Physician Assistant (Oncology)

We are seeking a Physician Assistant who will provide comprehensive, evidence-based care to adult patients with primary and metastatic central nervous system malignancies in the outpatient neuro-oncology clinic.

Working collaboratively with neuro-oncologists and a multidisciplinary team, the Physician Assistant is responsible for evaluating patients across the continuum of care, developing and implementing treatment plans, managing complex treatment-related toxicities, ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies, prescribing medications, and coordinating supportive care services.

The Physician Assistant serves as a primary clinical resource for patients and families, ensuring continuity of care through active management of symptoms, survivorship needs, and disease progression while participating in clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, and patient education.

This role requires advanced clinical decision-making, excellent communication skills, and expertise in the management of neurologic and oncologic complications associated with brain tumors and their treatments.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Provides comprehensive, age appropriate, and episodic care to patients as a member of the multi-disciplinary health care team.

Coordinates scheduling of and conducts comprehensive and/or episodic health assessments of patients/families with real, potential, acute and/or chronic health problems.

• Performs history and physical examination as it relates to chief complaint, including protocols.
• Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings in the history and physical.
• Identifies differential diagnosis.
• Assesses severity of illness and establishes plan for evaluation.
• Records and documents assessment data necessary to maintain, coordinate, and/or expedite required services.

Orders appropriate laboratory studies, radiographic studies, and other tests specific to the diagnosis or protocol.

Follows daily progress of patients including history and physical exam, ordering, performing, and interpreting laboratory and radiological data and establishing and implementing a plan of care based on those interpretations and observations. Makes referrals to appropriate specialties.

Follows long term progress of patients including history and physical examination, orders and interprets re-staging tests, and assesses status.

Provides outside referring physicians with reports on patients= status by ordering, interpreting, collecting, and communicating results and recommendations to the physician.

Consults with referring physicians regarding questions specific to the patient’s course and/or complications, suggesting treatment plans and making appropriate referrals for further follow up.

Provides education to patient and family members regarding diagnosis, complications, treatment and medications in order to provide them with continuous information.

Routine laboratory procedures such as cultures, smears, venipuncture, electrocardiograms.

• Provides Emergency Care
• Maintains CPR certification.
• Maintains airway, breathing, circulation.
• Starts and provides basic CPR.
• Orders and administers anti-anaphylactic and supportive medications.
• Prescribes medications, including oral, parenteral, intramuscular, or subcutaneous drugs.

Prescribes Schedule 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4,5 drugs under the guidelines of the Maryland Nurse Practice Act and the DEA.

Provides preceptorship to RN, Masters preparing NP, and PA students through collaboration with and direction from their respective University professors. Supervises and evaluates student/patient interactions in an academic setting. Assumes responsibility for patient care as provided by the student. Is granted affiliate/adjunct faculty status with the various universities with whom he/she works.

Develops expertise and expands knowledge in specific areas and shares that knowledge and expertise with colleagues as consultant in planning care for patients. Participates in rounds and meetings for consultation.

Performs oncology related procedures, such as bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, lumbar puncture, bone marrow harvest, and other procedures as called upon within the scope of practice.

• Assumes fiscal responsibility with working knowledge of evidence based medical model.
• Effectively uses resources of the patient and the institution.
• Is aware of and adheres to specific capitations and limitations of the patient’s insurances while organizing and optimizing individualized care based on the disease state and restraints imposed by the HMO or insurances.
• Utilizes referrals to Home Health in order to provide optimum care in the appropriate setting.

Has knowledge of and utilizes all available resources in the event that the patient’s resources are limited or unavailable in order to provide medical care and social well-being.

Works in collaboration with the physician and realizes and is able to detect those deviations from normalcy or from established protocols which require consultation and/or referral to appropriate specialty areas including physicians, nutrition, psycho-social, and other resources.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree; Certification by the NCCPA or similar national certifying body; Completion of a CAAHEP certified Physician Assistant program.

• Current NP or PA licensure in the State of Maryland or other state where practicing.
• Current CPR certification.
• Must maintain current licensure and certification during the duration of employment.

PA required to complete JHH credentialing process prior to start date; CRNP required to complete JHH credentialing process during introductory period.

Successful completion of the national certification examination and certification as a physician assistant/nurse practitioner.

Approval of the Board of Physician Quality/Maryland Board of Nursing for the written signed delegation agreement

Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond HS Diploma/Graduation Equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer at least 1 year prior experience as a Physician Assistant.
• Prefer at least 1 year prior nursing experience in Oncology
• Classified Title: Physician Assistant
• Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MG
• Starting Salary Range: $112,572 - $152,900 Annually ($120,100 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
• Employee group: Full Time
• Schedule: Mon - Fri / 8a - 5:30p
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Location: School of Medicine Campus
• Department name: SOM Onc Medical Oncology
• Personnel area: School of Medicine