Job summary
Interview date: 07/12/2021
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Physicians Associate
to join the N&W Herefordshire Primary Care Network, playing a key role
in building patient centred care based on the needs of the local population.
They will be working with general practice teams who have longstanding
relationships with their patients and provide lifelong care. The PCN Role
offers a range of opportunities well matched to the skill mix and
competencies encompassed in the P.A.
The
successful candidate:
·
You will be passionate about upholding
excellent standards of care responsive to specific needs of the community, patients,
families and carers
·
You will be motivated to contribute to
practice and network development of services
·
You will be a keen team player with
excellent organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure at
times
·
You will be open to new ideas and able to
implement systems to deliver services differently and better.
PCNs are the future for delivering holistic
and person-centred care. We can offer Physician Associates an opportunity to
join a team with a huge range of expertise and play a part in this exciting
transformation in health.
Main duties of the job
The Physicians Associates will:
·
Providing direct clinical care to patients;
taking medical histories, performing physical examinations, analysis,
diagnosis and explaining medical problems during consultations and home
visits. This may be as part of the Duty Team or in routine clinics.
·
Supporting elderly and frail patients living
at home or in Care Homes. Providing anticipatory and personalised care
planning
·
Contributing to the clinical development of
network practices helping to establish appropriate systems to manage common
chronic medical conditions, undertaking audits and contributing to the
development of policies.
About us
The
North & West Herefordshire PCN includes GP practices; Kington Medical
Practice, The Marches Surgery Leominster, The Mortimer Medical Practice
Kingsland, Tenbury Wells Surgery, Weobley and Staunton on Wye surgeries and
Westfield Surgery Leominster. There will be an opportunity for remote
working.
It is a
highly organised and forward looking PCN with
strong relationships between practices and community providers.
Herefordshire General Practice and Primary
Care Networks are supported by GP federation Taurus Healthcare to enable the
best of local services and the benefits of at scale working.
The
Physicians Associates will be working with established teams who have
longstanding relationships with their local diverse community and provide
lifelong care in this rural and small market town setting.
The N&W PCN team is committed to understanding and
responding proactively to the needs of their most vulnerable patients,
supporting them to enjoy good health and independence and for as long as
possible.
Come and work with us and be part of this exciting new
development, working in partnership with patients and enabling excellent
care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
DESCRIPTION OF ROLE:
The PA will provide care for
presenting patients 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 holistic and clinical service, with support from the GPs as required,
implementing agreed management plans, personalised care planning and following
approved protocols as appropriate.
Mentorship and supervision
will be provided by designated senior medical personnel. The level and type of
supervision will be dependent on the post holder’s acquisition of skills and
knowledge and determined by the organisations clinical governance arrangements.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The post holder will work collaboratively with other
members of the Primary Care Team within the policies and procedures of their
practice and the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and will have the
following duties and responsibilities under the broad headings below:
1. Clinical
·
Participate in all treatment and preventative
healthcare services in the Practice as delegated and agreed by the supervising
physician(s).
·
Provide direct clinical care to patients using
established local and national clinical guidelines.
·
Interview patients, take medical histories,
perform physical examinations, analyse, diagnose and explain medical problems
during consultations and home visits.
·
Recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic
tests and treatment. Administer opportunistic immunisation as appropriate eg
influenza vaccine.
·
Request and interpret results of laboratory
investigations when necessary. Review and communicate results where
appropriate.
·
Consult and refer patients to physicians,
medical specialists and other health professionals as appropriate; in primary,
secondary or community care.
·
Instruct and educate patients in all matters
relating to their physical and mental health. This may include medication,
diet, social habits, contraception, lifestyle and preventative healthcare.
·
Conduct telephone consultations which may
involve discussing the results and implications of laboratory investigations
with patients as well as dealing appropriately with routine and emergency
complaints.
·
Fully document all aspects of patient care and
complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes.
·
Update the patient record with information for
QOF/DRUMS and other practice monitoring and review systems.
·
Work with a supervising physician to visit,
assess and provide care for patients in their own homes or in residential or
nursing homes linked with the practice where appropriate.
·
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
current accepted national guidelines. This would include carrying out audits
and contributing to the development of practice policies.
·
Undertake other activities when needed that are
within the post holder’s clinical competence and which would not otherwise
jeopardise the delivery of primary medical services to the patients.
·
Liaise with community hospitals, consultants
and other healthcare providers, insurance companies and other community
organisations to refer/consult on specific cases.
·
Engage with the nursing and non-clinical
members of the Primary care team as required, requesting action where
appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
DESCRIPTION OF ROLE:
The PA will provide care for
presenting patients 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 holistic and clinical service, with support from the GPs as required,
implementing agreed management plans, personalised care planning and following
approved protocols as appropriate.
Mentorship and supervision
will be provided by designated senior medical personnel. The level and type of
supervision will be dependent on the post holder’s acquisition of skills and
knowledge and determined by the organisations clinical governance arrangements.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The post holder will work collaboratively with other
members of the Primary Care Team within the policies and procedures of their
practice and the Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and will have the
following duties and responsibilities under the broad headings below:
1. Clinical
·
Participate in all treatment and preventative
healthcare services in the Practice as delegated and agreed by the supervising
physician(s).
·
Provide direct clinical care to patients using
established local and national clinical guidelines.
·
Interview patients, take medical histories,
perform physical examinations, analyse, diagnose and explain medical problems
during consultations and home visits.
·
Recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic
tests and treatment. Administer opportunistic immunisation as appropriate eg
influenza vaccine.
·
Request and interpret results of laboratory
investigations when necessary. Review and communicate results where
appropriate.
·
Consult and refer patients to physicians,
medical specialists and other health professionals as appropriate; in primary,
secondary or community care.
·
Instruct and educate patients in all matters
relating to their physical and mental health. This may include medication,
diet, social habits, contraception, lifestyle and preventative healthcare.
·
Conduct telephone consultations which may
involve discussing the results and implications of laboratory investigations
with patients as well as dealing appropriately with routine and emergency
complaints.
·
Fully document all aspects of patient care and
complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes.
·
Update the patient record with information for
QOF/DRUMS and other practice monitoring and review systems.
·
Work with a supervising physician to visit,
assess and provide care for patients in their own homes or in residential or
nursing homes linked with the practice where appropriate.
·
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
current accepted national guidelines. This would include carrying out audits
and contributing to the development of practice policies.
·
Undertake other activities when needed that are
within the post holder’s clinical competence and which would not otherwise
jeopardise the delivery of primary medical services to the patients.
·
Liaise with community hospitals, consultants
and other healthcare providers, insurance companies and other community
organisations to refer/consult on specific cases.
·
Engage with the nursing and non-clinical
members of the Primary care team as required, requesting action where
appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- If UK Trained:
- Degree at 2:2 level or above.
- PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a UK PA programme.
- Current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination.
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register).
- If US Trained:
- Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register).
Desirable
- If US Trained:
- MSc Degree in Physician Associate Studies, Physician Assistant Studies or Medical Sciences.
Experience
Essential
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively.
- Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures.
- Ability to motivate and develop the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to manage and lead a working group.
- Sound IT knowledge, including internet, Outlook, Word, Excel.
- To assist in the development of the Physician Associate role in the UK.
- Assist in the educational development of Physician Associate students through student shadowing and/or teaching.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a medicine environment.
- Experience of preventative medicine and chronic disease management.
- An awareness of current developments and initiatives in health care.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- If UK Trained:
- Degree at 2:2 level or above.
- PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a UK PA programme.
- Current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination.
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register).
- If US Trained:
- Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register).
Desirable
- If US Trained:
- MSc Degree in Physician Associate Studies, Physician Assistant Studies or Medical Sciences.
Experience
Essential
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively.
- Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures.
- Ability to motivate and develop the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to manage and lead a working group.
- Sound IT knowledge, including internet, Outlook, Word, Excel.
- To assist in the development of the Physician Associate role in the UK.
- Assist in the educational development of Physician Associate students through student shadowing and/or teaching.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a medicine environment.
- Experience of preventative medicine and chronic disease management.
- An awareness of current developments and initiatives in health care.
