Physicians Asst - Gastroenterology

Position Responsibilities Preliminary assessment of patients. Obtain complete history and perform complete physical assessment on new patients. Review current status/complaints. Review results of primary tests evaluating status. Review results of tests completed since last visit and note changes. Clinical interface: Facilitate preoperative procedure. Assist with placement of invasive lines as needed. Assist attending surgeon as either a first or second assistant. Participate in teaching fundamental operating room techniques including aspect technique, trying knots, hemostasis, tissue handling, wound closure and operating room techniques. Act as a consultant to operating room and house staff personnel concerning surgery protocols and patient care as designated by the supervising physician. Exhibit professional conduct in the provision of patient care. Maintain confidentiality of patient information. Work cooperatively with coworkers, physician and supervisor. Display ability to adjust to variable work schedule and patient volume. Accept and implement administrative medical changes and decisions as directed. Accept responsibility for own actions and decisions. Adhere to Mount Sinai Medical Center attendance policy as stated in the Employee Handbook. Utilize and organize time between cases effectively to meet the needs of the department. Demonstrates knowledge of anatomy and physiology as it relates to the surgical procedure and patient positioning. Utilizes instrumentation and equipment safely and correctly. Uses proper precautions when handling sharps and instrumentation, wears eye protection when scrubbed at the surgical field and assures maintenance of sterile field until dressings are applied, x-rays are taken, and/or patient is out of the OR.Maintains a dry surgical field with utilization of proper suctioning techniques and appropriate electrocautery. Demonstrates knowledge of proper care and handling of specialty instruments and maintains a neutral zone when passing sharps on the sterile field. Under supervision of the surgeon, uses and demonstrates proper ligation and cutting of vessels. Performs appropriate surgical scrub procedure according to policy. Demonstrates effective knot tying techniques. Demonstrates the ability to utilize sutures or staples correctly to approximate tissues. Alerts circulating nurse to any breaks in aseptic/sterile technique and initiates corrective action as needed. Maintains current licensure, current ACLS and BCLS certifications, keeping written evidence on file at all times. Inspects all sterile trays for indicative changes prior to placing on sterile field. Participates in insertion of catheters and/or lines, draping and prepping of surgical patients as needed. Attends a minimum of one specialty department lecture or conference per month. Provides evidence of CEU awards as requested. Develops individual work goals annually; evaluates status of work goals throughout the year and reports on accomplishments of goals with next annual evaluation. Promotes and participates in hospital performance improvement activities including, but not limited to, data collection, participation in interdisciplinary teams(s) and analysis and implementation of team findings.