriate patient flow until scheduled clinics are completed and provides any patient teaching throughout stay. The Urology Physician Assistant major responsibilities include: -PA collaborates with the Urologist; assist with procedures; extend services to the CBOCs; takes care of patients in clinic; and triage symptoms for acute needs in the absence of the attending. -PA will assist with tracking high risk cancer biopsy results, providing appropriate follow-up, improving the flow process from diagnosis to treatment to surveillance, improving the access to implants, and re-establishing the Urologist multidisciplinary clinics. Additionally, Hines Urologists are part-time, therefore, this dedicated Urology PA will be able to address the needs of Veterans and improve access to care on a full-time basis by: 1. Independently evaluating patient with history and physical to present to supervising attending physician to facilitate diagnostic evaluation and formulating treatment plans for outpatients seen in the urology clinic. 2. Coordinating Cardiac Screening and/or other medical clearances required for patients that require surgical care. 3. Prescribing required medications to treat Urological conditions. 4. Ordering diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKGs) as required for diagnostic evaluation of Urological conditions. 5. Carrying out health promotion and disease prevention activities. 6. Initiating and expediting consultation requests; scheduling special tests and studies. 7. Making interim summaries of patient's medical records. 7. Providing education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs. 8. Performing other duties as assigned within the Urological section and the surgical service. 9. Coordination of scheduling and rescheduling of clinic visits as deemed necessary, for workflow in the clinic. Active management of clinic workflow may include converting patients from face-to-face (F2F) visits into telephone or virtual video conferences (VVC), for example. 10. Maintaining active log of patients requiring surgery and scheduled procedures. 11. Coordinating retrieval of community care records and consultations for attending Evaluation. 12. Communication of results to patients via telephone and written forms. 13. Postoperative follow-up patient communication in coordination with Urology Nurse. 14. Coordination of inpatient and outpatient discharge planning. This series covers positions that involve assisting a physician by providing diagnostic and therapeutic medical care and services under the guidance of the physician. The work requires knowledge of specific observation and examination procedures, and the ability to perform diagnostic and therapeutic tasks. The work does not include the full scope of interpretation of medical findings requiring the full professional background of the licensed physician. Physician Assistants assist in the examination and observation of patients by performing such duties as taking case histories, conducting physical examinations, and ordering laboratory studies during hospital rounds and clinic visits. As directed by a physician, physician assistants carry out special procedures; including giving injections or other medication, applying or changing dressings, or suturing minor lacerations. Every order or prescription written by the PA will be within the parameters of their scope of practice and considered as coming from the supervising physician. Duties of the supervising physician include periodic assessment of patient care as evidenced by any of the following: direct observation of the PA's care; discussion of the care with the PA; or review of medical records. The supervising physician need not be physically present when patient care is being provided but must be readily available for consultation by telephone or other electronic methods. This Scope of Practice is written for PA of the Surgery Service at the Hines VA Hospital. PA's is authorized to write medical orders on inpatients and /or outpatients assigned to the facility for care. All orders, discharge summaries, progress notes, consultation requests, and history and physician examinations which are written by the PA will clearly be identified as such in the written or electronic medical records. Work Schedule: TBD by service Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Physician Assistant Basic Requirements Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~ Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Work is performed in the Urology clinic area, consisting of reception office, waiting room and examination room. Incumbent works near patients and is therefore exposed to communicable disease. Some potential dangers and discomfort are present when constantly working with psychiatric or drug abuse patients. Special precautions are required when working under such conditions. The PA will also be responsible for assistance with inpatient and emergency room consultations. These work environments including the inpatient hospital, spinal cord injury (SCI) center, as well as the Extended Care Center (ECC) at Hines VA. Supervisory Controls: The PA makes assignments by defining overall objectives, prioritizing patients according to urgency. Instructions are received from the Attending on any policies and procedures. The individual independently resolves most of the patient complains or conflicts that arise; coordinates the work with others as necessary and interprets policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives. Complete work is typically reviewed from an overall standpoint in terms of technical soundness, appropriateness and conformity to policy and requirements. Medication and treatment orders are reviewed and initialed by your attending. Customer Service: Effectively communicates with and utilizes other discipline both internal and external to the Urology Service to facilitate treatment planning, implementation of that treatment, and outreach/community education. With few exceptions, participates effectively in OR & Clinic Huddles, SSL team meetings, treatment planning conferences, case presentation and staffing, etc. Collaborates with divergent multidisciplinary team members internal and external to the SSL/Urology Service/CBOC Clinics, in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive veteran patient care. Uses VA counseling Services to engage in problem resolution activities. He/she anticipates and avoids potential causes of conflict and activity promotes cooperation among co-workers. This is an accurate reflection of the duties and responsibilities of the position, per applicable Qualification Standard(s). A. Documentation Guidelines include procedural manuals and policy manuals applicable to the functions of the Urology clinics. They also provide references describing medications, diet and kinds of tests and instructions for their preparation. Guides are supplemented by oral directives from the physician and attending. These guidelines cover most situations. B. Complexity Work consists of performing initial histories and physical examinations on outpatients in the Urology clinic, performing Urological examinations, and providing patient care as directed by the attending physician. The incumbent provides input to patient progress notes, procedures, orders, E. Personal Contacts Personal contacts include patients, their families and friends, members of patient care teams, medical staff and particularly close association with the Urology clinic and surgery personal. Contacts also include staff in many areas of the medical center as well as business personnel. Contact may be in person, by telephone or via written correspondence. Contact with Urology residents, physicians, medical and nursing students, or other new staff members are to provide guidance, instructions, training and orientation in medical records documentation, inputting history and physicals, also filling out the requirements needed with the Urologic examinations. Other contacts include business personnel, i.e., attorneys, insurance representatives, other VA Medical Centers, etc., requesting medical information or who have personal business concerns. F. Purpose of Contact The purpose of contact is to maintain contacts with medical, surgical and clerical staff in various units and clinics to resolve delays and misunderstandings in the process of providing patient care. The incumbent exercises skill in dealing with all types of patients in order to gain their confidence so a wholesome rapport can be established and maintained. Contacts with family members and friends inquiring about the patient's condition may present similar problems. G. Physical Demands: The work requires standing or walking for a major portion of the workday. The walking will often require carrying supplies or pushing carts and equipment when in surgery. In the clinics you may need to assist patients into the examination rooms when in wheelchairs or on carts, which could consist of a variety of standing, walking, twisting, turning, sitting, bending, pushing, carrying and light lifting. This may be considered demanding physical activity.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Roshiny Sebastian
• Phone: 7082024918
• Email: [email protected]