Job Abstract

Our Surgical Physician Assistant provides health care services to patients under the direction of a board certified/eligible physician. In this role, you will work directly and, in close corporation with orthopedics/acute pain/injury management physicians. This role will have an element of clinic work with a spine interventionalist and other orthopedic conditions. As their PA, you will assist in diagnosing neck and back pain related illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests and exams, develop and manage treatment plans, and prescribe medications as needed, and offer advice on preventative health care. You may serve as a principal healthcare provider where you will incorporate both independent decision-making abilities and collaboration with physicians to provide expert care to the patients.

As a vital member of SMOG (Santa Monica Orthopedic Group), which is made up of 15 highly trained orthopedic and sports medicine physicians and 11 Physician Assistants (PA) who provide comprehensive orthopedic care, you may be called on to assist physicians for surgical first assist in Operating Room (OR) and Clinic coverage. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Will provide assistance with triaging patients in the group's walk-in clinic.
• Under the direction of the Supervising Physicians, conduct patient assessments, order or directly provide treatments, and provide patient education and support to our Spine Interventionalist during 1/2 day clinics.
• Promotes and maintains patient health by providing medical services under the supervision of the Supervising Physician.
• Assess patient health by interviewing patients: performs comprehensive physical examination; compiles patient medical data, including health history and results of physical examination.
• Work under protocol to develop an effective, safe and patient-centered treatment plan.
• Provide timely and complete clinical documentation in the EHR following patient visits or telephone calls.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the supervising physician regarding assigned patients and provide timely notification of changes in patient status.
• Attend case conferences, clinical rounds, and other types of meetings which address patient management and care coordination as required.
• Maintain ongoing communication with other members of the entire care team through written documentation, telephone or in-person conversation.
• Partner with the patient to develop contracts of care as needed and provide encouragement and motivational support to promote adherence to treatment plans.
• Ensure timely access of patient appointments.
• Perform other duties as determined collaboratively by the Supervising Physicians that are within the scope of practice of a physician assistant and the health care institution's policies.
• Provide coverage to other providers within the group whose PA or NP is away from the office.
• PA will participate in groups weekend call rotation coverage - coverage is one (1) weekend every six (6) weeks, Friday 5pm through Monday 8am (additional compensation will be provided).
• Monday to Thursday after hours O/R coverage rotation - one night/week, every 2-3 weeks.
• Hospital coverage will be at Marina Del Rey Hospital and St. John's Santa Monica Hospital plus our Surgery Center of the Pacific outpatient surgical center. 
• Will be on staff at one of our Ambulatory Surgery Centers.

General Clinic Hours:

• Mondays and Tuesdays - afternoon clinic - 12/12:30pm - 5pm
• Wednesday, Thursday & Friday - morning clinic - 8am - 12/12:30pm

Educational Requirements:

• Master of Science Degree in Physician Assistant studies

License/Certification requirements:

CA Physician Assistant license required.

Drug Enforcement Administration certificate required.

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) required.

Basic Life Support certification from American Heart Association or American Red Cross required.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification from American Heart Association or American Red Cross required.

Experience:

• Minimum one (1) year Physician Assistant experience in a relevant clinical area strongly preferred, e.g., orthopedics, acute pain/injury management, or sports medicine, general surgery, or other surgical specialties.