Physicians Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key role requirements (under supervision of a GP)

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 demonstrate safe clinical decision making and care for patients within the GP practice in consultation with the supervising GP:

· Provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems by utilising history taking, physical examinations and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient (and carers as applicable)

· Identify, signpost or refer patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patient’s health

· Support the management of patients conditions through offering specialist clinics following appropriate training including family planning, baby checks, long term conditions and anticoagulation

· Develop integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care

· Provide health / disease promotion and prevention advise alongside analysing and actioning diagnostic test results

· Provide routine care to patients as required in accordance with and promoting clinical based evidence. Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

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

· Triage patients and provide the necessary treatment during home visits

· Triage and treat or refer patients who attend the [walk-in clinic or minor illness clinic]

· Collect pathology specimens as required

· Maintain accurate clinical records including read codes in conjunction with legislation

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

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

· Chaperone patients where necessary

· Recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

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

· Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure patients are supported appropriately

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

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

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

· Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Secondary responsibilities

· In addition to the primary responsibilities, the physician associate may be requested to:

· Support the practice audit programme, undertaking audits when necessary

· Support junior members of the team including trainees, providing guidance when necessary

· Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

· Support and participate in shared learning within the practice

· Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate

· Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e. root cause analysis (RCA)

· Take personal responsibility for own learning and development, including the requirement to maintain currency, achieving all targets set in their Personal Development Plan (PDP)

· Follow recommended annual appraisal & CPD as per requirements of the Faculty of Physicians Associates (FPA).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Post graduate diploma or degree (physician associate)
• Member of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register
• Passed UK PA National Re-certification exam every 6 years

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as a physician associate
• Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions
• Participates in CPD keeping up to date with evidence based knowledge and competence in all aspects of their role, meeting clinical governance guidelines for CPD.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience in triage

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

South Warwickshire GP Federation

Address

Gainsborough Hall

Russell Street

Leamington Spa

Warwickshire

CV32 5QB

Employer's website

https://www.southwarwickshiregps.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)