Physician Assistant - Cardiac Surgery

Job description

Join our dynamic, highly skilled Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery inpatient APP team. The CT surgery service provides advanced surgical treatments, including coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic and mitral valve replacement, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and heart transplantation. We value individuals who are professional with strong interpersonal and communication skills and able to prioritize and adapt to changing situations. Our CT surgery APPs manage patients collaboratively across the inpatient continuum of care (in the ICU setting or on the floor) with CT Surgery Fellows, Cardiac Surgeons, and Intensivists. They may perform bedside procedures, and may assist in the operating room.
Our APP team is expanding as we recruit highly skilled surgeons from across the country including a complex aortic surgeon and coronary surgeon, strengthening both our expertise and our commitment to exceptional patient care.
With this exciting growth comes new opportunities. Now is the ideal time to become part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team that is evolving, innovating, and setting a higher standard in surgical care.
If you are looking to contribute your skills in a dynamic environment where your experience is valued and your impact is meaningful, we invite you to explore joining us. We look forward to connecting with you and sharing more about what makes our team unique.
• Independently (independent APP encounter) or collaboratively (shared physician and APP encounter) evaluates and manages patients.
• Includes taking histories, performing physical examinations, responding to changes in patient status, performing consults, ordering or furnishing medications/diagnostic tests/treatments/therapies/consultations/referrals/durable medical equipment (DME)/home health services.
• Care provided must be documented in the electronic medical record in accordance with the UCSF Rules and Regulations .
• Provider services must be billed to reflect the performing provider and comply with the APP Billing Policy 3.08.01 .
• APPs must respond to clinical documentation integrity inquiries from the Department of Quality and Patient Safety within 3 days.

1.2. Performs procedures granted to them via privileges/standardized procedures.
1.3. Identifies patients with acute decompensation or failure and responds to the hospital plan of care and reviews with physician.
1.4. Initiates consultations as indicated.
1.5. Documents independent assessment findings and recommends appropriate treatments.
1.6. Participates in service rounds and patient evaluation and treatment planning.
1.7. Reviews lab tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic tests, and initiates appropriate team plans.
1.8. Evaluates complex cases, establishes individualized plans of care for disposition to a lower level of care.
1.9. Interprets and acts upon completed tests, procedures, and radiographic studies.
1.10. Completes clinically relevant paperwork/electronic health record (EHR) documentation, including but not limited to ordering medications, completing episodic care notes and discharge summaries in accordance with the UCSF Rules and Regulations .
1.11. Effectively communicates findings, treatment options, and care plans with patients and their families
1.12. May first assist in the operating room if privileged to do so through OMAG after completing the required certification and proctoring.
1.13. Monitors and evaluates patients for discharge. Sets parameters and guidelines for continuum of care with multi-disciplinary team. This includes evaluating and defining discharge regimen.
1.14. Discharges patients including prescribing/furnishing medications, ordering DME, and recommending or referring for ongoing follow up care, providing discharge teaching, and completing discharge summaries.
1.1. Coordinates care throughout the continuum including hospital admission, care coordination with staff and consulting services, and hospital discharge planning.
1.2. Coordinates episodic care and determines timing of routine clinic follow up.
1.3. Participates in huddles with clinic/hospital staff and anticipates patients who require close management or intervention.
1.4. Consults with nursing staff on plan and implementation of individualized nursing care plans.
1.5. Independently provides case summaries for disability, insurance agencies, workers compensation, work releases, and medical supply agencies.
1.6. Formulates and implements protocols to improve quality and efficiency and control waste in the clinical specialty.
Required Qualifications:
Graduation from a PA Program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the PA (ARC-PA).
• Physician Assistant (less than five (5) years of experience as a PA):
• Clinical rotation with cardiac surgery within OR, ICU & floor setting

Preferred Qualifications:
• Preferred education is a master’s or doctoral degree and/or completion of a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) from the NCCPA that aligns with the patient population and clinical role. Currently, available CAQs may be found on the NCCPA website at https://www.nccpa.net/specialty-certificates/.
• Minimum two years or greater PA experience managing cardiac surgery patients in the critical care and acute care environments
• Minimum 2 years of cardiac surgery OR experience including EVH and first assist
• Ability to perform radial artery harvest
• Management of post heart transplant patients
• Placement of chest tubes and central lines

Licenses/Certifications:
• California Physician Assistant (PA) License without restriction
• National Board Certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
• California Driver License (if required for position)
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration with Schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, and 5 registered to a California address
• American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Additional required AHA certifications: ACLS
• Additional required certifications (such as ENLS): XXX

UCSF Medical Center and Campus requires certain healthcare providers to be credentialed. In most cases this is done through its Office of Medical Affairs & Governance (OMAG) prior to the first working day. Credentialing and approval of the Standardized Procedures takes between 60-90 days but can vary.