Job Title: Physician Assistant

Department: Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care (TONHC)

Division: General Medical & Surgical

Status: Exempt/Full-Time

Salary: $133,606.30 - $166,856.14/annual (DOE)

Position Summary:

Under general supervision, the incumbent provides medical care and treatment to patients’ needs according to policies, procedures, protocol.

Scope of Work:

This position may be organizationally located in Tohono O'odham Nation Sells Hospital or any TONHC health center. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Clinical Director, who provides administrative oversight. Incumbent functions with considerable independence during the course of patient care. Works as a primary medical care provider at the Tohono O'odham Nation Sells Hospital and any other TONHC health center, where the supervising physician may be located some distance away. The supervising physician reviews work performance periodically.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Depending on the area of assignment, an incumbent may not be required to perform some of the duties listed below):

• Provide diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic health services to patients.
• Interviews and examines patients, reviews past medical history, and requests and performs diagnostic tests and examinations.
• Diagnose and treat acute health care problems such as illness, infections, and injuries.
• Discriminates between normal and abnormal findings to recognize various stages of serious physical, emotional or mental problems.
• Provides direct medical care in the presence of illness or disability to maintain life, provide comfort, reduce distress and enhance coping ability.
• Participates with other professionals and agencies to provide health care and services, including immunizations, disease control, environmental health, and health education.
• Work collaboratively with the physician in the management of selected complex medical problems.
• Teaches patients and family members various ways to maintain and improve their health status.
• Provide preventive services and guidance to individuals, including nutrition, common illnesses, accident prevention, child growth and development, and child-rearing.
• Evaluates total health care needs of patients and develops or initiates plans to meet these needs.
• Ensures preparation of appropriate medical records for all patients seen to ensure the accumulation and organization of all pertinent clinical data needed to provide comprehensive medical care.
• Routine duties shall include, even if rarely required, providing medical care and public health services to individuals eligible for services provided by TONHC in homes, schools, clinics, job sites, and other community locations within the TONHC service area.
• The incumbent serves in a teaching capacity developing other health care workers such as nurse practitioner students, physician assistant students, and other care providers.
• Maintain knowledge and proficiency in medical practices through continuing education, staff meetings, and workshops.
• Participates in a comprehensive Quality Improvement Program that meets the accreditation standards of The Joint Commission.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned and contributes to a team effort.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Skill in respectful and compassionate intercultural communication.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Knowledge of legal regulations and requirements on confidentiality, specifically to the Privacy Act of 1974 and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
• Knowledge of the economic, educational, health, and social challenges faced by Native Americans in rural and urban settings.
• Skill in providing superior customer service to external and internal customers.
• Ability to carry out professional practice fully respectful of Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Ability to provide effective, comprehensive health care for patients across a full range of clinical scenarios.
• Ability to work independently with a wide latitude to determine and pursue a course of treatment with and for patients.
• Ability to travel within and outside the boundaries of the Tohono O’odham Nation as necessary to carry out duties and responsibilities.
• Ability to cope adaptively in stressful situations.
• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.