Physician Assistant

The Advanced Practice Provider (Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner) will be responsible for evaluating patients to provide comprehensive orthopaedic assessment and treatment plans. The APP provides patient access to specialized musculoskeletal and orthopedic care on an appointment and non-appointment basis functioning as an immediate care access clinic/urgent care. The Advances Practice Provider will have the ability to develop rapport quickly with patients, physicians, and staff. Ideally, the APP will be intrinsically motivated with a strong desire to offer high quality care.

The Advanced Practice Provider reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Monday - Friday

Call Required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure comprehensive, professional, and friendly care to orthopaedic patient needs
• Perform complete, comprehensive and problem focused history and physical exams.
• Order necessary radiologic studies and laboratory tests.
• Interpret and correlate subjective data as well as laboratory and diagnostic procedures to formulate a differential diagnosis and establish a working treatment plan for Orthopaedic problems within scope of practice.
• Implement therapeutic intervention for specific conditions when appropriate.
• Exercise judgment on problems requiring consultation, referral, or evaluation by the collaborating Orthopaedic surgeon or other health care professionals.
• Assist the Orthopaedic surgeons during surgical procedures.
• Provide direct patient treatment, including but not limited to: applying and/or removing casts/splints, simple wound care and repair, injections of joints, tendons, trigger points and bursa, aspirations of joints, administration of local anesthetic and digital blocks, joint and fracture closed reduction, and application of braces, splints, and other DME.
• Provide patient and family instruction on the proper use and care of braces, splints, and other DME products.
• Complete patient's medical record documentation in a thorough and timely manner
• Act as role model through support of The Bone & Joint Center’s mission 
• Responds to physician and nursing concerns or requests with possible solutions.
• Fulfills all patient care responsibilities in the main clinic and satellite clinics
• Adheres to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, HIPAA regulations, and quality control methods.
• Maintains patient records confidentially.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, injectables and controlled substance regulations.
• Collaborates with the entire Bone & Joint Center team and provides professional recommendations regarding patient care.
• May be asked to supervise nurses, assistants, aides and students as they provide patient care, treatment or other services.
• Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, and adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Maintains professional appearance and personal conduct.
• Attends meetings as requested.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of orthopaedic anatomy and terminology.
• Knowledge of common orthopaedic conditions and surgeries.
• Excellent listening, communication and leadership skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Creating a safe, effective environment
• Motivating others
• Documentation skills
• Knowledge of common medications used during the treatment of orthopaedic patients (particularly analgesics, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics).
• Ability to effectively communicate with other medical providers and ancillary personnel.
• Must be able to act calmly and effectively in a busy or stressful situation.  
• Proficient in prioritizing job functions according to patient and physician need.
• Skilled in educating patients and coordinating patient care.
• Proficient with office equipment such as computers, dictaphones, fax machines and copy machines.
• A member of the Allied Health Professional Staff at St. Alexius Medical Center with privileges to apply and remove casts and splints, dressing changes, assess wounds and pulling drains per physician’s order

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree of Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner required.
• Unencumbered licensure and credentials for the state of North Dakota
• BLS Certification Required
• DEA Required
• Orthopaedic experience preferred