Physician Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the Practices as delegated and agreed by the supervising GP(s).

Provide direct clinical care to patients using established clinical guidelines.

Carry out patient home visits as required

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

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 exams 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.

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.

Contribute to the clinical development of the Practices by developing a special interest and to help establish appropriate systems to manage common chronic medical conditions, ensuring compliance with NSF guidelines.

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

Give clinical instructions to nursing staff and Primary Care Team as required.

Communicate when necessary with colleagues 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 hospitals, consultants and other health care providers, and other community organisations to refer/consult on specific cases.

Education Training and Development

Take the UK PA National Re-Certification Exam every six years - required for Physician Associates AND maintain your professional registration working within the latest Code of Professional Conduct (CIPD).

Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by the Practice.

Demonstrate clinical leadership.

Pro-actively promote the role of the PA within the Practice and externally to key stakeholders and agencies.

Respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

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 continuing professional development.

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.

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 PCN/Practices in order to discuss and learn from recent significant events relating to clinical practice occurring within the Practices.

Attend regular educational meetings organised by the practices 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Graduation from a recognised/accredited Physician Associate higher education institution.
• Certification of passing the PA National Examination.
• Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, including registration on the PA Managed Voluntary Register.

Desirable

• MSc Physician associate studies.

Experience

Essential

• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of own clinical practice.
• Advanced clinical practice skills.
• Ability to assess and manage patients risk effectively and safely.
• Management of patients with complex needs.
• Knowledge of issues surrounding accountability, Patient Group Directives and clinical policies.
• Understanding of evidence based practice.
• Understanding of clinical governance.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in an emergency situation.
• Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Effective time management skills
• IT and Administration skills
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Excellent interpersonal skills

Desirable

• Experience of working in a Primary Care setting.
• Experience in Telephone Triage.
• Ability to supervise others.
• Good working knowledge of EMIS and SystmOne clinical systems.

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

Unsworth Group Practice

Address

Peter House Surgery

Captain Lees Road

Westhoughton, Bolton

BL5 3UB

Employer's website

https://www.unsworthgroup.com/ (Opens in a new tab)