State of Maryland

A Physician Assistant I is the intermediate level of work performing delegated medical acts under the direction of a licensed physician and in compliance with controlling statutes and regulations.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a licensed Physician.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  Work is generally performed in a community health clinic.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The Physician Assistant I and the Physician Assistant II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Physician Assistant I performs duties under close supervision at times and with general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed; while the Physician Assistant II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Provides initial patient assessments by reviewing and obtaining pertinent medical history data such as the onset, nature, and duration of symptoms, drug sensitivity, and sexual contacts;

Performs physical examinations including obtaining blood and other specimens for lab testing;

Facilitates the development of medical diagnoses and appropriate patient treatment plans as authorized by the supervising Physician;

Implements patient treatment plans by administering and prescribing medications, counseling patients, making referrals to other medical specialists, and performing necessary follow up consultation or treatment;

Documents patient progress and consults with the supervising Physician if the patient manifests any adverse reactions or undiagnosed medical problems;

Performs clinical procedures such as intradermal tests, care and suturing of minor lacerations, casting and splinting, control of external hemorrhage and administering medication;

Initiates care in emergency situations such as cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, and traumas;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and bacteriology;

Skill in taking complete, detailed and accurate patient histories;

Skill in reviewing patient records to develop comprehensive medical status reports;

Skill in performing physical examinations and recording all pertinent data;

Skill in interpreting and evaluating patient data as authorized by the supervising Physician for the purpose of determining management and treatment of patients;

Skill in initiating requests for or performing diagnostic procedures as indicated by pertinent data and as authorized by the supervising physician;

Ability to follow a Physician's instructions with accuracy and care;

Ability to establish and maintain rapport with patients, clients and professional and non professional co workers.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Physician Quality Assurance under the certification requirements for Physician Assistants.

Experience: None.

1. Applicants for this classification may be given a medical examination prior to their appointment to determine their ability to perform the work of the position.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 06.01.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E- Health Care Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.