The Physician Assistant (PA) provides primary assessment and management of patients with traumatic injuries and provides complex wound management, under the direction of the Department Chair or designee. The PA provides initial consultations, surgical 1st assist, and continuing care in the inpatient and outpatient Trauma Service Line setting in Cook County Health (CCH). The PA will assess and manage trauma and burn patients using advanced diagnostic skills, interpreting results, prescribing medications as approved by the medical staff.

Typical Duties

• • Assesses patients in the inpatient hospital and outpatient/ambulatory settings
• • Performs as a Surgical 1st Assist
• • Performs procedures such as Intubation, Central Lines, Chest tubes
• • Manages the Trauma Service Line registry
• • Orders and reviews labs and radiographic studies, formulates treatment plans and meets with Trauma and Burn patients/families/other providers/consult teams to inform them of the management plan
• • Provides education about treatment and patient safety issues to patients, students, and clinical staff
• • Documents all encounters with patients in the electronic medical record and communicates diagnoses and treatment recommendations to appropriate staff
• • Makes appropriate referrals for patients and communicates with consultants depending upon clinical need
• • Attends required meetings and participates in assigned committees; participates in necessary peer review and quality assurance activities
• • Maintains the tracking of Trauma Service Line patients and outcomes
• • Actively participates in quality and process improvement projects in the Trauma Service Line
• • Performs other duties as assigned by the Department Chair or designee

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate of an Accreditation Review Commission (ARC) Physician Assistant program or have the ability to obtain license prior to starting employment

• Valid Illinois State License as a Physician Assistant in Medicine or ability to obtain license prior to hire.

• Board Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) OR have the ability to obtain license prior to starting employment.

• Valid Illinois Controlled Substances License (ILCS) OR have the ability to obtain license prior to starting employment.

• Valid licensure with the Federal DEA OR the ability to obtain license prior to starting employment.

• 
  Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (FCCS) certification

• One (1) year experience as an Emergency room/Critical Care/Trauma PA

• Completion of Physician Assistant Fellowship in Trauma or Critical Care

• Experience with Burn and/or complex wound management

• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Certification

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of proper hand hygiene and hand washing techniques

• Knowledge of infectious control policies and procedures

• Thorough knowledge of Physician Assistant practices and principles and the ability to apply them in a clinical setting.

• Excellent Physician Assistant clinical and technical skills

• Knowledge and skill to perform mathematical accuracy in measuring and dispensing medication

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups

• Strong customer service and empathy skills

• Demonstrates good computer and typing skills

• Demonstrate good phone and email etiquette skills with strong response times

• Demonstrate analytical and organizational, problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict management/resolution skills

• Demonstrate attention to detail, accuracy and precision

• Ability to effectively communicate while maintaining HIPAA for PHI

• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast paced and stressful environment

• Ability to adhere to department policies and standards utilizing best practices

• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor and composure when challenged

• Ability to function autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team

• Ability to see and hear clearly (including with correction)

• Ability to tolerate exposure to unpleasant noise, odor and temperature

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

• 
  Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11).

Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

• A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Basic Term Life Insurance

Pension Plan

Deferred Compensation Program

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link:

MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.

Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

Must successfully meet the credentialing standards established by the Cook County Health and Hospitals System to include a State of Illinois MD license and any other license, certification, or specialized training, etc. no later than two (2) weeks prior to the candidate’s start date

• 
  Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

• 
  CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER