(PA) Sr. Physician Assistant - Pain Medicine - 137222

The Department of Anesthesiology employs over 200 academic and staff personnel and has an annual operating budget of $83 million in (School of Medicine and CPO) resources between Practice Plan Revenues, VAMC funding, Hospital and Medical Group Funding, UC Foundation, Research Sources and School of Medicine Funds. There are over 90 clinical faculty, 20 Ph.D. faculty, 8 Postdoctoral Scholars, 42 residents, 16 Clinical fellows, 43 Certified Nurse Anesthetists, PAs, NPs and five bargaining units represented. The Department provides Clinical Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Services at Hillcrest, Thornton, Shiley, Children's, Jacob's Medical Center and the VAMC. The department operates outpatient chronic pain services at the La Jolla and Hillcrest medical center campuses.

This is a position for a Sr. Physician Assistant (PA) for the Anesthesiology Department's Pain Division. The UC San Diego Center for Pain Medicine currently includes 12 physicians, 5 fellows, and two physician assistants with clinic offices in La Jolla, Hillcrest, and Encinitas and procedural clinics in La Jolla and Hillcrest. Under the supervision of the pain medicine physicians, the Sr. Physician Assistant provides clinical care for patients at UCSD Center for Pain Medicine Outpatient and Inpatient Services. Duties will include outpatient new patient and return clinic visits and inpatient consultations and follow-up visits. The APP will also serve as a first line resource to triage and respond to patient or outside provider calls and messages.

The PA acts as liaison with the physicians, to promote consistent medical management of patients across the health care continuum by collaborating with the multidisciplinary care team and will confer with physicians for the appropriateness of treatment plans for patients. Under supervision of the attending physicians the PA will perform physical examination of patients, evaluate patient's care plans, make adjustments to those plans and order a variety of pain therapies including procedures, physical and complementary therapies, psychological therapy and medications. The PA will also perform office based pain procedures, provide coverage of the inpatient pain consult service, and assist physicians with operating room procedures. The PA will coordinate outpatient care and treatments including developing, interpreting, evaluating, implementing and documenting plan of care of patients. They will provide patient/family and staff education and plans/presents in-services to staff and/or community groups as needed. They will serve as a key resource for nursing staff, fellows and medical students. The APP will also participate in ongoing clinical trials with regards to patient recruitment or clinical care.

• Must be a graduate from a physician assistant program approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

• California Physician Assistant (PA) license.

• Current PA Certification from NCCPA.

• BLS/CPR certification at time of hire with commitment to get UCSD BART within 6 months of hire date.

• Minimum one (1) year of work experience as a licensed Physician Assistant. Experience must include pain management.

• Demonstrated understanding and experience evaluating and treating acute and chronic pain including cancer pain, post-operative pain and a variety of chronic pain conditions.

• Demonstrated ability to engage patients in discussion of risks vs. benefits of a variety of therapies and demonstrated ability to understand the medical and psychosocial needs of patients with acute and chronic pain.

• Demonstrated interpersonal and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize activities in a high-volume, dynamic, multiple demand clinic and hospital setting.

• Skill in patient interviewing, obtaining a concise medical history and acquiring pertinent data.

• Skill in performing a focused musculoskeletal and neurologic exam.

• Proficiency in accurate and concise documentation of patient history, exam, and treatment response.

• Proven knowledge of common diagnostic tests, e.g., laboratory blood tests, x-rays, MRIs, and EMG/NCSs, and skill in identifying deviations.

• Demonstrated strong computer skills for entry and retrieval of patient data (Computer skills required; Epic preferred).

• Demonstrated experience providing patient education and counseling and developing and implementing long and short range treatment plans.

• Knowledge of analgesic medications, and risk assessment related to analgesic medication prescribing and management including the safe use of opioids.

• Two (2) or more years of pain management experience as a licensed Physician Assistant.

• Knowledge of the indications, risks, and benefits of a variety of interventional therapies for chronic pain.

• Experience working with clinical trials and ability to identify potential clinical trials patients.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Good Clinical Practices and other federal guidelines for protection of human subjects.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check, pre-employment physical, drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain UCSD Medical Staff privileges and maintain during employment. Due to advanced practice credentialing eligibility, clinical advanced practice experience must be within the last two years gained through school or work experience.
• Must be willing and able to work a variable schedule depending on clinical operations and needs.
• Must be willing and able to travel occasionally, to attend investigator and national meetings.