Physician Assistant - Surgical

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment organization for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope’s translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin, monoclonal antibodies and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution.  AccessHope™, a subsidiary launched in 2019 serves employers and their health care partners by providing access to City of Hope’s specialized cancer expertise.

A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is ranked among the nation’s “Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report and received Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California and in Arizona.

City of Hope’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We believe diversity, equity and inclusion is key in serving our mission to provide compassionate patient care, drive innovative discovery, and advance vital education focused on eliminating cancer and diabetes in all of our communities.  Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ensures we bring the full range of skills, perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and experiences to our work -- and that our teams align with the people we serve in order to build trust and understanding.  We are dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity - in ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives; this is reflected in our work and represented in our people.

Position Summary:

The physician assistant functions as part of a care team who, working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary health team, is responsible for providing comprehensive patient care. The practice of the physician assistant will be professional, skillful, and compassionate in the field of surgical oncology. The physician assistant will demonstrate a high degree of clinical expertise in working with patients with both acute and chronic conditions requiring medical management as well as familiarity with common oncologic surgical procedures, complications, and surveillance. The physician assistant will first assist in the operating room. The physician assistant is responsible for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management, education, health promotion, and care coordination. The physician assistant will demonstrate an advanced level of communication and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Position Responsibilities:

Clinical Knowledge:

1. Demonstrates knowledge of etiologies, risk factors, pathophysiology, presentation, and epidemiology of medical/surgical conditions
2. Performs history and physical assessments of patients that are accurate, concise, relevant, and appropriate
3. Orders and appropriate analyzes diagnostic tests including but not limited to laboratory and imaging evaluations
4. Develops, implements, and evaluates the plan of care with modifications as needed and in coordination with attending physician when appropriate
5. Performs routine procedures pertinent to the practice and as granted through the privileging process
6. Interprets imaging and communicates with attending physician regarding interval patient change
7. Prescribes and councils patients on narcotic use safety
8. Demonstrates pharmacologic knowledge including indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and adverse effects of pharmacologic agents
9. Review’s treatment and therapy plans with patient and appropriate family members
10. First assists in the operating room
11. Performs common outpatient/office-based procedures as privileged
12. Identifies common postoperative complications and performs wound care
13. Practices clinical care informed by evidence-based literature
14. Participates in surgical oncology specific clinical quality and research projects
15. Instructs and counsels patients in matters related to health care management including diet, medication, and physical and mental health needs and refers to the appropriate specialists when appropriate
16. Demonstrates appropriate use and familiarity of personal protective equipment including eye protection/googles, face shield, gown, lab coat, non-sterile and sterile medical gloves, respirator, protective shoe covering
17. Provides patient care that is patient centered, compassionate, appropriate, and effective, with emphasis on efficiency and comprehensiveness of the care provided

Professionalism, Communication, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

1. Acts as a liaison between the care team or other services and physician
2. Completes written documentation and billing in a timely fashion in line with the City of Hope standards of documentation and billing
3. Recognizes and evaluates situations which call for immediate attention of the attending physician
4. Establishes and maintains interpersonal relationships with patients, families, and other healthcare personnel, while assuring confidentiality of patient information
5. Maintains professionalism with patients and City of Hope staff and colleagues
6. Follows established City of Hope and departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, performance improvement, attendance, safety, environmental and infection control guidelines.
7. Maintains professional physician assistant certification, licensure, and prescribing abilities
8. Performs other related duties as assigned or requested
9. Demonstrates practices aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace