Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant

Department: Outpatient

Reports to: Chief Medical Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Type of Position: Full-time

Revised Date: 02/2022

Mission & vision statement

The Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation (KPHC) is established for the purposes of carrying out the vision and mission of the Santo Domingo Health Center (SDHC). The MISSION of KPHC is: “ENSURING HEALTH & WELLNESS THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE WITH RESPECT FOR CULTURE” and the VISION OF KPHC is: “HEALTHY PEOPLE, HEALTHY COMMUNITY, and HEALTHY LIFESTYLE”.

Position purpose

The incumbent works under the supervision of designated Clinic Physicians while providing direct patient care to patients of all ages with a variety of medical, pediatric and geriatric health needs. Primary focus is on ambulatory walk-in (unscheduled patients) and selected patients requiring follow-up for chronic care.

Perfomance expectations

Essential duties, functions & responsibilities

• Performs initial evaluation and triage for ambulatory patients presenting to “walk-in” clinic (i.e. unscheduled). Discerns nature and level of urgency of the complaint and either treats or refers as appropriate. Provides therapeutic and preventive health services to individual patients, family members and patient groups in a clinic setting as assigned by supervising physician. .
• Assesses and diagnoses needs and sets up a plan of action to address identified needs. Applies necessary skills learned in all phases of health care services. Makes independent decisions concerning evaluation and treatment per level of independence as approved by supervising physician.
• Assess, diagnoses, and treats minor illnesses, chronic health conditions (i.e. diabetes and hypertension).
• Provides counseling and health instructions to patients.
• Teaches patients and families in techniques on positive health measures, emphasizing responsibilities of medical care, diagnosis, and treatment; promotes positive behavior.
• Participates in specialty clinics as assigned (i.e. immunization, maternal and child health clinics, well baby clinics, etc.).
• Becomes familiar with the cultural, social, political, geographic, demographic, economic and epidemiological characteristics of the Santo Domingo Pueblo.
• Participates in quality assurance activities of the Santo Domingo Health Center.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum mandatory qualifications

Education

• Must be board certified or eligible. (Must pass national PA boards within 18 months maximum of hiring.)
• Must have CPR and/or ACLS certification(s) or ability to obtain within 90 days from date of hire

Experience

• A minimum of two years’ experience working in a healthcare facility, hospital, rural clinic, or health center.

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills, and Other Qualifications

• Knowledge and applied skills in utilizing concepts of adult education including motivation behavior changes.
• Incumbent must have knowledge of moral and customs of the ethnic group within the area and the ability to generate an appreciation of cultural differences.
• Knowledge and skills necessary in making physical and psychosocial assessments of communities, families and individuals, recognizing the range of “normal” and the manifestations of common abnormalities, and selects, plans and implements necessary therapeutic treatments based on the assessments.
• Knowledge of drugs and biological effects, and the desired effect on treatment of disease.
• Incumbent must have the knowledge and ability to interview and provide counseling in preventive health care on nutrition, common illnesses, child growth and development patterns and mental health, etc.
• Comprehensive knowledge of kewa pueblo health corporation medical staff by-Laws, rules and regulations and comply with all requirements for appointment to and must be credentialed and privileged in accordance with kewa pueblo health corporation medical staff by-Laws.
• A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.
• Familiarity with the mandatory reporting requirements under the indian child protection act, with regards to suspected incidence of child abuse or child neglect.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual skills in English and the Keres native language.
• Emergent or Urgent care experience.
• Familiarity and ability to perform skilled procedures, including but not limited to: suturing of simple lacerations, management of intravenous lines including IV antibiotic administration, bladder catherization and ostomy care.

Work environment

Physical demands

Mental demands

There are a number of deadlines associated with this position. The employee must also multi-task and interact with a wider variety of people on various and, at times, complicated issues.

OTHER

All employees must uphold all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent. This position has access to sensitive information and a breach of these principles will be grounds for immediate termination.

Disclaimer

The information on this position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees in this position. It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. Employees will be asked to perform other duties as needed.

Applicants will be considered on the basis of whether they meet the minimum mandatory qualifications identified on the position description for the position applied for, including requisite experience, relevant education and possession of required licenses and certifications. Among applicants who meet all minimum mandatory qualification for a position, preference will, to the maximum extent feasible, be granted to qualified Native American applicants.