Physician Assistant - Plastic Surgery

• Performs first- and second-assist duties in the operating room daily, or as needed, as directed by the physician.
• Demonstrates manual dexterity in the use of all instruments and equipment.
• First and second assist duties would include, but is not limited to, the use of a scalpel, needle-driver, forceps, and bovie cautery. able to tie suture with acceptable knot-tying techniques, both with hands, and with instruments. performs retraction, cutting suture, direct hemostasis, placing drains, and multi-level skin and donor site closures.
• Performs harvest of complex flaps, full and split thickness grafts, and placement of complex wound dressings.

• Assesses patient before surgery and completes the H&P update in a consistently timely manner.
• Communicates and assists OR staff (Anesthesia, CRNA, Anesthesia Assistants, Nurse circulator, Scrub technician, Perioperative Nursing Assistants (PNA)).
• Ensures all necessary supplies, equipment, and medications are available. Assists in properly positioning the patient on the OR bed.
• Writes postoperative orders, and transitions with the patient to the PACU/ICU.
• Gives reports to PACU/ICU staff.
• Communicates with family members if assigned to do so.
• Performs post-operative checks on patients as assigned by attending.

• Makes daily rounds with or without faculty on in-patients, before clinic, conference, or OR duties, by walking from office to inpatient rooms.
• Performs a variety of inpatient patient care activities included but not limited to wound care and dressing changes, removal of drain and sutures, etc.
• Communicates, in a timely fashion, all physical findings and other pertinent information regarding the patient to attending and associated medical staff.
• Notifies other health care professionals (e.g. speech pathology or radiology) regarding required interventions, and complete in-patient consults as indicated.
• Facilitates communication between patient/family members and physician/interdisciplinary team; assists with patients' problems, questions, concerns and provides support.
• Assists with discharge planning for inpatients and helps to anticipate family needs regarding adequate post-discharge care.
• Assists with arranging home health care, and other post-discharge allied health needs.
• Arranges follow-up care in the Plastic Surgery clinic by discussing with patient and completing electronic CSR.
• Responsible for inpatient consults when attending physician is unavailable.
• Completes and authenticates discharge summaries within 24 hours of discharge according to Medical Records standards.

• Performs assessment of the following patients in clinic: Consults, second opinions, preoperative and postoperative follow-ups.
• Obtains histories and physical of patients for preoperative history and physical exams or primary medical evaluations which are performed according to institutional standards set by Medical Records.
• Ensures that data is complete, accurate, current, and reflects clinical physiology/pathophysiology.
• Ensures that data collected is communicated to attending physician and associated medical staff in a complete, concise and organized fashion.

MD Anderson Cancer Center