Physicians Associate

The post of Physician Associate in Internal Medicine will contribute to the provision of a high quality, patient centred service. Post holders are expected to participate in all aspects of the patient pathway as appropriate and will be expected to perform delegated duties with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge.

There are two Physician Associate roles available working alongside the medical and nursing teams. The two posts are:

- PA in acute medicine and same day emergency care
- PA in diabetes medicine

There may be flexibility to move between these posts depending on the skill mix and preferences of those appointed. The post-holders will build on their skills in clerking, assessing and examining patients gained through their physician associate training, present to more senior members of the team, initiate and interpret investigations, and recommend appropriate managements/treatments. There will be a focus on acquiring skills and knowledge in the relevant speciality field (acute medicine, diabetes). They will be expected to liaise with other professionals and specialities as required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients.

**The key duties and responsibilities will include**:

- Assess and examine medical and diabetes patients, request appropriate investigations, interpret investigation findings, form a list of differential diagnoses and recommend management/treatment accordingly.
- Attend consultant and/or StR ward rounds and provide continuing care for patients on their ward(s)
- Coordinate patients on ambulatory pathways related to their specialty.
- Maintain timely and appropriate documentation.
- Cannulation
- Arterial blood gases
- Injections
- ECG
- Urethral catheterisation
- Nasogastric tube insertion
- Abdominal paracentesis
- Instruct and counsel patients and their relatives with regard to mental and physical health issues.
- Have, develop and maintain specialist medical knowledge related to medicine and diabetes
- Keep up to date with current guidelines and maintain best practice.
- Contribute to achieving and maintaining performance within the hospital and department.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ is one of the largest hospital trusts in the country, with around 16, 200 staff; an annual turnover of more than £1.5 billion; and over 2.4 million patient contacts a year. Our hospitals have a long and proud history, dating back almost 900 years, and have been at the forefront of medical progress and innovation since they were founded. We continue to build on these traditions and have a reputation for clinical, teaching and research excellence.

As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends. We also have a positive approach to corporate social responsibility and are keen to engage our staff in an agenda that ranges from promoting environmental sustainability to the creation of local employment opportunities.
- Contribute to achieving and maintaining performance within the hospital and department.
- To contribute to the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines.
- Develop clinical guidelines within their specialist area for use with the Trust by other staff.
- To be accountable for the care given and to comply with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Managed Voluntary Register for Physician Associates (and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body, when this is in place).
- To work within the framework of the scope of professional practice.
- Work within the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working in the provision of acute medical care to patients on a day-to-day basis
- Support and contribute to timely discharge planning including completing discharge summaries and support optimising bed capacity.
- Abide by the Clinical and Corporate Governance policies of the Trust.
- Take part in the administration of the department and the involvement in the management of resources.
- Fully document all aspects of patient care, and complete all required paperwork.

1. Service Quality and Clinical Governance
- Develop standards, procedures and systems to ensure safe, high quality and efficient patient care from the point of entry to admission or discharge.
- Participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.
- Play a strong role in risk management and governance.

1. Communication and Representation
- Liaise closely within the department, the emergency and acute medical teams, other in-patient teams and primary and community services to ensure collaborative working arrangements are in place which maximise benefits to patient care
- Work collaboratively with the clinical team, i.e. consultants, junior doctors,