Physician Assistant

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post - PCN Physician Assistant

Salary Grade - Depending on experience

Accountable to -Clinical Director Rushcliffe PCN

Reporting to -GP Practice Clinical Lead

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The post holder will be allocated patients via the triaging GP. The Physician assistant will then provide healthcare for patients through clinical assessment, examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. All consultations will have a debrief before the patient leaves the practice.

Post holder will deliver a high standard of patient care within in depth theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice working under the supervision of a GP. Plus ensuring documentation is of a high standard.

The post holder will manage presenting patients needs in a primary care setting on a day-to-day basis.

The post holder will be expected to support clinical audit and identify care gaps identified through clinical reporting.

The post holder will work with the clinical and admin teams to ensure a high level of care is provided to the registered practice population.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Following GP triage, the post holder will provide a clinical consultation for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, utilising sound history taking, physical examinations, problem solving and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patients (and their carers where applicable)

Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports within your scope of competence. Discuss the result and implications of laboratory investigations with patients and the Practice GP clinical leads.

Utilise local and national clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice.

Deliver integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care network multi-disciplinary team and social care networks

Undertake face to face, telephone, video and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the triaging GP, including management of patients with acute and long-term conditions.

May be asked to undertake home visits and participate in duty rotas where requested and with appropriate supervision.

Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice to patients

Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice, participate in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks

ADMINISTRATION

Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken to meet clinical governance guidelines as set out by the GMC for Continuing Professional Development and a Personal Development Plan.

Attend training as part of the mandatory and practice requirements and that identified as part of the CPD plan.

Undertake a fair share of the overall administration associated with clinical practice in primary care. Ensure medical admin is completed in a timely manner and is to a high standard.

Involvement in clinical audit as part of new service implementation, quality improvement, patient reviews, QOF and any other audit work undertaken by the practice and/or PartnersHealth.

Keep up to date with relevant medical research, technology and evidence-based medical practice by attending continuing education courses and professional meetings, reading journals etc.

The post holder may be required to travel as part of their duties to other sites in the PCN

Update patient records in accordance with practice policies and procedures.

To ensure observance and adherence to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

To participate in staff meetings, 1-2-1 meetings and the appraisal scheme and undertake training appropriate to the development of the job role and in line with the Practices statutory obligations.

PROFESSIONALISM

Show a caring attitude towards patients and show a caring attitude towards patients, have well-developed communication skills to provide treatment plans. And work to a professional code of ethics

As an employee of the Practice it is expected that you will take due diligence and care in regard to any information collected, recorded, processed or handled by you during the course of your work and that such information is collected, recorded, processed and handled in compliance with Practice requirements and instructions.

To work to the agreed standards, policies and procedures and protocols of the Practice and be fully conversant with emergency procedures.

The duties of this post are a guide to the range of responsibilities that may be required. These may change to meet the needs of the service and/or the development needs of the post holder. This job description will be revised regularly to take account of changes within the organisational structure and the practice business plan.

Analytical & Judgement Skills

Essential

• Ability to apply clinical judgements involving complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range of options.
• Experience managing minor and major health conditions, considering differential diagnosis.
• Ability to present patient cases to allow comprehensive and thorough debrief of the patient with the GP as required.
• Demonstrate own professional judgement and in discussion with the medical and nursing team decide when patients require referral to another speciality.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• BSc level Degree prior to undertaking PA programme
• PG Diploma or masters in physician Assistant Studies from a UK training programme
• Hold a current PA registration with the GMC
• Valid certification of Physician Associate National Exam
• Minimum 2 years experience working in general medicine as a physician assistant

Desirable

• Experience of total triage system
• SystmOne clinical system experience
• Experience of teaching.
• Experience of audit.
• Ability to develop and maintain own clinical skills to high standard to ensure safe delivery of care.

Communication & Relationship Skills

Essential

• Ability to work flexibly across different locations as required and multi-task when necessary, including as required out of hours work.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team utilising good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent communication skills.
• Ability to influence and challenge colleagues appropriately.
• Knowledge of Primary Care Networks
• Demonstrate working with wider system partners such as social care, acute and community services.

Desirable

• Experience of working with patient groups and voluntary sector

Commitment to Trust Values & Behaviours

Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with PartnersHealth values and behavioural standards

Planning & Organisational Skills

Essential

• Adaptable to changing working environment and service needs.
• Planning, organising and prioritising tasks, activities or programmes some of which may be urgent or ongoing.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).