Physician Assistant

CLASSIFICATION/STATUS: Exempt, Licensed, Full Time

Immediate Supervisor: Associate Director of Medical

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

FLEXIBLE WORK: Hybrid schedule option

PAY RANGE: $96,720 - $137,280/year

WHO YOU ARE:

YOUR ROLE & IMPACT

As part of the dynamic Primary Care team at Charles River Community Health (CRCH), a healthcare practice providing comprehensive and compassionate care to underserved communities, the Physician Assistant provides direct care and education to Health Center patients and ensures continuity and quality of care. The Physician Assistant will have a solid understanding of patient needs and will work collaboratively with primary care providers and a multidisciplinary team to develop, assess, coordinate, and optimize patient care plans.

CRCH is eager to introduce physician assistants to its patients and providers in a dual role. First, we would like to introduce the PA to CRCH, who will start to practice under the guidance of an already identified collaborating physician and work with a physician panel. For the first year, the role will serve 50% in a more traditional nursing capacity and 50% as a PA. A complete transition to a full time PA will happen at the end of the first year, pending successfully meeting pre-defined goals during the annual evaluation. We are hoping by this smoother transition into primary care, an early-career PA will have a greater insight to all of patient care.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care with Clinical Mentoring (50%):

Provide direct patient care, counseling, and teaching to the primary care population in the ambulatory setting.
Perform complete histories and physical examinations.
Order, interpret, and evaluate appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests.
Develop appropriate plans of care and follow-up based on the outcomes of diagnostic, laboratory, and physical examination findings.
Order medications and write prescriptions according to organizational and regulatory policies and procedures.
Consistently follow through on high quality and timely documentation.
Discuss patient data with other physicians and professionals as appropriate in a multidisciplinary setting.
Practice cost-effective medicine efficiently, maximizing available resources.
Demonstrate expert clinical judgment skills to function in an independent role.
During the first year, the Physician Assistant portion of the role will consist of 16 clinical hours and 4 admin hours per week. After the first year/once transitioned into a full Physician Assistant, the role will consist of 32 clinical hours and 8 admin hours per week.
Patient Assessment and Education Duties (50%):

Deliver patient care and patient education in person and over the phone in a manner that is appropriate to patient’s age, physical ability, educational level, and culture.
Educate patients and families by phone and in the Health Center about minor illnesses, medication usage, health maintenance needs, blood sugar monitoring, nebulizer usage and other prescribed health care regimens, operational procedures, and specialist referrals.
Demonstrate clinical competence, self-direction, and sound judgement in the provision of ongoing clinical monitoring of patients with chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, CHF, etc.
Schedule and conduct appropriate nursing appointments as needed or directed by providers including, but not limited to, blood pressure checks, immunizations, PPDs, patient education, premarital testing and counseling, wound checks, patient education, etc.
Triage patient telephone calls according to telephone triage guidelines and make necessary arrangements for follow-up. Prepare monthly report on telephone triage statistics.
Upon the order of a provider, administer medications, immunizations, injections, and perform other procedures.
Place orders for follow up under the direction of a provider.
Communicate with other departments, providers, and facilities as appropriate to obtain results of diagnostic tests and examinations and follow up on information as needed.
Communicate with providers and specialists in other facilities to obtain result of consultations and emergency room visits as needed.
Coordinate follow-up of abnormal lab results.
Participates in community outreach projects and Center meetings as requested.
Participates in Quality Assurance activities as directed.
Documents all nursing assessments and interventions using SOAP note format.
Ensure that all diseases cited in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health List of Reportable Diseases are reported to the local Board of Health.
Completes patients’ forms (camp, physical, WIC, school) as needed.
During the first year, the nurse portion of the role will consist of 20 hours floor RN duties per week.
Performs other related duties as required by Director of Medicine.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, TRAITS

Must have a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies (or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
Must have active Physician Assistant license in Massachusetts.
Certification in CPR required.
Bilingual/Bicultural preferred.
Basic computer skill preferred or willingness to develop these skills.
Excellent communication and documentation skills required.
Must have a willingness to work flexible hours to meet the organization’s needs/demands.
Must be part of the regular on-call rotation after the first year/once transitioned to a full Physician Assistant.
Must be able to travel between sites (Brighton and Waltham) and have flexibility to cover one evening and/or Saturday per week.
Must have excellent communication skills, particularly with people from diverse cultures, with the ability to understand the community, population, and patients we serve.
Must have experience in diverse cultures, with strong commitment to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and reducing inequities.
Must believe in the work we do at CRCH, with a strong passion to serve underserved populations in diverse settings.

WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO

Charles River Community Health’s mission is to partner with individuals and families so they can thrive and lead healthier lives by delivering the comprehensive, integrated, and equitable primary healthcare that matters most to them.

CRCH is a comprehensive practice providing medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, optical, and vision services to diverse underserved local communities. We serve over 13,500 patients annually, and 90% of those served are low income, while over 70% need services in a language other than English.

We are committed to providing patients with timely access to the right care, at the right place and at the right time, collaborating with other organizations to connect patients with a comprehensive range of services and provide continuity of care, and creating new community partnerships to meet the changing needs of patients and the community.

We value caring for everyone with dignity, respect, and compassion, reducing cultural, financial and other barriers to care, and eliminating health care disparities for our patients. We also advocate for the needs of our patients, the community, and public health causes.

OUR PROMISE

If you are passionate about providing service excellence in a mission-driven, team-oriented, and progressive organization, you will find your career as Physician Assistant rewarding and impactful! You will also find a partner in your career path goals and trajectory!

OUR BENEFITS & PERKS

Medical & Dental Insurance

Short & Long-term Disability Insurance

Generous Paid Time Off

Flexible Spending Account

Employee Assistance Program

Tickets at Work

Health Reimbursement Arrangement

Travel Reimbursement

Professional Development Opportunities

Solid track record of developing and promoting employees internally!

Charles River Community Health is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities. By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, CRCH will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality patient care and services. CRCH is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, CRCH prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because he or she has engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.