Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner - Rheumatology

Oklahoma Arthritis Center (OAC) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Job Summary:  
Both Physician Assistant (PA) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) responsibilities involve providing a broad range of services that begin with an initial patient consultation and continue with ongoing care and assessment throughout the rheumatology clinical relationship. 

Essential Functions:
Operating under direction of a Physician, the PA/NP will:

• Order and interpret tests, counsel patients on preventive care, conduct physical examinations, and write prescriptions for rheumatology patients.
• Contribute to practice effectiveness by identifying short-term and long-range patient care issues that must be addressed, providing information and commentary pertinent to deliberations, and recommending options and courses of action.
• Assess patient health by interviewing patients, performing physical examinations, and obtaining, updating, and studying medical histories.
• Determine abnormal conditions by administering or ordering diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, electrocardiograms, and laboratory studies and interpreting test results.
• Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Perform therapeutic procedures by administering joint injections or aspiration.
• Instruct and counsel patients by describing therapeutic regimens.
• Provide continuity of care by developing and implementing patient management plans.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Comply with federal/state/local legal and professional requirements by studying existing and new legislation, anticipating future legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, and advising management on needed actions.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Build practice to support the vision and goals of OAC.

Competencies:

• Coachable.
• Health Promotion and Maintenance.
• Thoroughness.
• Clinical Skills.
• Communication Skills.
• Medical Teamwork.
• Physiological Knowledge.
• Bedside Manner.
• Infection Control.
• Administering and ordering medication administration via IV infusion.
• Pain Management.
• Self-Development.

Supervisory Responsibility:
This position may supervise other medical staff as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in a biology or other science or medical field.
• Must be professionally licensed and be in good standing with all applicable federal/state/local licensing bodies.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in clinical assessment of patients; preferably in rheumatology.
• This position will be expected to maintain current knowledge of industry best practices, trends, and applicable federal and state laws regarding scope of practice.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced environment.
• Physical ability to sit, perform data entry, and view computer screen for long periods at a time.
  
• Daily standing, walking, bending, and maneuvering.
• May require lifting up to 50 pounds or more to transfer and/or turn patient with and without assistive devices.

Environmental Conditions:

• 
  Occasional exposure to communicable diseases and biohazards.
• 
  This is a safety sensitive position.

Travel Requirements: 

Travel to other OAC locations is expected for this position.

Scheduled Working Hours:

Normal work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Fridays. Hours may vary based on daily patient schedule. It may be required for the PA/NP to be available for supervising an infusion team on occasion.  Weekend and holiday on-call hours are expected from time to time.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change from time to time, with or without notice.

Equipment Operated:

Computer, standard medical equipment, and various medical instruments.