Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Physician Associate (PA), Primary Care
Status:
Permanent
Salary:
Negotiable: depending on experience
Term:
Full time
Location:
The PA will be expected to work across the 6 Practices of the Crays
PCN, Orpington BR5
Accountable to:
Dr Maya Lasrado and Dr Bushra Yousuf
Supervision Exercised:
General supervision is
received from the accountable GP(s). The amount of
supervision given will be in accordance with the needs of the Physician
Associate.
HOURS
OF WORK
37.5 hours / week (full time)
JOB SUMMARY
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. 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 practices hold regular education meetings and the PA would be
expected to attend and partake in some of these.
DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILTIES
CLINICAL
Provide direct clinical care to patients using established
clinical guidelines.
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 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.
Contribute
to the clinical development of the Practice 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 when
appropriate.
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 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 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.
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 in order to
discuss and learn from recent significant events relating to clinical practice occurring
within the Practice.
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 Primary Healthcare Team, the objectives of the GMS contract, including the terms of the
Quality and Outcomes Framework.
Attend
regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by the Practice in order to
discuss the health and social needs of particular patients.
Scope and Purpose of Job Description
The job description does not constitute
a term and condition of employment. It is provided only as a guide to assist
the employee in the performance of their job. The practice is a fast moving
organisation and therefore changes in employees duties may be necessary from
time to time. The job description is not intended to be an inflexible or finite
list of tasks and may be varied from time to time after consultation/discussion
with the post holder.
This is an exciting opportunity for the
right person wishing to develop their clinical and management practice in a
fast moving practice in the heart of the community. The supervising team 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 clinical team.
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 organisational structure and
the practice business plan.
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.
