Lead 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:

1. Training needs analysis to understand post-graduate training requirements for PAs across different care pathways.
2. Promote a learning environment for patients, and other health professionals within the PCN.
3. Contribute to the planning and implementation of the teaching for existing staff, such as Physician Associates, and Clinical Pharmacists within the PCN.
4. Supporting Clinical Directors to understand and develop additional post-qualifying opportunities.
5. Undertake face-to-face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the PCN, including management of patients with long-term conditions. Where required by the PCN, physician associates can offer specialised clinics following appropriate training including (but not limited to) family planning, baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes and anticoagulation.
6. Identify, signpost or refer patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patients health
7. Undertake home visits and participate in duty rotas

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

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

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

k. Collect pathology specimens as required

l. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

m. Ensure read codes are used effectively

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

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

p. Chaperone patients where necessary

q. Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

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

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

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

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

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

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

x. Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Managerial responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the physician associate will have managerial responsibilities:

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

b. Participate in clinical supervision for the Physician Associates within the PCN.

c. Encourage and develop teamwork within the PCN.

d. Contribute towards the PCN Development plan and participate in surveys or audits and undertake research and development activities, of care provided by the PCN.

e. Participate in multi-disciplinary protocols development.

f. Identify appropriate opportunities to delegate both clinical and administrative tasks to more junior staff.

g. Help the PCN operate in a cost-effective manner.

h. Participate in PCN meetings as required

i. Participate in the development, implementation and continual reassessment of policies, protocols and guidelines.

j. Participate in the planning and organisational recall systems eg: chronic disease registers, so that patient recall is managed effectively.

k. Take an active role, as part of the PCN, in meeting the targets within the Quality and Outcome Framework, PCN Network DES and support to reduce variability.

Qualifications

Essential

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

Experience

Essential

• 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

Clinical Knowledge

Essential

• 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

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).