Job responsibilities
The PA will provide care for the
presenting patient from initial history taking and clinical assessment through
to the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. They will demonstrate
critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process, including assessment
and diagnostic skills, leading to the delivery of safe care for all patients.
They will work collaboratively with the healthcare team to meet the needs of
the patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures. The PA will
provide a holistic and clinical service, with support from GPs as required,
implementing agreed management plans and following approved protocols as
appropriate. The PA will be expected on a typical day to carry out some home
visits and consult with patients who present on the day and via booked
appointments as well as support and manage appropriate patient care at Nursing
and Care Homes. The PA will also review and act appropriately on blood results
and referrals/correspondence regarding their patients.
Mentorship and supervision will be
provided by designated senior medical personnel. The level and type of
supervision will be dependent on the post holders acquisition of skills and
knowledge and determined by the organisations clinical governance
arrangements. The PA would be expected to attend and partake in PCN and
practice meetings.
DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILTIES
CLINICAL
Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare as agreed
by the supervising GP(s).
Provide direct clinical care to patients using established
clinical guidelines.
Take medical histories, perform physical examinations, analyse,
diagnose, explain medical problems and formulate management plan during surgery consultations and home
visits. In consultation with or referring to supervising doctor(s) as
appropriate.
Recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment.
Request
and interpret results of laboratory investigations when necessary as agreed
with supervising doctor(s).
Perform specialised diagnostic physical
exams and treatment procedures.
Instruct and educate patients in preventative health
care.
Consult and refer patients to physicians, medical specialists and
other health professionals as indicated.
All of the above for patients in Nursing and Care Homes as and
when required.
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.
Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all
required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes.
Contribute
to the clinical development of patient care in the PCN by developing a special
interest and to help establish appropriate systems to manage common chronic
medical conditions, ensuring compliance with NSF guidelines.
Participate
fully in the clinicians duty rota including the provision of home visits and
Nursing/Care home when 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.
Deal regularly with community hospitals,
consultants and other health care providers, insurance companies and other
community organisations to refer/consult on specific cases, participate in
community service and education projects and activities and the like.
TRAINING
/ EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ensure continuing education, training and
development is undertaken to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing
Professional Development and a Personal Development Plan.
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 professional development (CPD) every year. A minimum of
25 hours must be external. Maintain Royal College of Physicians CPD diary.
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:
o Audit of clinical practice.
o Review of relevant literature.
o Research
unusual symptoms and treatment options, through consultation with physicians
and other medical specialists.
Provide literature reviews and the
like; review, analyse and determine the significance of a variety of diagnostic
test results.
Assist
in clinical instruction and supervision of medical and nursing students as well
other learners that may periodically be attached to the practice, including the
educational development and mentoring of Physician Associate students.
Attend
regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by the Practice/PCN in order to
discuss and learn from recent significant events relating to clinical practice
occurring within the Practice/PCN.
Attend
regular educational 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 of
insurance, housing and other issues relating to the physical and social welfare
of patients.
Work
to deliver with other members of the practice
and PCN Team, the objectives of the PCN DES.
Attend
regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by the Practice in order to
discuss the health and social needs of particular patients.
This is an exciting opportunity for the
right person wishing to develop their clinical and management practice across
different practices in the heart of the community, learning from each. The
supervising teams have a wealth of experience in general practice which will
undoubtedly provide the opportunity for the new appointee to develop their
knowledge and shape the position within a dynamic PCN.
Other
Information:
General
The duties of this post are a guide to
the range of responsibilities that may be required. These may change from time to time to meet
the needs of the service and/or the development needs of the post holder. This job description will be revised
regularly to take account of changes within the PCN structure and PCN DES.
Other duties
The post holder will
be required to undertake any other 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 will
be required to travel.
Medical Examinations
All appointments are conditional upon
prior health clearance by the practice.
Failure to provide continuing
satisfactory evidence will be regarded as a breach of contract.
Professional Registration
Staff undertaking work which requires
professional/state registration are responsible for ensuring that they are so
registered and that they comply with any Codes of Conduct applicable to that
profession. Proof of registration must
be produced on appointment and, if renewable, proof of renewal must also be
produced.
Disclosure and Barring Service
Applicants for posts in the NHS are exempt from the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment
will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring
Service before the appointment is confirmed. Further information is available
from www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
Equal Opportunities
North Shropshire PCN is an equal
opportunities employer and you will be expected to comply with all relevant
policies and procedures in this area together with all other policies and
procedures as initiated by the practice.
Work
Visa/ Permits/Leave To Remain
If you are a non-resident of the United
Kingdom or European Economic Union, you are required to have a valid work visa
and leave to remain in the UK, which is renewed as required. The Practice is
unable to employ or continue to employ you if you require but do not have a
valid work visa and/or leave to remain in the UK.