Anesthesia OR PA

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 78,868 - 96,395; Full time

Job summary

The University of Iowa is seeking a Physician Assistant to perform pre-operative and post-anesthesia assessments in the Department of Anesthesia. This role involves providing patient care, assisting with resident education, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in clinical practice, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work autonomously. This position is full-time on campus with competitive salary starting at $87,632.

Qualifications

• Compliance with Iowa Board of Physician Assistant Examiners requirements.
• Current NCCPA certification.
• Experience in clinical practice preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform pre-operative and post-anesthesia assessments.
• Assist in the education of medical students and residents.
• Provide postoperative management in the PACU.

Skills

Communication skills

Ability to prioritize workflow

Education

Graduated from an accredited Physician Assistants educational program

Job description

The Physician Assistant

In the Department of Anesthesia will perform pre‑operative and post anesthesia assessment for patients scheduled for surgery in the OR at UI Health Care Medical Center University and will assist in the education of resident physicians, medical students, and nurse anesthetist students as they rotate through the OR. The Physician Assistant will assist in research endeavors related to pre‑op/pre‑anesthesia assessments. They will work within an interdisciplinary team, CRNA’s, nursing, physicians, administration, and all others involved with the patient’s care. They will ensure safe, effective, quality patient care and promote UI Health Care’s educational and research missions. The Physician Assistant will exercise autonomy in medical decision‑making and services provided.

Position Responsibilities

• Reviews patient records including prior anesthetics, surgical and nursing work‑up, consultant work‑up, and other relevant clinical notes and testing procedures.
• Evaluates patient according to the standard anesthetic evaluation, understanding that this standard evaluation may evolve with time. This standard evaluation will include obtaining the patient’s medical history, airway exam, examination of heart and lungs, and other clinically indicated organ systems.
• Provides postoperative management in the PACU, including assessment and treatment of pain, nausea, hemodynamic concerns, and other common postoperative conditions under established protocols and physician collaboration.
• Assists with multimodal pain management strategies, including medication titration, regional anesthesia follow‑up, and escalation of complex pain concerns to anesthesia faculty as appropriate.
• Participates in development and implementation of standardized perioperative care pathways, quality improvement initiatives, and patient safety efforts.
• Performs further evaluation as directed by the staff physician.
• Assists the patient in understanding teaching materials provided for their anesthetic.
• Assists the patient in interpretation of NPO instructions.
• Instructs the patient regarding medications to be taken on the day of surgery, including how to manage insulin doses.
• Writes orders for pre‑medication for the patient in consultation with the staff physician or clinic supervisor.
• Orders diagnostic tests for the patient in consultation with the staff physician.
• Directs requisitions for relevant outside medical records which may include telephone calls to outside physicians, their offices or hospitals.
• Communicates with other services within or outside the hospital to request further consultation or work‑up with the cooperation of the staff physician.
• Arranges for communication of special needs or concerns to the anesthesia team.
• Assists in collecting information such as duration of workup, health status of patient, etc., for use in optimizing the function of the OR.
• Make observations regarding issues that seem to dissatisfy patients or lead to inefficiency.
• Assists in teaching duties of the position to substitutes and/or replacements. Also teaches pre‑operative/pre‑anesthesia evaluation both by example and by direct instruction to junior residents or SRNA students.
• Establishes and maintains standards of collaborative interaction among peers and employees that are characterized by respect, honesty and service; assures that all unit members are held to similar standards and ethics.
• Inspires and motivates others to high performance by exercising strong stewardship of University resources, setting expectations, measuring success through individual performance evaluations, and driving organizational results.
• Identifies opportunities for and creates development plans that encourage employees to attend to the growth of their personal and professional capacity; engages self and staff in collective reflection of the University’s greater role in society.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited Physician Assistants educational program.

Experience Requirements

• Physician Assistants are required to comply with registration and licensure requirements as specified by the Iowa Board of Physician Assistant Examiners and hold current certification by the NCCPA.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Contributes to a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.
• Ability to prioritize workflow.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in area of clinical practice is preferred.
• Ability to function with a high degree of independence in a collaborative and multidisciplinary team providing care for highly complex patients.

Additional Information

• Schedule: Full‑time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Compensation

• Starting Salary Minimum: 87,632

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335‑2660 or [e-mail]. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319‑356‑7543.

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