Job summary
The Healthcare of the Older Person (HOP) team are seeking a qualified Physician Associate to join our Multi-disciplinary team. The post-holder will be expected to undertake continuing professional development, building on their skills in assessing, examining, arranging and interpreting investigations and communicating with patients. The post holder will be expected to liaise with other professionals and specialties as required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and forward-thinking team to develop the role of Physician Associate as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The HOP department provides comprehensive care for geriatric, general medical and stroke patients. You would be joining a team that consists of medical juniors, consultants, specialist nurses and physician associates all of whom strive to provide excellent care for a group of frail older patients. We have two medical wards, a stroke unit, a very new front door frailty service and orthogeriatric team.
Main duties of the job
It is expected that the Physician Associates will become involved in the activities of the Department, including coordinating patients on ambulatory pathways related to their specialty, reviewing patients admitted to their ward/s and providing subsequent management of cases in conjunction with the medical team. It would be envisaged that the role would be developed flexibly over time in accordance with the appointees clinical interests and in line with the needs of the service. The post-holder will be expected to participate in quality improvement work, clinical governance activity and patient experience projects.
- To be able to assess patients using history-taking and examination
- To identify diagnoses and problems and initiate appropriate management
- To keep an accurate and relevant medical record
- To communicate and handover effectively using the Trust communication tool (SBAR- situation, background, assessment and recommendation)
- To recognise and manage the deteriorating patient
About us
We are a friendly department of HOP consultants with varying specialist interests:
Dr Karen Broadhurst Orthogeriatrician, General Geriatrics
Dr Kirsty Ellmers Orthogeriatrician, Clinical Lead
Dr Jonny Hacon Orthogeriatrician, General Geriatrics
Dr Chris Cawston Community Geriatrics, General Geriatrics, (Stroke)
Dr Jenny Evans Frailty, General Geriatrics
Dr Chris Baker Frailty, General Geriatrics
Dr John France Stroke
Dr Chris Uridge General Geriatrics, Syncope
Dr Kim Kirrane General Geriatrics
Dr Gareth Griggs Movement Disorder, General Geriatrics
Why work with us - 1 (pagetiger.com)
The Government has formally announced that it intends to introduce regulations that will require most healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated (1st and 2nd dose) against COVID-19 by 1st April 2022. To achieve this the successful applicant must have had their 1stCOVID-19 vaccination by 3rd February 2022. Therefore, full COVID-19 vaccination will be a condition of employment unless an individual is medically exempt. We will ask for proof of vaccination or exemption during the recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
You would provide a consistent presence on the ward, aiming to give continuity of care and an overarching understanding of the patients on the ward. This would involve assessing new patients on the ward, initiating management on sick patients, providing relevant information to the senior decision maker on the ward, contributing to information sharing in the morning handover meetings, and supporting the rotating junior medical team.
The ward day starts at 9am with a morning multidisciplinary handover, followed by reviewing the sick, new, dischargeable and other patients. Our current PA starts at 8.30 to allow time to create the patient list and deal with any major issues before the meeting. There is a senior medical member of the team on the ward every day, though this may not be the same person every day due to our working practices.
It is hoped that the PAs in the department will understand most aspects of our service and some rotation among posts would be anticipated to allow for transferral of knowledge across the department, and hopefully standardising care across our wards.
Some non-clinical time can be negotiated to ensure ongoing CPD. Depending on the interests of the applicant there may be opportunities to run tilt clinics, provide education to other PA, and PA in training.
The department is very education focussed. As well as experiential learning on the job, there is teaching weekly in the Friday lunchtime departmental meeting. You will have both the opportunity to learn and to teach at these meetings. You will have an educational supervisor who will ensure that you meet your targets for work-based assessments and other aspects of your curriculum.
PAs will also be encouraged to participate in clinical audit and quality improvement projects and will be supported to make changes where improvements can be identified. We can negotiate what is required for the PA to maintain their general medical skills and competences.
There are limitations to teaching and meetings currently due to COVID.
Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility
The key duties and responsibilities of the individuals appointed to the posts will include:
- To be able to assess patients using history-taking and examination
- To identify diagnoses and problems and initiate appropriate management
- To keep an accurate and relevant medical record
- To communicate and handover effectively using the Trust communication tool (SBAR- situation, background, assessment and recommendation)
- To recognise and manage the deteriorating patient
- To take an active role in discharge planning and communication with GPs and community services
- To support the safety agenda of good practice e.g. completion of venous thromboembolism assessments and prescriptions
- To work with visiting specialist doctors and nurses to provide patient care
- To assist in the development of new systems or processes that improve patient care
- To help in improving the function of the unit. This includes being aware of the productive unit project goals.
- To support medical students, physician associate students and 6th form students working on the unit
- Maintain timely and appropriate documentation.
- Perform diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, subject to training/experience. Including, but not exclusively:
-
- Venepuncture
- Cannulation
- Arterial blood gases
- Injections
- ECG
- Urethral catheterisation
- Nasogastric tube insertion
- Lumbar puncture
- Thoracentesis
- Ultrasound for acute procedures
- Instruct and counsel patients & their relatives with regard to mental and physical health issues.
- Keep up to date with current guidelines and maintain best practice.
- Help facilitate and improve Physician Associate student placements.
- To be accountable for the care given and to comply with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Managed Voluntary Register for Physician Associates (and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body, when this is in place).
- To work within the framework of the scope of professional practice.
- Work within the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working in the provision of acute medical care to patients on a day-to-day basis
- Abide by the Clinical & Corporate Governance policies of the Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
You would provide a consistent presence on the ward, aiming to give continuity of care and an overarching understanding of the patients on the ward. This would involve assessing new patients on the ward, initiating management on sick patients, providing relevant information to the senior decision maker on the ward, contributing to information sharing in the morning handover meetings, and supporting the rotating junior medical team.
The ward day starts at 9am with a morning multidisciplinary handover, followed by reviewing the sick, new, dischargeable and other patients. Our current PA starts at 8.30 to allow time to create the patient list and deal with any major issues before the meeting. There is a senior medical member of the team on the ward every day, though this may not be the same person every day due to our working practices.
It is hoped that the PAs in the department will understand most aspects of our service and some rotation among posts would be anticipated to allow for transferral of knowledge across the department, and hopefully standardising care across our wards.
Some non-clinical time can be negotiated to ensure ongoing CPD. Depending on the interests of the applicant there may be opportunities to run tilt clinics, provide education to other PA, and PA in training.
The department is very education focussed. As well as experiential learning on the job, there is teaching weekly in the Friday lunchtime departmental meeting. You will have both the opportunity to learn and to teach at these meetings. You will have an educational supervisor who will ensure that you meet your targets for work-based assessments and other aspects of your curriculum.
PAs will also be encouraged to participate in clinical audit and quality improvement projects and will be supported to make changes where improvements can be identified. We can negotiate what is required for the PA to maintain their general medical skills and competences.
There are limitations to teaching and meetings currently due to COVID.
Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility
The key duties and responsibilities of the individuals appointed to the posts will include:
- To be able to assess patients using history-taking and examination
- To identify diagnoses and problems and initiate appropriate management
- To keep an accurate and relevant medical record
- To communicate and handover effectively using the Trust communication tool (SBAR- situation, background, assessment and recommendation)
- To recognise and manage the deteriorating patient
- To take an active role in discharge planning and communication with GPs and community services
- To support the safety agenda of good practice e.g. completion of venous thromboembolism assessments and prescriptions
- To work with visiting specialist doctors and nurses to provide patient care
- To assist in the development of new systems or processes that improve patient care
- To help in improving the function of the unit. This includes being aware of the productive unit project goals.
- To support medical students, physician associate students and 6th form students working on the unit
- Maintain timely and appropriate documentation.
- Perform diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, subject to training/experience. Including, but not exclusively:
-
- Venepuncture
- Cannulation
- Arterial blood gases
- Injections
- ECG
- Urethral catheterisation
- Nasogastric tube insertion
- Lumbar puncture
- Thoracentesis
- Ultrasound for acute procedures
- Instruct and counsel patients & their relatives with regard to mental and physical health issues.
- Keep up to date with current guidelines and maintain best practice.
- Help facilitate and improve Physician Associate student placements.
- To be accountable for the care given and to comply with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Managed Voluntary Register for Physician Associates (and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body, when this is in place).
- To work within the framework of the scope of professional practice.
- Work within the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working in the provision of acute medical care to patients on a day-to-day basis
- Abide by the Clinical & Corporate Governance policies of the Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BA/BSc level Degree prior to undertaking PA programme
- PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a UK training programme
- Valid certification of Physician Associate National Exam
- Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Register
Desirable
- Member of Faculty of Physician Associates within the RCP
- BLS/ILS/PILS/ALS certification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of audit.
- Previous experience working in a Medical specialty post certification.
Desirable
- Experience of designing audit projects.
- Evidence of research experience, e.g. publications
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BA/BSc level Degree prior to undertaking PA programme
- PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a UK training programme
- Valid certification of Physician Associate National Exam
- Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Register
Desirable
- Member of Faculty of Physician Associates within the RCP
- BLS/ILS/PILS/ALS certification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of audit.
- Previous experience working in a Medical specialty post certification.
Desirable
- Experience of designing audit projects.
- Evidence of research experience, e.g. publications
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
