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Senior Physician Assistant (#RH1203)
$52.50-$63.82 Hourly / $9,100.58-$11,061.82 Monthly / $109,207.05-$132,741.85 Yearly




DEFINITION

Under general medical direction provides a variety of primary care diagnostic and medical care services; and does related and other work as required in accordance with Rule 3, Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced level class in the Physician Assistant series. Employees in this class provide a full range of primary care medical services, perform physical examinations and clinical management of cases at an expected higher level of accountability under the written directions of a physician. They may also coordinate the care given by other medical specialists, sub-professional staff and non-county agencies. Incumbents function relatively independently as part of a medical team and provide leadership, supervision and teaching for subordinate staff and students.

Areas of Physician Assistant assignment may include Family Practice, Public Health, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Pediatrics, Custodial Health, Mental Health and other approved medical specialties. Incumbents individually perform the "Typical Duties" and must possess required knowledge and abilities, as listed below, as related to their specific area of assignment.

TYPICAL DUTIES

  • Elicits, records, and/or reviews medical histories and performs acute primary care pre-employment, annual, periodic, and various other routine physical examinations on patients ranging from newborn through geriatric, utilizing the problem-oriented medical record or other appropriate systems; provides general and specific health and medical instruction to patients, clients and families.
  • Coordinates individual and family health management, utilizing physician resources or community agencies; provides guidance instruction, treatment and referral in such areas as family planning, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), drug abuse, child care and hygiene; assists patients with selection, fitting and placing of appropriate contraceptive devices.
  • Performs early diagnostic examinations including vision, hearing, pap smears, and other examinations; may order laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms and other diagnostic tests; may collect specimens for, perform, and interpret selected laboratory tests and take action on abnormals as necessary; provides immunization and gives injections.
  • Identifies basic complex medical conditions; determines if patient's medical, surgical, and psychiatric problems require immediate consultation with the physician; treats conditions and manages stable phases of chronic illnesses on consultation with or following specific protocols established by physicians, including dispensing and/or administering medication when indicated; alerts appropriate medical personnel and/or agencies of potential community health problems as encountered.
  • Provides routine prenatal care and post-partum follow-up for mother and child; conducts newborn and well child examinations; provides comprehensive health screening assessments; provides treatment of pediatric illness.
  • Observes and evaluates emotional condition of patient; counsels and supports patients in the area of psychosocial problems and inter-relationships; provides emergency treatment or referral for patients with sever emotional upsets.
  • May work in hospital, outpatient, custodial, public health, satellite and mobile clinics; may make home and school visits; may lead train, assign and review work of assigned staff; may train Physician Assistant students.
    Provides for Quality Assurance through review and audit of clinic charts to assure adequate medical management and follow-up; provides consultation to other providers.
  • May assist physicians in preparation of protocols; keeps records and completes forms and questionnaires as required.
  • Attends meetings and workshops; serves on committees as assigned; provides consultation and assistance in areas of specialty to other areas of Health Care Services; participates in and may conduct in-service training.
  • May perform minor surgical procedures requiring local anesthetic including laceration repair, partial matrixectomy, I&D's and post operative wound care.
  • May assist in surgery acting as a first or a second assistant under the supervision of an approved supervisory physician.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  Completion of a Primary Care Physician’s Assistant training program approved by the State of California Board of Medical Quality Assurance.

Experience:  Three years as Physician Assistant in a medical setting.

 

AND

Possession of additional advanced education, certification or experience in an area of practice as approved by the San Joaquin Department of Health Care Services.

 

Licenses and Certificates: Possession of a certificate to practice as a Physician Assistant issued by the State of California Board of Medical Quality Assurance.

 

Special Qualification:  1) In order to practice at San Joaquin General Hospital, must be credentialed and granted privileges through the San Joaquin General Hospital Committee on Interdisciplinary Practice (CIDP) within ninety (90) days of appointment and in accordance with medical staff bylaws and state regulations.  New employees may be granted temporary privileges by the Medical Director or designee, pending Committee Interdisciplinary Practice approval; 2) Eligibles may be certified only to job vacancies in the area of specialization in which they possess specialized training or experience.

KNOWLEDGE

The procedures, techniques and equipment used in family medicine, community health, mental health and professional nursing; medical terminology, various hospital and clinic routines, equipment and facilities; full range of medical conditions of applicable medical specialty including procedures utilized in prevention, diagnosis and treatment; maternal and child health practices; basic laboratory procedures; uses, effects, problems and Senior treatment of abuse of medicines and narcotics; social, public health, mental health and other community treatment agencies; principles of human behavior including basic causes, symptoms and treatment of mental illness and instability; basic medical record keeping; diverse needs and problems of various cultural groups; principles and practices of communicable disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment; basic principles and practices of employees' supervision and training.

ABILITY

Elicit and record complete and accurate medical histories; perform physical examinations; identify medical conditions which require immediate consultation with the physician; follow protocols in treating acute and stable chronic diseases as established by physicians; communicate effectively; recognized the behavior and attitudes that influence individual and family health; observe and evaluate emotional conditions; interpret laboratory data; provide guidance and health instruction to patients; lead and train other staff; work with high risk clientele; work independently in absence of on-site physician direction.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Mobility-Frequent standing for long periods; constant walking; occasional pushing/pulling; occasional bending/squatting; Lifting-Occasional lifting of 5 lbs. or less, restraining, lifting/turning people; Visual Requirements-Frequent color perception; occasional eye/hand coordination, peripheral vision and depth perception; frequent reading; Dexterity-Occasional holding and repetitive motion; frequent reaching, grasping and writing; Hearing/Talking-Constant hearing normal speech, talking in person, talking on the telephone; frequent hearing on the telephone and hearing faint sounds; Emotional/Psychological-Occasional emergency situations, exposure to hazardous materials, working weekends/nights; overtime; frequent exposure to trauma, grief an death; constant public contact, decision making, concentration; Environmental Conditions-Frequent exposure to noise; occasional exposure to hazardous materials.

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.


CLASS: RH1203; EST: 7/10/1991; REV: 2/10/1999;