Physician Associate

**Job summary**

A Physician Associate (PA) will work directly under the supervision of a doctor as part of the medical team. The PA will be principally involved in using their skills to provide care to the patients of Northfield Medical Centre in a multi-disciplinary team setting.

Physicians Associates are generalists with broad medical knowledge and an expectation to develop expertise or specialism in a particular field. PAs will be required to undertake the UK PA National Re-certification every six years and maintain professional registration working with the latest code of professional conduct (CIPD).

The Physician Associate will be well supported, always with the backup of a dedicated GP.

Principle Job responsibilities:

- Physician associates will provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems utilising history-taking, physical examinations and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient (and their carers where applicable).
- They will also review, analyse and action diagnostic test results.
- They will deliver integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care networks.
- They will undertake face-to-face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the practice, including managements of patients long-term conditions. If required by the practice, the PA may be able to offer specialised clinics following appropriate training including (but not limited to) learning disability, family planning, baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes and anticoagulation.
- They will undertake home visits and participate in duty rotas
- Physician associates will provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice to patients.
- Physician associates will utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence based practice and partake in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks.
- Through participating in continuing professional development opportunities Physician associates will keep up to date with evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of their role, meeting clinical governance guidelines for continuing professional development (CPD).

Administration and professional responsibilities
- Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team
- Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes
- Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date, with accurate details recorded and amended
- Ensure appropriate items of service claims are made accurately, reporting any problems to the practice administrator
- Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice
- Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports and audit
- Attend and participate in practice meetings as required
- Restocking and maintenance of clinical areas and consulting rooms

Training and personal development

PAs will be required to undertake the UK PA National Re-Certification Exam every six years and maintain professional registration working within the latest code of professional conduct (CIPD).
- Training requirements will be monitored by annual appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments.

There will be opportunities to assist in teaching, mentoring and supporting medical students and other key allied healthcare professionals.
- Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development, ensuring PREP requirements are met.
- If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given.
- Develop and maintain a Personal Learning Plan

Confidentiality:

- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder will have access to confidential information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice Policies

**Main duties of the job**

We are seeking a Physician Associate (PA) who will work dire