Pcn Physicians Associate

**Job Description Physician Associate**

Responsible to: Clinical Director

Reports to: Clinically to the Partners/Administratively to the Practice Manager

Hours: 37.5 hours - Full-time (part time will be considered)

**Salary**: Negotiable: depending on experience

**About KWH**

K&W Healthcare Ltd is GP network that provides a range of services to a population of over 176,000 in 24 GP practices within Kingsbury, Willesden and Wembley. These services include a clinical pharmacy service, phlebotomy and the Integrated Care Service.

**Job Summary**

The PA will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking and clinical assessment through to the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. They will demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process, including assessment and diagnostic skills, leading to the delivery of safe care for all patients. They will work collaboratively with the healthcare team to meet the needs of the patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures. The PA will provide a holistic and clinical service, with support from GPs as required, implementing agreed management plans and following approved protocols as appropriate. The PA will be expected on a typical day to carry out some home visits and consult with patients who present on the day and via booked appointments. The PA will also review and act appropriately on blood results and referrals/correspondence regarding their patients.

Mentorship and supervision will be provided by designated senior medical personnel. The level and type of supervision will be dependent on the post holder’s acquisition of skills and knowledge and determined by the organisation’s clinical governance arrangements. The practice hold monthly education meetings and the PA would be expected to attend and partake in these.
- You will be expected to travel between named practices and meetings across the patch.
- You must have full driving license with suitable insurance and access to suitable vehicle.

**Key responsibilities and Clinical Duties**
- Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the practices as delegated and agreed by the supervising GP(s).
- Provide direct clinical care to patients using established clinical guidelines.
- Consult and refer patients to physicians, medical specialists and other health professionals as indicated.
- Interview patients, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, analyse, diagnose and explain medical problems during surgery consultations and home visits.
- Recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment.
- Request and interpret results of laboratory investigations when necessary.
- Perform specialised diagnostic physical exams and treatment procedures.
- Instruct and educate patients in preventative health care.
- Conduct telephone consultations which may involve discussing the result and implications of laboratory investigations with patients as well as dealing appropriately with routine and emergency complaints
- Order laboratory tests as required and agreed under supervising doctor(s).
- Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes.
- Contribute to the clinical development of practices by developing a special interest and to help establish appropriate systems to manage common chronic medical conditions, ensuring compliance with national guidelines.
- Participate fully in the clinicians’ duty rota including the provision of home visits when appropriate.
- Formulate diagnoses and treatment plans, in consultation with or referring to Supervising doctor(s) as appropriate.
- Give clinical instructions to nursing staff and Primary Care Team as required.
- Communicate when necessary with colleagues in Primary Care and hospital specialists in order to discuss or refer specific patients, plan and co-ordinate activities or exchange information in order to improve the quality of patient care.
- Deal regularly with community hospitals, consultants and other health care providers, insurance companies and other community organisations to refer/consult on specific cases, participate in community service and education projects and activities and the like.

**Administration**
- Send and receive written information on behalf of the Practice regarding matters of insurance, housing and other issues relating to the physical and social welfare of patients.
- Work to deliver with other members of the practice and Primary Healthcare Team, the objectives of the GMS contract, including the terms of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and services commissioned from practices.
- Attend regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by practices in order to discuss the health and social needs of particular patients.
- Attend practice meetings

**Training / Educational development**
- Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken to meet clinica