Staff Physician Assistant (PA)

The objective of the staff Physician Assistant position is to support a comprehensive, community based, family centered primary care program. The overall program will be designed to: a) improve access to a comprehensive range of high quality primary care services; and b) improve health outcomes through an integrated delivery model focusing on prevention and health maintenance, health education, and evidence based chronic disease management.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Proceed with the established plan of care for each patient, including: Complete medical history, physical examination, diagnosis of the causes of injuries and illnesses, appropriate treatment and/or referral
• Consult with supervising physician whenever appropriate for changes in the established plan of care or unexpected or complicated health issues
• Stress the importance of preventative medicine and utilizes all available resources, such as laboratory and radiologic testing as aids in diagnosing and confirming or denying the presence of disease
• Practice medicine by caring for patients without discrimination as regards to age, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual preference, weight, handicap or income
• Immunize and vaccinate patients against communicable diseases as recommended and required by the standard of care as it from time to time is updated
• Confer with other supervising physicians, consulting physicians, nurses, patients and patients' relatives concerning treatment and care of patients, using good care and diligence as to confidentiality
• Refer those cases which require specialist services, adhering to managed care contracts, principles, guidelines, using established and approved provider networks, and maintain responsibility for assuring that those services are required
• Participate in practice development, quality assurance, peer review, and staff meetings/activities as deemed necessary by the CMO and/or the CEO
• Cooperate and collaborate with other medical providers and support staff at the practice site to support effective communications and continuous improvement of the site’s clinical operation
• Maintain accurate and concise documentation of all patient encounters on a timely basis, in such manner and form as determined by CHC, third party payers, federal funding and national accreditation agencies with which CHC has agreements and/or obligations
• Provide services to a full patient panel, with a minimum of 1,500 active patients per provider FTE (Active patients shall be defined as those individuals who have had at least one completed medical encounter in the past two years. If the physician wishes to “close” practice to new patients, the minimum full panel of patients shall be attained, and agreement with the CMO and Chief Executive Officer must be obtained in writing)
• Comply with the Federal Standards as outlined in the Bureau’s Provider Productivity Initiative Review (PPIR) as it pertains to the provider aspects of productivity/performance (In particular, for a full time physician: a minimum of 4,200 encounters per fiscal year [as established by Medicare], cost per medical encounter compliance under the federal threshold as calculated each fiscal year)
• Provide coordinated and comprehensive patient care throughout all major life cycles (except in the case of a provider specialty that limits the practice to a specific age, gender, or patient type), in all applicable care settings, including but not limited to: ambulatory outpatient; consultation; assistance to other providers, including mentoring and supervision; community medicine, such as sports physicals or services performed as a “Good Samaritan”; and services as defined/required by hospitals for admitting privileges or by contracts/agreements, i.e., third party payers, in which CHC participates
• Perform other duties and services which may benefit patients and members of the community, or who could be patients of CHC, or which facilitates the provision of services to patients of the Corporation
• Adhere to and provide services in accordance with the: a) mission of the Corporation; b) established and accepted standards of care; c) any clinical protocols and operational guidelines established by the Corporation; and c) terms and conditions as set forth in the Federal Grant, accrediting and licensing bodies (i.e. credentialing)
• Cooperate with the Department of Justice in the defense of claims (including access to all pertinent documents, patient information and records). Furthermore, as the department of Justice requires, cooperate in providing information related to all previous malpractice claims as permitted by law and court action
• Collaborate with Administration in the development and implementation of practice-specific strategic and operational plans

All employees of Carolina Health Centers, Inc. are expected to perform the duties of their job and behave in a manner consistent with the Corporate Philosophy which supports the values of: honesty, integrity, openness, the pursuit of individual and collective excellence, and unwavering mutual respect and appreciation.

In addition, this position requires:

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program

Licensure and Certification:

• Active South Carolina medical license
• Certified or eligible for certification in area of specialty

Skills:

• Able to read, write, and communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Great interpersonal and organizational skills
• Proficient in use of computer and keyboard
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Knowledge of HIPAA and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Able to manage self and environment calmly and appropriately in stressful situations
• Demonstrated clinical skill
• Critical thinking, problem solving, and consensus building skills
• Ability to coordinate, analyze, observe, make decisions, and meet deadlines in a detail-oriented manner

Physical Abilities:

• Required to talk and hear
• Able to push, pull and reach, sit, stoop and stretch
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch
• Have the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity needed to operate a computer, telephone, copier, and medical equipment
• Vision abilities required for this job include close vision with moderate exposure to a computer screen

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is moderate. This position is likely to experience moderate to regular exposure of blood borne pathogens. Requirement for out-of-town and/or overnight travel is minimal.