Physician Associate

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

• The post holder will provide care for patients through clinical assessment, examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of care.
• Post holder will deliver a high standard of patient care within in depth theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice working under the supervision of a GP.
• To manage a clinical caseload and deal with presenting patients needs in a primary care setting. Physician Associates will have a key role in supporting delivery of Network Contract DES services.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

• The post holder will provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems utilising history taking, physical examinations, problem solving and clinical decision making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patients (and their carers where applicable)
• Review, analysis and action diagnostic test results
• Deliver integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care network multi-disciplinary team and social care networks
• Undertake face to face, telephone, video and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the PCN, including management of patients with long term conditions. Where required by the PCN physician associates can offer specialised clinics following appropriate training including but not limited baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes and anti-coagulation
• Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice to patients
• Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice, participate in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks.

ADMINISTRATION

• Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development and a Personal Development Plan.
• Show a caring attitude towards patients, have well-developed communication skills to provide treatment plans. And work to their professional code of ethics
• 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.
• Work to deliver with other members of the practice and Primary Healthcare Team, the objectives of the PCN GP contract, including the terms of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and Practice Based Commissioning.
• Attend regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by the Practice in order to discuss the health and social needs of particular patients.

TRAINING / EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT/ QUALIFICATIONS

• In the UK, physician associates must complete a full-time post graduate diploma, which is offered by 25 universities. Applicants must already have a degree in a life or healthcare science and experience of working in the health service. Programmes must all meet the national standards laid down in the competence and curriculum framework approved by the Faculty of Physician Associates, which is part of the Royal College of Physicians.
• Undertake 50 hours of continuing medical education (CPD) every year.
• 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 (need to have completed relevant mentoring course, to the area of practice) 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 primary care network 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.

Key working relationships

• Patients
• GP, nurses and other practice staff
• DGS Health GP Federation staff
• Primary Care Networks
• Other members of the Physician Associate team
• dieticians
• Locality / GP prescribing lead
• Locality managers
• Community nurses and other allied health professionals
• Community PAs and support staff
• Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicines optimisation

Responsibilities underpinning the role

• To develop and facilitate a good working relationship with community PAs and other local providers of healthcare
• To plan and organise the post holders own workload, including audit and project work, and training sessions for members of the practice team and other partners are required
• To record personally generated information and maintain a database of information relating to the work done in the practice(s)
• To maintain registration as a PA and comply with appropriate professional codes
• As appropriate to the post, to maintain and develop professional competence and expertise, keep up to date with medical/therapeutic evidence and opinion, and local and national service, legislation and policy developments, agree objectives and a personal development plan and participate in the appraisal process
• To attend local, regional and national meetings of relevance
• All employees should understand that it is their personal responsibility to comply with all organisational and statutory requirements (e.g. health and safety, equal treatment and diversity, confidentiality and clinical governance)

Codes of Conduct

Physician Associates must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct set by the Faculty of Physician Associate towards key areas like professionalism, knowledge, skills, risk analysis and communication and to Practices Code of Conduct.

Equal Opportunities

DGS Health is committed to an equal opportunities policy that affirms that all staff should be afforded equality of treatment and opportunity in employment irrespective of sexuality, marital status, race, religion/belief, ethnic origin, age or disability. All staff are required to observe this policy in their behaviour to fellow employees.

Confidentiality

All employees are required to observe the strictest confidence with regard to any patient/client information that they may have access to, or accidentally gain knowledge of, in the course of their duties.

All employees are required to observe the strictest confidence regarding any information relating to the work of the practice and its employees. You are required not to disclose any confidential information either during or after your employment with the practice, other than in accordance with the relevant professional codes.

Failure to comply with these regulations whilst in the employment of practice could result in action being taken.

Qualifications

Essential

• Postgraduate Diploma/Master in Physician Associate from an accredited UK University
• A degree in a life or healthcare science
• Member of Faculty of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR)
• Valid national certification and recertification every six years stipulated by PAMVR
• Commitment to personal development

Desirable

• Evidence of ongoing education/training.

Experience

Essential

• At least 3 years post registration experience
• Experience of working in the health service
• Demonstrable patient assessment skills
• Demonstrates an in depth knowledge of related medical conditions, treatments and pharmacology
• Experience of supporting doctors in clinical decision making
• Ability to work autonomously within the scope of supervised practice

Desirable

• Experience working in both primary and secondary care

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of current issues from a primary and secondary perspective.
• Knowledge of NICE guidance relating to medicines optimisation.
• Good working knowledge of drug therapies.
• Knowledge of Audit principles and evidence of participation in audit / Quality Improvement projects
• Experience of applying evidence to clinical practice

Desirable

• Familiarity with GP computer systems such as EMIS.
• Evidence of knowledge of research methodology

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).