Physician's Assistant (PA)

Position Summary

The Physician Assistant (PA) provides high-quality, patient-centered clinical care in collaboration with RCL’s retina specialists. The PA will evaluate and manage patients with retinal and ophthalmic conditions, assist physicians with the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disease, provide pre- and postoperative care, perform or assist with procedures within the PA’s scope of practice.

This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside experienced retina specialists and gain hands-on experience with Valeda, an innovative, cutting-edge technology used in the treatment of retinal disease. The PA will have the opportunity to be involved in the delivery of advanced retinal care while working in a patient driven specialty practice.

The ideal candidate will have strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and an interest in ophthalmology and retinal disease. Previous experience in ophthalmology or retina is preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Patient Evaluation and Clinical Care

Obtain and document comprehensive patient histories and perform patient assessments within the PA’s scope of practice.

Evaluate patients presenting with retinal and ophthalmic conditions and assist in developing appropriate treatment plans.

Assess changes in vision and symptoms and identify urgent or emergent conditions requiring physician evaluation.

Review and interpret diagnostic testing and imaging, including OCT, fundus photography, visual fields, fluorescein angiography, and other retinal imaging as appropriate.

Treatment and Procedures

• Provide treatment and follow-up care within the PA’s scope of practice and established RCL protocols.
• Perform or assist with minor ophthalmic procedures and provide hands-on support with Valeda treatments, as permitted by training, credentialing, privileging, and applicable law.
• Provide postoperative evaluations and monitor patients for complications.
• Educate patients regarding procedures, medications, treatment plans, and postoperative instructions.
• Recognize and promptly escalate complications or changes in patient condition to the treating retina physician.

Surgical and Procedure Support

• Provide preoperative and postoperative clinical assessments for retinal surgical patients.
• Communicate surgical instructions and postoperative expectations to patients.
• Coordinate with surgical scheduling and clinical staff to ensure timely patient care.
• Follow up with surgical patients and communicate clinical concerns to the appropriate physician.
• Opportunity for future growth and expanded responsibilities, including working directly with retina specialists in the evaluation and management of surgical patients and providing ongoing clinical support throughout the continuum of care.

Patient Education

• Explain diagnoses, treatment options, medications, procedures, and follow-up recommendations to patients in an understandable manner.
• Reinforce physician recommendations and treatment plans.

Educate patients regarding disease progression, treatment compliance, and signs and symptoms requiring immediate attention.

Respond to patient questions and concerns within the PA’s scope of practice and appropriately escalate clinical questions.

Documentation and Care Coordination

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete medical records.
• Document patient encounters, assessments, procedures, treatment plans, and follow-up recommendations.
• Review laboratory results, diagnostic studies, and outside medical records as appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with physicians, ophthalmic technicians, surgical scheduling, and other members of the clinical team.
• Credentialing, Billing and Regulatory Compliance
• Maintain an active National Provider Identifier (NPI) and ensure NPI information remains current and accurate.

Maintain Qualified Health Professional (QHP) status and all required professional credentials, certifications, licenses, and registrations necessary to perform assigned duties.

Maintain all required payer enrollments and participate in credentialing and recredentialing activities as requested by RCL.

Provide accurate credentialing, licensing, NPI, QHP, and payer enrollment information to RCL and promptly report any changes.

Maintain all required collaborating, supervising, or practice agreements, as applicable under Illinois law and RCL policy.

Practice within all applicable federal and state laws, payer requirements, professional standards, and RCL policies and procedures.

• Complete required continuing education and maintain professional certifications.
• Support accurate clinical documentation necessary for appropriate coding, billing, and reimbursement.
• Cooperate with internal and external audits and credentialing requests.

Practice Operations

• Support efficient patient flow in a high-volume retina environment.
• Work collaboratively with ophthalmic technicians and clinical support staff.
• Participate in establishing and maintaining standardized clinical workflows.
• Follow RCL policies, procedures, clinical protocols, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, and clinical compliance initiatives.
• Maintain current knowledge of retina treatments, medications, procedures, and clinical standards.

Qualifications

Required

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program.
• Current and unrestricted Illinois Physician Assistant license.
• Current NCCPA certification, as applicable.
• Active National Provider Identifier (NPI).
• Current Qualified Health Professional (QHP) status and eligibility to participate in applicable payer programs.
• Current BLS certification.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required hospital, facility, payer, and RCL clinical privileges and credentials.
• Excellent clinical assessment and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume clinical environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to patient safety.

Preferred

• Previous experience in ophthalmology, retina, optometry, or another surgical specialty.
• Experience working in a high-volume specialty practice.
• Experience assisting with or performing ophthalmic procedures.
• Experience with intravitreal injections.
• Familiarity with OCT and other ophthalmic diagnostic testing.
• Experience with electronic medical records and clinical documentation requirements.
• Experience with payer credentialing and enrollment.
• Core Competencies
• Clinical judgment and decision-making
• Retinal and ophthalmic knowledge
• Patient-centered care
• Procedural competency
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Organization and time management
• Ability to prioritize in a high-volume environment
• Professionalism and confidentiality
• Regulatory and documentation compliance
• Adaptability and willingness to learn

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during clinic operations.
• Ability to sit, stand, bend, and move throughout the clinical environment.
• Ability to perform clinical procedures requiring fine motor skills.
• Ability to use computers and electronic medical record systems for extended periods.
• Ability to travel between RCL locations as required.

Work Environment

This position operates in a fast-paced, patient-focused retina specialty practice. The PA will work closely with retina physicians and clinical staff and may be assigned to multiple RCL locations based on physician schedules, patient volume, and practice needs.

RCL is committed to providing high-quality retinal care while maintaining a collaborative, professional, and patient-centered clinical environment.