Physician Assistant I, Mechanical Circulatory Support/Transplant - Full-time at Partner's Healthcare in Boston, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Site: The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.


At Mass General Brigham, we know it takes a surprising range of talented professionals to advance our mission-from doctors, nurses, business people and tech experts, to dedicated researchers and systems analysts. As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. We place great value on being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients we serve.


At Mass General Brigham, we believe a diverse set of backgrounds and lived experiences makes us stronger by challenging our assumptions with new perspectives that can drive revolutionary discoveries in medical innovations in research and patient care. Therefore, we invite and welcome applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups in healthcare - people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ community, and/or gender expansive, first and second-generation immigrants, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds - to apply.



Job Summary
GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT: Candidate will facilitate the care of patients (and their families) that are admitted in the regionalized mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and Heart Transplantation (HTx) inpatient service under the direction of the MCS and HTx Medical and Surgical Directors. The physician assistant will be responsible for the inpatient stepdown level care and recovery of those patients with a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) and/or suffering from a condition which would likely lead to the implantation of an assist devices as well as those immediately following HTx. The physician assistant will also be responsible for consulting on select patients in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit prior to their transfer to the MCS/HTx step down after index surgery. As an integral member of the Collaborative Center for Advanced Heart Disease within the BWH Heart and Vascular Center, this individual will: • Facilitate open lines of communication between inpatient units, Cardiac Surgery service, outpatient clinics, MCS and HTx clinical and research coordinators and nurses, and patients/families. • Be responsible for coordinating inpatient care by rounding and making recommendations for patient management in concert with multidisciplinary team. • Provide technical support to team members in the event of device alarms or malfunctions. • Ensure scope of practice complies with the Joint Commission requirements for Disease Specific Certification for VADs including educating and monitoring all relevant participants in the program in collaboration and guidance of the MCS and HTx Medical and Surgical Directors and others. • Work as a core member of the Center for Advanced Heart Disease team while also reporting to the medical director of the inpatient MCS unit and the Chief PA on the Cardiology service who will oversee the individual's compliance, performance, schedule, and coverage model, with direct oversight from the Center for Advanced Heart Disease leadership. Additional responsibilities are to ensure the programmatic compliance of the BWH MCS and HTx Program with all Hospital, Regional, State and Federal policies. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The MCS-HTx PA candidate will be expected and measured against the following duties and responsibilities: Clinical Practice - Has a sound knowledge of medical and scientific principles and appropriately applies those principles to practice. - Performs and records the patient history and physical exam and discusses findings with the attending physician. - Utilizes advanced clinical knowledge to identify, prevent or solve complex and/or recurring patient care problems. - Follows and manages patients (in collaboration with MD), enhancing continuity of care. - Performs (oversees/assures completion of) specialized procedures particular to the select population mutually agreed upon with collaborating physician. - Performs medically delegated aspects of patient care as agreed upon by supervising physician in according to practice guidelines. - Collaborates with multidisciplinary team to facilitate a comprehensive plan of care and coordinate resources. - Writes and/or carries out orders which are in accord with current guidelines. - Orders, interprets and evaluates appropriate lab and diagnostic tests. - Documents plan of care in patient's medical record. - Assists, coordinates, and performs admissions, discharges, or patient transfers as deemed appropriate. - Maintains and practices in accord with practitioner guidelines per federal, state and hospital regulations. - Maintains patient's right to privacy; assuring patient dignity in the provision of care. - Maintains clinical expertise in MCS support and the fundamental of HTx medical management. Coordinating MCS - HTx care: - Works collaboratively with the MCS and HTx Team (Cardiologist, Cardiac Surgeons, Nursing, Transplant Coordinators, Biomedical engineers, etc) and hospital support staff while performing MCS coordinating care activity for all patients who are on MCS, are being evaluated for MCS or during their index hospitalization following HTx. - Coordinates with the multidisciplinary MCS and HTx patient teams that can include but not be limited to physicians, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, case managers. - Ensures MCS and HTx patient discharge plan is communicated and transparent to maximize unit throughput, planning, and outpatient care coordination. - Maintains MCS-related information that supports management of the MCS program. - Communicates anticipated patient needs to appropriate physicians, nurses, and admitting departments. - Participates in phone and beeper contact for urgent problem solving. - Identifies and resolves care delivery issues and recommends methods to improve and streamline care. Liaison with MCS and HTx Stakeholders - Works in concert with the BWH Heart & Vascular Center and other MCS leaders on industry trends and ways of integrating efficient processes/technologies into the MCS unit. - Communicates on a daily basis to the MCS huddle the status of all MCSs inpatients, their expected discharge date, and any clinically relevant information which will impact unit flow, patient transitions, or discharge. - Reports equipment related problems and seeks resolution as required MCS Outreach/Education/Promotion - Provide patient and family MCS education prior to implant and discharge. - Attends appropriate cardiac-related events to meet new potential referring physicians. - Participates in existing and potential referring physicians for tours around BWH MCS/HTx Unit. - Develops and provides patient and community education materials related to MCS and HTx care. MCS and HTx Research - Supports research nurse and efforts to advance knowledge to promote research-based practice. - Evaluates own practice and program effectiveness as part of ongoing quality assurance and performance improvement program. - Evaluates current research findings for clinical specialty and determines applicability to unit practice. - Responsible for own professional growth and maintenance of required credentials. - Maintains the standards and educational requirements specific to the position and licensure. - Identifies, manages, and addresses learning needs and goals identified by managers, peers, and/or self. - Maintains and updates clinical knowledge and skills based on current health care practice/research. MCS Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification • Working with other MCS coordinators, administrators, nursing, Compliance and Center for Quality and Safety, the candidate will be responsible for assisting in: o Maintaining and fostering JC standards for MCSs o Participating in JC site visit and assuring BWH meets the JC standards in preparation for the biannual visit. o Participating in Quality Assuranceand Performance Improvement initiatives as required by the JC and reports to the JC as required. o Participate in mid-cycle reporting to the JC. o Assisting each member of the expanded MCS team with their role related to certification requirements. o Maintaining and updating Clinical Practice Guidelines and educates other providers as needed. o Maintain MCS patient related information that is required by program. Other - Participates as requested in BWH and Partners quality initiatives. - Participates in various hospital and system committees as assigned. - Assists data manager to develop and maintain MCS patient databases. For all positions that include direct patient care, indicate with an "X" the age(s) of all patient populations served No Direct Patient Care All age groups Adolescence (13 to 17 years) Neonates (birth to 1 month) Young Adult (18 to 25 years) Infant (1 month to1year) Adult (26 to 54 years) Early Childhood (12 months to 5 years) Senior Adult (55 to 64 years) Late Childhood (6 to 12 years) Geriatric (65 years and up)



Qualifications


QUALIFICATIONS Education Degree Field of Study Required/Preferred And/Or Master's Degree PA required Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? No Licenses and Certifications Licenses/Certifications Time Frame Required/ Preferred And/Or Certified Physician Assistant (State License) upon hire required Work Experience Experience Details Years of Experience Required/ Preferred And/Or experience as a physician assistant 0-1 year preferred To be an PA II 2 years Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Skilled in taking medical histories to assess medical condition and interpret findings Ability to maintain quality control standards Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures Ability to communicate clearly and establish/maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff and the public



Additional Job Details (if applicable)


Additional Job Description



Remote Type


Onsite



Work Location


75 Francis Street



Scheduled Weekly Hours


40



Employee Type


Regular



Work Shift


Day (United States of America)



EEO Statement:


The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.



Mass General Brigham Competency Framework


At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership "looks like" by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.