Physician Assistant - Spine

Description

Are you a Physician Assistant interested in building your expertise in spine care? Do you enjoy developing strong relationships with patients while working closely alongside a physician in both the clinic and operating room? Are you looking for a role where you can be involved throughout the patient's care from initial evaluation and treatment through surgery and postoperative recovery? If so, we are looking for someone just like you to join our Physician Assistant team!

WHAT SETS OAM + i’move APART

On the Physician Assistant team, you'll have the opportunity to work 1:1 with an orthopaedic spine physician, developing a close working relationship while participating in the full continuum of patient care. Your week will include a combination of clinic, surgical first assist, and hospital rounding, giving you the opportunity to build comprehensive experience in both operative and non-operative spine care. When your primary physician is away, you'll collaborate with another surgeon on our Spine team. Whether you're an experienced PA looking to continue your career in orthopaedics or a new graduate interested in developing your skills in spine care, you'll work alongside experienced physicians and a collaborative clinical team.

OAM + i’move is committed to our employees' well-being, work-life balance, and career growth. Joining our team means working alongside fellowship-trained orthopaedic physicians who are leaders in their field. Everyone at OAM + i’move is committed to achieving service excellence through our standards of behavior; teamwork, courtesy, customer service, communication with mindfulness of etiquette, appearance/ environment, professionalism, confidentiality, and safety. We seek to reflect the diverse community we serve and be a welcoming, inclusive space for all.

We offer competitive pay, great PTO, a complete benefits package with several coverages at no cost to the employee, and a schedule with weekends usually on a voluntary basis and many paid holidays off. After a year qualifying employees join our 401k plan to which OAM makes a 3% safe harbor and discretionary profit-sharing contribution. Our benefits offerings include 4 Priority Health medical plans with HSA and FSA options, and Delta dental and vision. Also offered at no cost to you are short-and long-term disability and life Insurance.

About the Position

The Spine Physician Assistant is a full-time position working Monday through Friday as part of our Spine team, primarily based at OAM Headquarters in Muskegon. The PA works closely with an assigned spine surgeon, providing professional medical care to patients in both the clinical and surgical settings. The position includes clinic responsibilities, surgical first assist, hospital rounding, and participation in the PA call rotation. The PA will evaluate and assist in treating patients throughout their course of care, including preoperative evaluation and education, surgical care, postoperative follow-up, and ongoing treatment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Work 1:1 with an assigned spine surgeon, providing patient care in both the clinic and surgical environment.

Evaluate patients through medical history, physical examination, review of diagnostic studies, and assessment of clinical findings.

• Order appropriate laboratory studies, X-rays, imaging, and other diagnostic testing within scope of practice.
• Develop and implement treatment plans in collaboration with the supervising physician.
• Perform preoperative histories and physicals and provide appropriate patient education.

Function as first assist in spine surgeries, including patient positioning, assisting throughout the surgical procedure, wound closure, and completion of appropriate postoperative orders and documentation.

Assist with postoperative patient care and follow-up, including assessing recovery and providing appropriate education and treatment recommendations.

Round on hospitalized spine patients, provide follow-up care, collaborate with the physician and care team, and complete timely and accurate documentation.

• Prescribe medications within the scope of PA licensure and applicable Michigan law.
• Maintain timely and accurate patient documentation in the electronic medical record.

Communicate with patients and families regarding treatment plans, postoperative care, questions, and follow-up needs.

• Collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, surgical teams, and other members of the patient's care team.
• Provide coverage with another Spine surgeon when the PA's primary physician is unavailable.
• Participate in the established PA call rotation.

Maintain patient confidentiality and participate in required professional development, education, and training activities.

Requirements

Skills & Competencies: Strong clinical assessment, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively and develop an effective 1:1 working relationship with a physician; comfortable working in both clinical and surgical environments; ability to provide compassionate patient education and communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and other members of the care team; proficient computer and EMR skills; ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing patient and physician needs.

Education & Experience: Physician Assistant degree, current NCCPA certification, and eligibility for or current Physician Assistant licensure in the State of Michigan required. Previous orthopaedic, neurosurgery, and/or spine experience is preferred. Experienced Physician Assistants are preferred; however, new graduates are encouraged to apply, particularly those with an interest or clinical experience in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, or spine care. The general PA job description identifies prior physician office/hospital experience and emergency or orthopaedic rotation experience as preferred rather than required.

Physical Requirements: This position requires a full range of body motion, including standing and walking for extended periods, handling and assisting with patients, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination. The PA may occasionally lift and carry items weighing up to 30 pounds. Normal visual acuity and hearing are required. The position includes work in both clinical and surgical environments and may involve exposure to bodily fluids, communicable diseases, ionizing radiation, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to these settings.