New

Chief Physician Assistant

Columbia University
United States, New York, New York
Nov 21, 2024
Job Type: Officer of Administration Bargaining Unit: Regular/Temporary: Regular End Date if Temporary: Hours Per Week: 35 Standard Work Schedule: Building: Salary Range: 160,000-180,000 The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Position Summary The Chief Physician Assistant will function in the setting of the Plastic Surgery Division and manage pre- and post-operative patients. The incumbent will be responsible for providing clinical care services; including assessing, diagnosing, prescribing, treating, and educating patients. Works closely with other clinicians in a team approach to patient care. Responsibilities Assists division administrator with PA evaluations and goals for the next fiscal year. Maintains an updated spreadsheet of upcoming free flap surgeries to ensure a co-surgeon is available and assigned to each case. Assists the division in their efforts at NYPW to accommodate microsurgery procedures in the OR (assists with the creation of a plastic surgery tray and a microsurgical instrument tray). Maintains open communication with OR staff at NYPW and Millstein campus to ensure all necessary trays and materials are available for scheduled cases. Writes letters of medical necessity to support appeals for insurance denials. Completes FMLA and disability paperwork for all surgical patients of the division chief. Assists administration staff with the rescheduling of patients when an emergency surgery disrupts previously scheduled clinic days. Communicates with the OR to add on urgent surgeries when necessary. Creates educational content for patients of the division of plastic surgery including detailed preoperative and postoperative instruction packets for the most commonly performed surgeries. Takes an active role in assisting with research studies conducted by the division chief. Bills as a first assist using modified 82 when operating offsite, or when a qualified resident is unavailable to operate with the attending. Assists the division of plastic surgery's surgical coordinator with reviewing the upcoming OR schedule regularly to ensure the division chief's OR utilization is being maximized. Assumes the duties of a medical assistant when the division is short staffed by rooming patients, conducting patient intake, preparing and cleaning exam rooms, assisting with office procedures and scheduling patient appointments as needed. Creates EPIC templates to assist with documentation for the division of plastic surgery. Responsible for maintaining updated portfolios of postoperative patient photos for use during patient consultations. Exhibits a positive attitude and demonstrates a hard work ethic to encourage all staff members to deliver excellent patient care and to assist each other with all tasks at hand. Collaborates with administrative staff to improve marketing strategies for the division. Actively participates in developing policies and procedures to improve efficiency in the office setting within the division of plastic surgery. Acts as a liaison between the division chief and the mid-level team. Encourages fellow mid-level providers to attend monthly journal club educational events. Attends monthly staff meetings and executes any new policies or recommendations made. Identifies learning strengths and needs within the staff. Clinical Responsibilities: Travels across campuses to operate as a first assistant with the division chief including Millstein, the Allen Pavilion, NYPW, and Pondfield Ambulatory Surgical Center). Operates as a first assistant with other attendings in the division of plastic surgery when requested by the division chief. Independently conducts patient visits under the supervision of the division chief in the outpatient setting including new patient consults, follow up visits and post op visits. Coordinates with other specialties to facilitate a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment of patients (i.e. general surgery, breast surgery, radiation oncology, oncology, orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery and urology). Takes call and provides the division chief's patients with an email address and phone number so they may contact the PA directly with any questions or concerns, thus alleviating the burden on the answering service and the attendings, while also providing patients with expeditious assistance. Enters necessary outpatient orders for labs, ambulatory referrals and imaging. Enters inpatient orders (i.e. post-operative care in the PACU and discharge orders). Participates in rounding of inpatients with the division chief. Interprets the results of labs and imaging ordered in the outpatient setting and contacts the patients to discuss their results while initiating the next steps of their treatment. Reviews pre-operative labs and medical clearance for all surgical patients of the division chief. Conducts peer to peers for insurance denials for patients of the division chief. Enters case requests for surgical patients of the division chief. Promptly sends staff messages with CPT codes for upcoming office procedures for patients of the division chief so authorization can be obtained in a timely manner. Responsible for chart reviewing all patients of the division chief and for documentation of all office visit notes, and office procedure notes. Performs office procedures independently including but not limited to aspiration, cauterization, wound debridement, suture removal, drain removal, would cultures, wound vac changes, and Kenalog injection of hypertrophic or keloid scarring. Provides appropriate follow up of all postoperative patients. Effectively communicates with team members. Provides patient and family education to ensure the patient has the ability to effectively participate in their own care at home, and are able to make informed decisions regarding their care. Establishes visiting nurse services (VNS) for patients of the division chief when necessary. Initiates treatment with wound vac therapy for patients of the division chief when necessary. Responsible for responding to patient advice request messages in Epic. Required to work 2 shifts per month. Education Responsibilities: Educates fellow Advanced Practice Practitioners (PAs/NPs) in the outpatient setting and, in the OR, including but not limited to: how to properly scrub and maintain sterility, suturing technique, and how to effectively first assist. Assists new hire attendings with navigating logistics in an outpatient setting as they transition from fellowship (providing education on workflow in the office and OR setting) Assists with the education of interns/junior residents in the operating room under the supervision of the division chief. Educates medical school students that shadow in the office and in the OR. Trains incoming clinical extenders (i.e. medical assistants). Minimum Qualifications Graduate of an ARC-PA accredited or New York State Education Department approved PA education program PA - 5 years of related experience Minimum licensing/certifications required upon start date: NYS PA License NCCPA Board Certification BLS, ACLS, PALS (if applicable) Certification DEA Certification Other Requirements Ability to perform comprehensive history andphysical examination. Ability to manage and coordinate a patient caseload. Work within a collaborative agreement/protocolswith a physician and health care team. Demonstrate leadership ability to manage patients and interact effectively with peers and physicians. Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.