Physician Associate

At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we honor all members of our community and acknowledge the dignity of each person we serve. Our purpose is to provide high quality, comprehensive primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farm workers and a view to removing barriers to health care. We strive to provide an environment that welcomes and values the people we employ and serve.

If you are unsure whether you meet all the required qualifications for this role but are interested and passionate about this potential position, we encourage you to apply.

Job Summary

The Physician Associate is to provide primary care medical services to the patients of the Center in accordance with training, experience and licensure. Participate as a member of the medical team within the Center.

Function as an educational resource to patients, the Center, students and the Community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in direct patient care, which may include obstetrics, family planning, newborn care, pediatrics and general adult care.

• Meet minimum patient care productivity requirements as may be set by the Center to meet requirements of outside funding and/or reimbursement sources.

• Provide continuous, comprehensive and culturally sensitive health care of the highest quality.

• Provide case management to Center patients.
• Provide all necessary documentation in the medical record of care provided to patient, including education, medications, referrals, diagnostic testing and follow-up.

• May assist in organizing and participating in special clinics such as the migrant camp program.

• May be required to provide services at sites other than primary worksite.
• Provide day-to day supervision of support staff with respect to individual patient management.

• Participate in case management review and discussion, i. e. OB patients, diabetics.

• Assist in implementation of plans to meet the objectives of the annual “Health Plan” and other goals established by the QA/QI committee and the Center’s managed care plans.

• Participate in chart audits to assess success of QA/QI program.
• Participate in medical staff, OB, QA/QI meetings and other committees within the Center established to improve patient care and the overall operation of the Center.

• Provide supervision of students and residents in the health care professions. Become part of community groups or agencies to assist the Center’s integration into the community.

• Provide assistance to the Medical Director or CEO to fulfill the work of the Center.

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Handle protected health information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

HIPAA Requirements

The licensed independent health care practitioners (provider) will have access to PHI in the course of carrying out their duties. The provider uses the PHI for treatment purposes and quality assurance operations. Applying the minimum necessary standard of HIPAA, the designated records sets to which this employee will have access include: the demographic and scheduling information in the practice management system, and the full medical record.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred; willingness to become sufficiently competent in Spanish to provide medical care.

• Strong commitment to working with patients and staff from a wide range of ethnic, economic, cultural and social backgrounds.

Education and Experience Required

• Completion of a physician associate training program approved by the State of Oregon.

• Licensure by the State of Oregon Medical Board

As a condition of employment for a medical or dental provider at VGMHC, these employees agree to provide services to non-health center patients under the

following circumstances:

• Community-Wide special clinics at VGMHC School-based clinics and other school linked clinics

• Health Fairs
• Immunization campaigns
• Migrant camp outreach
• Homeless outreach
• Hospital related activities- for providers with hospital privileges, cross-coverage for patients of the community in the hospital is expected

• Coverage in certain individual emergencies- community members may experience a medical emergency in or around one of our health centers. VGMHC medical providers are expected to respond medically appropriately to these emergencies.

Physical Requirements

Percentage of time spent

• Standing: 20%
• Walking: 25%
• Sitting: 50%
• Lifting/Carrying: <5%
• Physically demanding tasks: May be asked to assist patients onto or off of exam table, etc.

Working Environment/Physical Hazards

• Work in a well-lighted, ventilated environment.
• Exposure to blood borne pathogens.
• Exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals.

Equipment Used

Office equipment

• Computer: Data entry and word processing
• Telephone: able to hear and communicate
• Fax
• Copier

Medical equipment

• Stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, otoscope, dopler
• Surgical/procedural instruments
• Routing medical equipment
• Fetal monitor
• EKG
• Pulse oximeter
• Nebulizer
• O2 tank

Immunization

Staff members must meet immunization requirements as stated in VGMHC’s immunization policy and state and federal guidelines.

Job descriptions represent a general outline of the essential and major job duties, functions and qualifications required. They cannot be all-inclusive and comprehensive due to the dynamic nature of work performed to accomplish VGMHC’s Mission.

VGMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from consideration for employment because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, marital status, or physical challenges. The policy applies not only to recruitment and hiring practices, but also includes fairness in placement, promotion, transfer, rate of pay, and termination.

Immunization

Staff members must meet immunization requirements as stated in VGMHC’s immunization policy and state and federal guidelines.

Job descriptions represent a general outline of the essential and major job duties, functions and qualifications required. They cannot be all-inclusive and comprehensive due to the dynamic nature of work performed to accomplish VGMHC’s Mission.

VGMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from consideration for employment because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, marital status, or physical challenges. The policy applies not only to recruitment and hiring practices, but also includes fairness in placement, promotion, transfer, rate of pay, and termination.