Physician associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the personal list of patients registered with their Accountable GP, through clinical consultation, face to face or via the telephone. This will include initial history taking, clinical assessment, appropriate onward referral, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care, demonstrating safe clinical decision-making. The post holder will also carry out similar work as part of the Practices Urgent Care Team, dealing with a variety of patients, not just those of the Accountable GP.

They will work collaboratively with the Practice and wider healthcare team to meet the needs of their patients. The post holder will provide a holistic clinical service, with support from the Accountable GP and where appropriate other GPs as required, implementing agreed management plans and following approved protocols. The post holder will be expected to consult with patients who present on the day and via booked appointments and to carry out some home visits. The post holder will also review and act appropriately on blood results and referrals/correspondence regarding their patients.

The postholder will also have the opportunity to develop and run long term condition or chronic disease clinics.

Mentorship and supervision will be provided by the Accountable GP. The level and type of supervision will be dependent on the post holders experience and acquisition of skills and knowledge and determined by the organisations clinical governance arrangements.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

CLINICAL

Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the Practice as delegated and agreed by the Accountable GP.

Provide direct clinical care to patients using established clinical guidelines.

Consult and refer patients to physicians, medical specialists and other health professionals as required.

Interview patients, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, analyse, diagnose and explain medical problems during surgery consultations and home visits.

Recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment.

Request and interpret results of laboratory investigations when necessary.

Perform specialised diagnostic physical examinations and treatment procedures.

Instruct and educate patients in preventative health care.

Conduct telephone consultations which may involve discussing the result and implications of laboratory investigations with patients as well as dealing appropriately with routine and emergency complaints

Order laboratory tests as required and agreed under supervising doctor(s).

Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes.

Formulate diagnoses and treatment plans, in consultation with or referring to Supervising doctor(s) as appropriate.

Communicate when necessary, with colleagues in primary care and hospital specialists in order to discuss or refer specific patients, plan and co-ordinate activities or exchange information in order to improve the quality of patient care.

TRAINING / EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development

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.

Undertake 50 hours of continuing medical education (CPD) every year. A minimum of 25 hours must be in accredited direct learning programmes.

Take and pass the national re-certification exam every 6 years in accordance with the requirements of the PA Managed Voluntary Register and as recommended by the National Examination Sub Committee of the UKUBPAE (UK Universities Board of Physician Associate Education) and subsequently as required by the statutory regulating body when in place.

Perform a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis and treatment where appropriate using the following means:

- Audit of clinical practice.

- Review of relevant literature.

- Research unusual symptoms and treatment options, through consultation with physicians and other medical specialists.

Attend regular meetings organised by the practice in order to update clinical knowledge, practice policy and guidelines and disseminate other useful information relevant to the provision of adequate healthcare for patients.

Regularly reflect on own practice (and keep a record of learning encounters) in order to identify learning needs and encourage self-directed lifelong learning and continued professional development.

ADMINISTRATION

Send and receive written information on behalf of the Practice regarding matters relating to the physical and social welfare of patients.

Work to deliver with other members of the practice and Primary Healthcare Team, the objectives of the GMS contract, including the terms of the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

Other Information:

Other duties

The post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties according to the needs of the service. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities, but rather an outline of the main areas of responsibility. Any reasonable changes will be discussed and agreed with the post holder before any variations to the job description are made.

Travel to other sites

The post holder may be required to travel between Practice sites and to visit patients in their home (whether permanent or temporary)

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Postgraduate Diploma/Master in Physician Associate from an accredited UK University
• Bachelor Degree in Life Science/Biomedical/Nursing or Allied Health Science
• For USA trained candidates: Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

Desirable

• Basic or Advanced Life Support trained

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with doctors in clinical decision making
• Experience of applying evidence to clinical practice

Other

Essential

• Good communication skills with the ability to empathise
• Willingness to participate in a multi-disciplinary team environment to provide an integrated service for patients
• Ability to work as a member of a team, both through communication and sharing workload
• Ability to manage high pressure situations e.g. clinical crisis
• Willingness to work flexibly to deliver clinically effective and cost- effective healthcare
• Evidence of continued learning and development

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Patient assessment skills
• In depth knowledge of related medical conditions, treatments and pharmacology
• Ability to work autonomously within the scope of supervised practice
• Knowledge of maintaining confidentiality and implementing data protection legislation requirements
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively
• Ability to exercise sound judgement when faced with conflicting pressures
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• IT literate
• Knowledge of Audit principles and evidence of participation in audit / Quality Improvement projects

Desirable

• Experience of SystmOne clinical IT system

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).

Employer details

Employer name

East Norfolk Medical Practice

Address

The Lighthouse Medical Centre

Howard Street South

Great Yarmouth

Norfolk

NR30 2PT

Employer's website

https://www.enmp.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)