Physician associate

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the physician associate. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. The physician associate will work within their scope of clinical practice and:

a. Identify, signpost or refer patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patients health

b. Provide routine care to patients as required in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

c. Examine, assess and diagnose patients and provide clinical care/ management as required

d. Triage patients and provide the necessary treatment during home visits

e. Triage and treat or refer patients who attend the walk-in clinic or minor illness clinic

f. Collect pathology specimens as required

g. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

h. Ensure read codes are used effectively

i. Ensure continuity of care, arranging follow-up consultations or reviews as necessary

j. Review the effectiveness of the treatment provided, making changes where necessary to improve patient outcomes

k. Chaperone patients where necessary

l. Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

m. Recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

n. Support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over the counter medicines (within own scope of practice)

o. Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure that the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

p. Ensure that they adhere to the relevant patient group directives and local clinical pathways at all times

q. Support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

r. Understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

s. Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Secondary responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the physician associate may be requested to:

a. Support the practice audit programme, undertaking audits when necessary

b. Support junior members of the team, providing guidance when necessary

c. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

d. Support and participate in shared learning within the practice

e. Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate

f. Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e. root cause analysis (RCA)

g. Take personal responsibility for own learning and development, including the requirement to maintain currency, achieving all targets set in their Personal Development Plan (PDP)

Qualifications

Essential

• Post graduate diploma or degree (physician associate)
• Member of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of working as a physician associate
• Experience in triage
• Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions

Experience

Essential

• EXPERIENCE OF:
• Ability to effectively triage, assess and diagnose
• Wound care
• ECGs
• Chaperone procedure
• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Asthma
• Spirometry
• CHD
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Understand the importance of evidence-based practice
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs

Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy

Skills & Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Strong IT skills
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
• EMIS/SystmOne/Vision user skills
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Personal qualities
• Polite and confident
• Flexible and cooperative
• Motivated, forward thinker
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Effectively utilise resources
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort

Desirable

• Understanding of the audit process
• Understanding of clinical risk management

UK Registration

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