Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:Physician
Associate
Salary: Competitive
Hours:8
10 sessions per week, Part time will be considered
Reports To:Clinically designated GP Lead/Supervisor
Managerially
accountable to the Practice Manager
Based:DeMontfort
Medical Centre, Burford Road, Evesham WR11 3HD.
Job Purpose
A Physician Associate
(PA) is a trained healthcare professional who works directly under the
supervision of a doctor as part of the medical team. They are usually generalists with broad
medical knowledge but can develop expertise/specialisms in a particular
field. The responsibilities of the
role include direct patient contact through assessment, examination,
investigation, diagnosis and treatment.
Description of the role and core
responsibilities:
Physicians Associates will:
provide
first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated,
undiagnosed problems utilising history-taking, physical examinations and
clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and
management plan in partnership with the patient (and their carers where
applicable).
review,
analysis and action diagnostic test results.
engage
in the Quality Outcome Framework (QoF) process as required.
deliver
integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with the wider
primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care networks.
undertake
face-to-face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine
problems, as determined by the practice, including management of patients
with long-term conditions. Where
required by the practice, PAs will offer specialised clinics following
appropriate training including (but not limited to) family planning, baby
checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes and anticoagulation.
undertake
home visits and participate in duty rotas.
provide
health/disease promotion and prevention advice to patients.
utilise
clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice and partake in
clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis
tasks.
participate
in continuing professional development opportunities and keep up to date with
evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of their role, meeting
clinical governance guidelines for continuing professional development
(CPD).
develop
and agree a personal development plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach
to practice. They will operate under
appropriate clinical supervision, with the practice.
Confidentiality
In the course of seeking
treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive
information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right
to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
In the performance of
the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access
to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice
staff and other healthcare workers.
They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a
business organisation. All such
information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
Health & Safety
The post-holder will
assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and
security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:
using
personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.
identifying
the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a
way that manages those risks.
making
effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
using
appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy
and safe way and free from hazards.
reporting
potential risks identified.
Equality and
Diversity
The post-holder will
support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and
colleagues, to include:
acting
in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them
in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and
current legislation.
respecting
the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
Personal/Professional
Development
In addition to
maintaining continued education through attendance at any courses and/or
study days necessary to ensure that professional development requirements are
met, the post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented
by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
participation
in an annual individual performance review, annual Appraisal including taking responsibility for maintaining a
record of own personal and/or professional development.
taking
responsibility for own development, learning and performance and
demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar
work.
PAs
will be required to undertake the UK PA National Re-Certification Exam every
six years and maintain professional registration working within the latest
code of professional conduct (CIPD).
PA's
will be required to maintain registration with the FPA and remain on PAMVR
until regulation takes place.
Quality
The post-holder will
strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
alert
other team members to issues of Clinical Governance issues, quality and risk;
participate in Significant Event Analysis reviews.
assess
own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or
under supervision.
contribute
to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and
making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.
work
effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.
effectively
manage own time, workload and resources. He/she will also contribute to the
overall team-working of the Practice putting the needs of the Practice first.
Contribution to the planning and
implementation of services
The post-holder will:
apply
practice policies, standards and guidance.
discuss
with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines
will affect own work.
participate
in audit where appropriate.
work
with the Lead GP to achieve standards of quality, performance standards,
without compromising levels of patient healthcare.
contribute
towards the development and implementation of new standards, policies and
procedures that are/will be required of GP Practices now and in the future
(as directed by NHS/ DoH/, new legislation etc.).
Communication
The
post-holder will:
be
able to effectively communicate at all levels of the practice to include a
variety of health professionals, users and carers, independent and voluntary
sector to provide the best outcomes for users of the services.
provide interface between hospital,
primary, community and social settings, participate where appropriate in
clinical meetings relating to patient care and outcomes.
communicate
effectively with patients and carers.
be
able to keep accurate contemporaneous documentation, both written and
computerised, inpatient records and will need to be familiar with EMIS Web.
recognise
peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond
accordingly.
Clinical
Governance
The post-holder will:
participate
and operate within the clinical governance framework for the practice at all
times, incorporating service users and carers, audit, guidelines and risk
management.
actively
participate in the practice, becoming familiar with and abiding by its plans,
policies and procedures.
IT
Security Policy
You are required to work within the remit of the practice IT
Technology Security Policies.
As a consequence of the above unauthorised/inappropriate use of
computers including the internet, email, passwords, computer packages etc.
will be regarded as gross misconduct and will be treated as such under the
practice disciplinary procedures.
This job
description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically to reflect the
on-going changes in practice.
