Physician Assistant

Job Summary:
We are seeking a highly motivated and compassionate Physician Assistant to join one of the largest Cardiovascular Surgery groups in the country: Cardiac Surgery Associates, S.C. This role is based out of the Greater Chicagoland Area working with a highly experienced CV Surgeon and a PA-C. Responsibilities include assisting in the operating room, managing perioperative patients, conducting patient evaluations, and delivering high-quality, evidence-based care across the continuum of cardiovascular surgery services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Practice

• Assist surgeons in the operating room: first assist for cardiovascular and thoracic surgical procedures.
• Provide intraoperative support including tissue retraction, hemostasis, conduit harvesting (e.g., saphenous vein, radial artery), cannulation assistance, and chest closure.
• Manage perioperative patients in ICU, step-down, and floor settings, including ventilator
  management, hemodynamic monitoring, and titration of drips.
• Completes simple and complex procedures independently including insertion and
  removal of chest tubes, insertion and removal of arterial lines, and removal of IABP.
• Reports adverse patient responses to collaborative/supervision physician. Refers patients to specialists when appropriate.
• Perform comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative assessments, including
  histories, physical exams, and documentation.
• Order, interpret, and act upon diagnostic tests (labs, imaging, EKGs).
• Provide patient and family education regarding surgery, recovery, medications, and
  follow-up. Prescribes appropriate treatment, pharmacological agents and/or other non-
  pharmacological interventions in accordance with state law and institutional privileges.
• Office duties include: availability to see patients for same day visits, office procedures,
  returning phone calls from patients. Evaluation and screening, and counseling of patients on health maintenance and promotion of utilization of community resources.
• Participates in medical record, patient care, quality assurance, process improvement and compliance audits, evaluations and follow-up.
• Demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness in handling schedule coverage and service
  excellence. There will be expectations to participate in a call schedule.
• Participate in education for nurses and other health care providers, and participate in community outreach education.
• Performs other duties consistent with purpose of job, effective operation of medical practice and access/delivery of care to patients as directed.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensivists, perfusionists, nursing staff,
  and other team members.
• Participate in daily rounds, case conferences, and multidisciplinary discussions.
• Facilitate smooth transitions of care across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Administrative & Compliance

• Actively demonstrates the organization’s mission and core values, and conducts oneself
  at all times in a manner consistent with these values.
• Maintains compliance with all applicable federal, state, and accrediting regulations
  regarding patient safety, confidentiality, and medical information.
• Ensure documentation is accurate, timely, and compliant with regulatory, hospital, and
  accreditation standards.
• Support quality improvement initiatives, data collection, and morbidity/mortality
  reviews.
• Maintain compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, infection control, and ACHC/Joint
  Commission standards.
• Participate in ongoing education, competency validation, and continuing medical
  education (CME).

Qualifications

• Education / Certification
• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant Program.
• Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• Licensed (or license-eligible) as a PA in the state of practice.
• Current ACLS and BLS certification; ATLS preferred.
• Experience
• Minimum 1–2 years of experience as a surgical PA; cardiovascular or cardiothoracic
  surgery experience strongly preferred.
• New graduates with cardiovascular surgical rotations may be considered.
• Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
• Strong critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in high-stress environments and function as part of a
  multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with patients, families, and staff.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Standing for extended periods in the operating room.
• Exposure to operating room environment, bloodborne pathogens, and infectious diseases (with appropriate PPE provided).
• Manual dexterity for surgical tasks and procedures.
• Rotating schedule, including nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call coverage as required.