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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Physician Assistant, Ortho Access, Sports Med and North Liberty Campus

Physician AssistantIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

The new University of Iowa Health Care North Liberty Campus opened in the Spring of 2025. This 469,000 square foot facility is the home to UI Health Care’s nationally recognized Orthopedics service line, offering comprehensive, coordinated, and accessible care across the outpatient, inpatient and surgical venues.

These state-of-the-art clinical facilities will also include a full-service community imaging center, laboratory services, physical therapy, retail pharmacy, and emergency department as well as an array of support services.

The facility has been designed to support a superior patient and staff experience; excellence across our patient care, teaching and research missions; convenient access to services; and engaging community partnerships.

UI Health Care is seeking a welcoming, highly-skilled and collaborative workforce to be a part of the opening team for this superb new campus, and to help further our mission of: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.

The Orthopedic Access Advanced Practice Provider (APP) will independently evaluate and manage patients with a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions, with collaborative support from our subspecialty orthopedic teams. The primary objective of this clinic is to enhance timely access to orthopedic care.

While the clinic will serve patients with a variety of musculoskeletal concerns, those with acute injuries will generally be directed to the Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic. For non-surgical cases, the APP will manage the patient’s care independently at our Prairie Meadow Drive location.. If surgical intervention is indicated, the APP will coordinate referral to the appropriate surgical team within the department.

The role may also include performing in-office procedures such as joint injections, depending on the APP’s experience and clinical assessment.

There may also be some cross coverage expected in the Orthopedic Injury Walk-In Clinic (North Liberty Campus). There the APP would see musculoskeletal injuries and pain that have occurred within 7 days. This occasionally requires splinting and casting. We provide training for this.

This role requires someone who is organized, motivated, and very efficient.

Schedule includes an evening shift every Thursday (12p-8pm) and every other Saturday (8a-2p).

Position Responsibilities Ortho Access Clinic

Perform evaluation and management for a variety of orthopedic conditions. Order medical diagnostic, therapeutic procedures, and prescribe, dispense or deliver medications under a collaborative practice agreement. Follow-up with patients on diagnostics/labs.

Follow-up with patients and follow longitudinally if surgical or subspecialty consultation is not needed/desired. Consult/collaborate with other care team members. Use judgment to apply/adopt information within total clinical picture to address health issues. Influence others to adopt best practices.

Complete patient medical records, reports, and forms to record treatment for treatment record and billing purposes. Improve quality of care by performing chart reviews and participating on performance improvement committees.

Collaborating with subspecialty teams in Orthopedics as needed to facilitate care. Escalating care appropriately for surgical conditions.

This position work location is the Orthopedics Prairie Meadows Drive location.

Position Responsibilities Ortho Walk-In Clinic

Triaging, evaluation, and management of orthopedic injuries such as acute back pain, sprains and strains, tendon and ligament injuries, suspected fractures, and joint pain

  • Ordering appropriate imaging such as plain Xray, CT, or MRI when indicated
  • Providing initial management which could include using a variety of durable medical equipment, such as wrist splints, slings, and boots, in addition to splinting or casting

Educating Patients on Their Injury

Facilitating follow-up care, as needed, with subspecialty surgeons and providers in the Department of Orthopedics

Working with MCNL Emergency Room staff to transfer patients to them when a patient would be more appropriately managed in that setting.

  • Collaborating with specialty teams in Orthopedics as needed to facilitate care
  • This work location is the Main Campus North Liberty Hospital

Education Requirements

Must comply with registration and licensure requirements as specified by the Iowa Board of Physician Assistant Examiners which include graduation from an accredited PA educational program and/or certification by the NCCPA. A Master’s degree is highly desired.

Experience Requirements

2+ years of patient care experience is required and can be obtained through clinical rotations or in clinical practice.

  • 2+ years of demonstrated experience and/or knowledge of orthopedic patient care is required.
  • Experience working effectively in a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
  • Timeliness and promptness of documentation.

Desired Qualifications

Experience working in orthopedic outpatient clinic is highly desired. Relevant orthopedic experience in ED or Urgent Care considered.

Please attach a resume/CV as part of the application process. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

The department intends to hire for one position from either Physician Assistant, requisition 26003263, or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, requisition 26003265, based on the qualifications of the successful candidate. Please apply to the specific position for which you wish to be considered or both.

For questions or additional information, please contact Amanda Petersen at amanda-petersen@uiowa.edu.

Key Responsibilities

The Physician Assistant will independently evaluate and manage patients with musculoskeletal conditions and perform in-office procedures like joint injections. They will also provide triage and acute injury management in the Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic while coordinating surgical referrals as needed.

Requirements

Candidates must be graduates of an accredited PA program with current licensure by the Iowa Board of Physician Assistant Examiners. A minimum of 2 years of patient care experience, specifically in orthopedics, is required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Orthopedic assessmentPatient evaluationDiagnostic orderingMedication prescriptionClinical documentationMusculoskeletal injury managementPatient educationCollaborative careElectronic medical recordsQuality improvement

Orthopedics — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active Physician Assistant listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 74% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physician Assistant, Ortho Access, Sports Med and North Liberty Campus at University of Iowa a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Orthopedics (PA) — ranked against 46 active Orthopedics (PA) listings on WeekdayDoc.

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Salary Distribution32 jobs · 25 employers

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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs · 25 employers

401k / retirement match
72% this job
CME allowance
69%
Sign-on bonus
59%
Loan repayment
17%
Relocation assistance
10%

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Work-life snapshot

median 3.9this job 6.1
Better work-life than 70% of Orthopedics (PA) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 46 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes weekends

Living in Iowa City

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$296k
Typical market rent
$1,270/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.5
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).

BEA 2024 · Iowa City, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About University of Iowa

Hospitals and Health Care
Iowa City, Iowa
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Retirement Plan
Tuition Assistance