Orthogeriatrics Physician Associate, Band 7

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

This post offers excellent experience in Orthogeriatrics/Hip Fracture peri-operative care, working under the supervision of the Care of the Elderly (COTE) team on the Hip Fracture Unit and Orthopaedic wards at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. As a Physician Associate you will be acting within your professional boundaries, providing care for patients from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment under the supervision of the senior clinical team. You will liaise with other professionals and specialities as required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients.

The post holder is expected to participate in all aspects of the patient pathway as appropriate and will be expected to perform delegated duties with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge.

They will be mentored and supervised by a designated consultant who will oversee their career development. The level and type of supervision will be dependent on the post holders' skills and knowledge and determined by the trust clinical governance arrangements. The post holder will be expected to follow recommended annual appraisals and continuing professional development set out by the Faculty of Physician Associate (FPA).

Main duties of the job

The Orthogeriatrics team comprises: 1 COTE Consultant (Dr Andy Monro), an Associate Specialist (Dr Rachel Tarling), sessions from a COTE SpR, GPSTs, Foundation level doctors, a senior Physician Associate and a Hip Fracture ANP. The wards are also supported by the full range of multi-disciplinary and therapy staff and a dedicated nutritional assistant.

Following the reconfiguration of our Trauma & Orthopaedics services at the end of 2017 all trauma is routed via Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. We are now the 4th largest Hip Fracture Unit in the UK where approximately 800 hip fracture patients are treated annually. There is a dedicated Orthogeriatrician-led hip fracture ward (ward 3A). All hip fracture patients are under the joint care of the Orthopaedic and Orthogeriatric teams with very close collaborative MDT working.

The Orthogeriatric team also provide input to other elderly trauma patients as requested. The plan is to continue to expand the service in the future to provide joint Orthopaedic/Orthogeriatric care for all elderly trauma patients.

The postholder will be expected to support the daily Consultant ward rounds, attend the daily ward board rounds and 'huddles' and provide medical support and patient review on the Hip Fracture Unit and Orthopaedic wards to hip fracture patients, any medical outliers on these wards, and any other patients under the care of the Orthogeriatric team.

About us

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates, access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir.

Date posted

16 August 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-23-R11779

Job locations

Gloucestershire Royal

Gloucester

GL1 3NN

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Clinical Duties

- Supporting ward-rounds; undertaking assessment and examination of ward based patients, ordering appropriate investigations, interpreting investigation findings, forming a list of differential diagnoses and recommending treatment accordingly. The expectation is that in time the PA will progress to leading ward rounds with indirect supervision.

- Performing diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, subject to training/experience. Including, but not exclusively:

Venepuncture

Cannulation

Arterial blood gases

ECG

Catheterisation of male and female patients

- It is recognized that the successful candidate may not be able to perform all these tasks at the beginning and further individual training and supervision to acquire these skills will be provided the candidate should not take on a skill in which they do not have experience.

- Developing and maintaining specialist medical knowledge appropriate to orthogeriatric medicine, including, but not limited to:

Dementia and delirium

Falls

Frailty

Continence

Impaired balance

Nutrition NGT insertion

Movement Disorders

- Keeping up to date with current guidelines and maintain best practice.

- Contributing to achieving and maintaining performance within the hospital and department.

- Contributing to the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines.

- Helping to facilitate and improve Physician Associate student placements.

- Holding accountability for the care given and complying with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Managed Voluntary Register for Physician Associates (and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body, when this is in place).

- Working within the framework of the scope of professional practice.

- Working within the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working in the provision of medical care to patients on a day-to-day basis.

- Developing clinical guidelines to ensure best practice for the management of a wide range of medical conditions.

- Supporting and contributing to timely discharge planning including completing discharge summaries and support optimising bed capacity.

- Abiding by the Clinical & Corporate Governance policies of the Trust.

- Taking part in the administration of the department and the involvement in the management of resources.

- Fully documenting all aspects of patient care, and completing all required paperwork.

The Physician Associates role will initially be developed in collaboration with the Clinical Lead of the Department. The job plan will be subject to review in line with service developments.

2. Service Quality and Clinical Governance

- Develop standards, procedures and systems to ensure safe, high quality and efficient patient care from the point of entry to admission or discharge.

- Participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.

3. Communication and Representation

- Regular communication with family members regarding clinical updates or changes in condition.

- Liaise closely within the department, other in-patient teams and primary and community services to ensure collaborative working arrangements are in place which maximise benefits to patient care.

- Work collaboratively with the clinical team, e.g. consultants, junior doctors, nursing staff, therapy staff etc. to encourage and ensure good working relationships.

- Build effective networks with other departments, working in collaboration to support efficient patient flow.

- Promote a positive image of the department both externally and internally.

- Participate in and contribute to Trust wide initiatives and projects as appropriate.

4. Research & Teaching

- Maintain knowledge and proficiency in medical practices through appropriate continuing professional development.

- Assist in the development and mentoring of Physician Associate Students as the profession progresses.

- Take an active role in the departmental clinical audit and governance activity.

- Teach and train junior doctors, multi-disciplinary staff and students.

- Assist with regular audit/surveys to support and inform service development.

- Preparing for, attending and contributing to teaching