Physician Associate in Medical Oncology

The successful candidate will be required to start immediately.

Post Specific Related Information:

Physician associate in medical oncology:

The Medical Oncology department in CUH is growing. We administer systemic anti-cancer treatments for solid tumour patients. The modalities of treatment include cytotoxic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and supportive care medications such as bisphosphonates. Many cancer patients can achieve cure or live for many years with this expanding array of therapeutics. The Physician Associate will play a key role in the team through helping to administer treatments and monitor patients on these therapies.

Objective

Physician Associates (PA) are trained and educated similarly to doctors, and therefore share similar diagnostic and therapeutic reasoning. By design, physicians and PAs work together as a team, and all PAs practice medicine with doctor supervision. Supervision does not mean that a supervising doctor must always be present with the PA or direct every aspect of PA-provided care; rather the PA practice can be described as delegated autonomy. The Lead Consultant (who may be a Consultant Physician or a Consultant Surgeon) delegates duties to the PA, and within those range of duties, the PA uses autonomous decision-making for patient care. The team model is the key-stone to maintaining a high-quality, efficient healthcare service. The Physician Associate’s responsibilities are determined by the laws of the country in which they practice, the hospital board and the supervising consultant.

The PA will function under a standard Physician Associate Role Description as outlined below. Specific functions pertaining to the service, clinic or department will be established and agreed upon by the supervising Consultant (s), and appropriate Clinical Director.

The successful candidate will be required to be flexible in relation to working hours on occasion.

Supervision:

Supervision is provided by the consultant. Supervising consultants have continuing responsibility to follow the progress of the patients and are responsible for all medical services provided by a PA under their supervision. Specifically:

In-patients:

• The Lead (physician or surgeon) shall be available in person or by electronic communication at all times when the PA is caring for patients

Out-Patients:

• The Lead (physician or surgeon) shall be available in person or by electronic communication at all times when the PA is caring for outpatients.
• Protocols and clinical practice guidelines developed by the hospital, the supervising consultant and the multidisciplinary team will be included as part of the role and responsibility of the Physician Associate.
• The Physician Associate may perform approved procedures as delegated, after demonstration of competence to the supervising physician.
• Patient management issues not covered by protocols will be discussed with the Lead (physician or surgeon) on a patient-specific basis.
• In the case of emergency, the supervising physician/surgeon and the NCHDs should be contacted immediately
• The PA will receive a biannual formal performance evaluation by the supervising physician/surgeon at Cork University Hospital. Ongoing professional practice evaluation also occurs through tracking of performance indicators.

Duties and Responsibilities:

In partnership with the supervising consultant the Physician Associate will function with a delegated autonomy that is consistent with the consultant’s scope of practice.

Primary Duties will be inclusive of the following but not limited to:

· Performs comprehensive physical examination, and compiles patient medical data, including health history and results of physical examination.

· Administers or orders diagnostic tests, such as imaging studies, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests, and interprets test results for deviations from normal.

· Prepare a written or electronic prescription or drug order for signature by a licenced doctor. Current lack of regulation prohibits PA’s from signing a prescription at this time or ordering ionising radiation.

· Performs therapeutic procedures such as injections, immunisations, suturing and wound care.

· Performs other department specific diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

· Develops and implements patient management plans, records progress notes, and assists in provision of continuity of care.

· Instructs and counsels patients regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, stress management, health maintenance and other relevant patient education.

Based upon specific specialty, additional duties may include the following:

· Facilitate admissions, transfers, and discharges within a timely manner

· First assist in surgeries or perform procedures as applicable

· Provides patient and family with pre-operative/pre-procedure and other pertinent education, including recovery and risk factor modification; provides blood transfusion information as applicable; performs peri-operative procedures; locates and utilises diagnostic images.

· Round on inpatients; Performs post-operative patient management to include entering standard post-operative orders into patient medical records; reviews vital signs, laboratory and diagnostic studies.

· Coordinates patient care with sub-specialty and ancillary services as appropriate.

Person Specification:

· Graduate of an accredited Physician Associate Programme

· A registered member of the Irish Society of Physician Associates (ISPA)

· Dynamic medical profession that can work both as part of a team and independently

· Demonstrated ability to function in collaboration with other health care professional

· Ability to make decisions and meet deadlines.

· Demonstrates an effective communication style appropriate to audience and situation.

· Computer skills