Surgical Physician Assistant

General Description

The Surgical Physician Assistant provides perioperative and intraoperative support to the Orthopedic Surgeon, with primary responsibility for surgical first-assist duties and continuity of care surrounding orthopedic procedures. This role is dedicated to the surgical setting and does not maintain a routine outpatient clinic schedule.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily:

• Function as first assistant in orthopedic surgical procedures under the supervision and direction of the Orthopedic Surgeon, consistent with licensure, privileges, and applicable regulations;
• Assist with patient positioning, preparation and draping, exposure, retraction, hemostasis, wound closure, dressing application, and other intraoperative tasks as directed by the surgeon;
• Complete preoperative patient assessments and histories and physicals (H&Ps), review relevant diagnostic studies and laboratory results, and identify issues requiring physician review prior to surgery;
• Participate in perioperative patient management, including preoperative and postoperative orders, medication management, and coordination of care within the scope of practice;
• Provide postoperative evaluation and management of surgical patients, including hospital or facility rounding when assigned, wound assessment, dressing changes, and communication of changes in patient condition to the supervising physician;
• Provide patient and family education related to surgical procedures, postoperative care, medications, activity restrictions, durable medical equipment, and discharge instructions;
• Complete operative, perioperative, and other required clinical documentation accurately and within established timeframes;
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nursing staff, surgical technologists, and other members of the perioperative team to support safe, efficient surgical care;
• Maintain required credentials, competencies, privileges, and knowledge of orthopedic surgical procedures, sterile technique, infection prevention, and perioperative safety standards;
• Carry out other surgical and perioperative duties and responsibilities as needed or assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program with current New York State licensure required;
• Current NCCPA certification and required prescriptive authority/registrations, as applicable;
• Current BLS certification required; ACLS certification may be required based on surgical facility requirements;
• Orthopedic surgical and/or operating room experience strongly preferred; demonstrated surgical first-assist skills preferred;
• Knowledge of sterile technique, perioperative workflow, orthopedic procedures, and postoperative patient management;
• Proficiency with electronic medical record systems and required clinical documentation;
• Excellent clinical judgment, communication, teamwork, and organizational skills.

#eop