| Description |
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ORTHOPEDICS
Summary:
Orthopedic Physician Assistants help Orthopedic surgeons by taking on many of the less-complex job duties so the surgeon can focus on tasks requiring more specialized skills.
Orthopedic Physician Assistants conduct examinations of new patients, write treatment plans, perform and interpret diagnostic tests and conduct outpatient procedures such as closing up a wound. They also help the surgeon conduct hospital rounds and perform occasional tasks such as answering the phone for the surgeon.
Physician Assistants cannot perform major surgeries, but they do assist the Orthopedic physician during surgery by getting equipment ready, explaining the surgical procedure to the patient, performing duties during surgery such as closing a wound or keeping the area clean, and looking after the equipment. They are also responsible for educating patients about their conditions and any follow-up they might need, adjusting medications or dosages and referring cases to the surgeon or another physician when needed.
Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
• Assess patient’s health, as well as detect changes in symptoms. Provides clear and thorough explanation of procedures to patients. Sympathetic to patient’s needs, be able to deal with people in various states of pain, trauma and tragedy.
• Complete a thorough evaluation of a patient’s pertinent medical history, documents in patient’s chart and ensures appropriateness of ordered exam based on interview of patient. Evaluate, screen and council patient on health maintenance and promote utilization of community resources. Design, conduct and/or participate in research studies, manage databases, and perform quality assurance
• Perform comprehensive and problem focused history and physical exams, interpret and correlate laboratory and diagnostic procedures. Interpret and correlate subjective and objective data to formulate a differential diagnose and establish a working diagnosis. Formulate a treatment plan for Orthopedic problems within scope of practice. Implement therapeutic intervention for specific conditions when appropriate. Exercise judgment on problems requiring consultation, referral, or evaluation by the supervising Orthopedic surgeon or other health care professionals.
• Be able to handle multiple patients with differing needs, stages of health and risks. Must be able to face emergency, life or death situations. Must have the ability to function in the heat of an emergency if needed.
• Order, collect, and perform appropriate laboratory or diagnostic procedures, and studies including but not limited to blood and tissue specimens. Order or perform diagnostic studies such as but not limited to EMG, electrocardiogram, compartment pressure measurements, and x-ray examinations including special x-ray examinations CT, MRI, and bone scans etc.
• Monitor patients for adverse reactions and ensure that the tubing, bandages and needles stay in place. Order, prescribe, dispense, and administer Medication, orthosis, orthotics, braces and other Orthopedic devices as may be allowed by state legislation.
• Perform procedures such as but not limited to, digital blocks, regional anesthesia, and minor outpatient surgical procedures such as but not limited to: tendon repair, wound closure, wound management, wound debridement, incision and drainage, needle biopsy, percutaneous pinning of fractures, k-wire removal and hardware removal
• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including but not limited to joint and bursa aspirations, closed reduction of fractures and dislocations, injections of joints, tendons, trigger points and bursa, as well as brace, cast and splint applications.
• Assist in surgery to include but not limited to first assist, deep and superficial tissue closures, application of appliances and any other action delegated by the surgeon. Conduct hospital, rounds, write orders, and take call for the Orthopedic surgeon. Evaluate and clarify clinical conditions, formulate and implement a treatment or therapeutic plan for hospitalized patients, dictate discharge summaries, histories and physicals.
• Promotes positive work environment with patients, Physicians and fellow employees. Treat all patients and co-workers with dignity and respect. |