Physician Assistant - Critical Care

Position Summary

An exempt position responsible for practicing critical care medicine and managing all aspects of in-patient medical care under the appropriate physician supervision as defined by New York State law. Within physician-advanced practice provider relationship, Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner exercise autonomy in medical decision-making as well as a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities Includes the Following:

1. Understands and adheres to the WPH performance standards, policies and behaviors.
2. Obtain medical histories, conduct physical exams, order and interpret tests, prescribes medications, and treat illnesses. Consult with physicians as needed.
3. Provide consultation services for potential critical care candidates from the ER, floor, or post-operative patients.
4. Actively participate in morning rounds to determine a daily treatment plan and/or goal for each patient on the critical care service.
5. Discuss treatment plans/goals and other pertinent issues with family members of critically ill patients.
6. First responder to the bedside of any patient on the critical care service demonstrating an acute change in clinical status.
7. Coordinating any treatments, interventions, testing or procedures that the patient may need.
8. Arrange appropriate consultations on behalf of the intensivist(s).
9. Provide updates to the on-call intensivist of any progress, acute change(s) or challenges encountered in a patient's clinical status.
10. Perform procedures under the scope of practice of the APP.
11. Counsel patient/family on health care matters including end of life care discussions.
12. Document patient information and care in the medical record which may include responsibilities for maintaining departmental statistical database for research and quality purposes.
13. Familiarity with anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine and physical diagnosis
14. Demonstrate skill in gathering and analyzing physiological, psychological and socioeconomic patient data.
15. Demonstrate skill in accurately evaluating patient problems in person or via phone and providing appropriate advice, intervention, or referral.
16. Demonstrates ability to make responsible decisions within the scope of PA practice.
17. Facilitate care and management of patients admitted to the critical care unit(s).
18. Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Education & Experience Requirements

Nurse Practitioner:

• Master's Degree in Nursing from an accredited school (highly recommended)
• Current NYS license to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse.
• Current NYS certification as a Nurse Practitioner (either Adult/Geriatric).
• Maintains a current collaborative practice agreement.
• Current National Certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Physician Assistant:

• Current New York State Licensed Physician Assistant
• Current National Certification
• Current White Plains Hospital Physician Assistant DOP
• Master's degree from an accredited school (highly recommended)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Proficiency in all procedures, techniques and skills approved in the delineation of privileges

Core Competencies

Procedural Skill Requirements:

• Central-line(triple-lumen or introducer) & dialysis catheter insertion
• Arterial (radial, femoral, axillary) line insertion
• NGT/OGT placement
• Foley catheter insertion
• Removal of surgical drains/dressings/staples
• If applicant does not have procedural skill requirements, it is expected that applicant participates in training program.

Knowledge Base Requirements:

• Management of all categories of shock
• Goal-directed fluid resuscitation
• Vasopressor and inotropic agents
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Ventilator management
• Ventilator weaning and liberation
• Sedation agents, paralytic agents, train of four monitoring, and Richmond agitation assessment scale (RAAS)
• Daily sedation interruption and wean-screening evaluation
• CVVHD
• Management of electrolyte and acid/base disorders
• ABG interpretation
• Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring

Behavioral Requirements:

• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work in high stress environment

Physical/Mental Demands/Requirements & Work Environment

• May be exposed to chemicals necessary to perform required tasks. Any hazardous chemicals the employee may be exposed to are listed in the hospital's SDS (Safety Data Sheet) database and may be accessed through the hospital's Intranet site (Employee Tools/SDS Access). A copy of the SDS database can also be found at the hospital switchboard, saved on a disc.

Primary Population Served

Check appropriate box(s) below:
• Neonatal (birth - 28 days)
•Patients with exceptional communication needs
• Infant (29 days - less than 1 year)
•Patients with developmental delays
• Pediatric (1 - 12 years)
•Patients at end of life
• Adolescent (13 - 17 years)
•Patients under isolation precautions
•Adult (18 - 64 years)
•Patients with cultural needs
•Geriatric (> 65 years)
•All populations
•Bariatric Patients with weight related comorbidities
• Non-patient care population

The responsibilities and tasks outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of White Plains Hospital.