Physician Assistant, Hospitalist

Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Hospitalist

Statement of Purpose:
The APP Hospitalist is responsible for admitting and managing adult patients requiring inpatient medical care. This role ensures continuity of care by obtaining detailed sign-outs from the overnight team, addressing follow-up medical concerns, and collaborating with the attending physician to develop and execute treatment plans.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Patient Interaction & Communication
   • Introduces self to patients and their families, explaining the APP role and responsibilities before performing assessments or procedures.
   • Communicates pertinent patient medical issues to the covering attending physician to ensure the development of an effective treatment plan.
2. Patient Care & Clinical Duties
   • Provides care to patients across the adolescent to geriatric age range.
   • Remains in the hospital and is available to respond to calls promptly during the assigned shift.
   • Admits patients to the inpatient medicine service from the Emergency Room, ICU, or direct admission pathways.
   • Obtains a detailed medical history, performs comprehensive physical examinations, and orders appropriate diagnostic tests.
   • Completes all medical record documentation, including assessments and treatment plans, in accordance with hospital policies.
   • Cross-covers medical issues as they arise, performing necessary evaluations and executing appropriate care plans in collaboration with the covering physician.
   • Participates in emergency response situations, including Code Blue, and maintains current CPR certification.
3. Orders & Documentation
   • Writes and executes medical orders, including but not limited to:
     • Medications, intravenous therapy, clinical investigations, laboratory tests, imaging studies (X-ray, MRI, CT), cardiac studies, fluid management, diet orders, and other necessary interventions.
   • Completes admission documentation per hospital policy, ensuring all pertinent patient information is recorded and communicated with the attending physician.
   • Facilitates patient flow by completing discharge summaries and required paperwork for the attending physician.
   • Assists in obtaining and documenting advance directives, code status, and initiating Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders when appropriate, in conjunction with the attending physician.
4. Procedural Competency & Compliance
   • Performs approved procedures such as:
     • Nasogastric tube insertion, Dobhoff tube placement with guidewire, urinary catheterization, arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling, phlebotomy, and other procedures as credentialed.
   • Obtains patient consent for procedures performed by the APP in accordance with hospital policies.
   • Procedure privileges are granted based on documented training and competency verification by a supervising physician or designated credentialed provider.
   • Ensures compliance with New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) Rules and Regulations under Section 405.19 by being available to the Emergency Department within 30 minutes.
5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Quality Improvement
   • Actively participates in morning huddles with the interdisciplinary care team to review patient updates and coordinate care.
   • Engages in hospital quality assurance (QA) activities as assigned by the Chief Medical Officer.
   • Maintains continuous professional development by completing required Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits to ensure competency.
   • Adheres to Jones Memorial Hospital's philosophy of Continuous Quality Improvement and upholds employee standards.
   • Maintains current New York State (NYS) license and NCCPA certification (if applicable).

Qualifications:

• Current and unrestricted New York State license as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA).
• Board certification through an accredited body (e.g., NCCPA for PAs or ANCC/AANP for NPs).
• BLS and ACLS certification required.
• Experience in hospital-based medicine preferred.