Are you ready to bring your expert clinical competencies to a world-class facility recognized as top ten in the country for cardiology? Do you have a passion for the highest quality and patient happiness? Then please respond to this dynamic opportunity available with one of the best places to work in Southern California! We would be happy to hear from you.

The Smidt Heart Institute is home to a distinguished team of specialists who are setting the bar for cardiovascular care in the United States. The Institute unites 16 centers and programs to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of heart and vascular conditions for all patients, from infants to those with advanced disease. Compassionate care is integrated with an agile research enterprise, giving patients access to pioneering treatments. Our faculty and physicians provide deep competency across all specialties, including transplantation, stem cell therapy, congenital heart disease, women?s heart health, valve disorders, arrhythmia and hypertension.

Summary of Essential Duties:

The Lead Physician Assistant (PA) in the Department of Cardiac Surgery is responsible to provide leadership, direction, and guidance to Physician Assistants and provide specialty collaborative patient management under the direction of a board certified/eligible physician. The Lead PA is responsible for implementing and maintaining APP requirements both programmatic and competency specific to Cardiac Surgery Programs. The  Lead PA is clinically responsible and accountable for the application of the PA process, providing clinical guidance to clinical team, research involvement, consultative services, inter and intradepartmental liaison, education, leadership, and patient care management across the health care continuum from preventative, acute care through discharge. The Lead PA is responsible but not limited to:

• Support and provide coordination and direction to other physician assistants and other staff by proactively offering assistance. Direct, educate and mentos staff in the development of sound clinical judgment to promote positive patient outcomes.
• Serve as a preceptor by mentoring PA?s regarding care of defined populations in resource utilization and time management.
• Demonstrate leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant and patient advocate.
• In partnership with department leadership provides organize, oversee, and review assigned daily work schedules, including patient load assignments.
• Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to department specifications. 
• Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge and skills.
• In coordination with department leadership develop, implement, monitor and revise, as necessary, clinical rotations for student Physician Assistants.
• Collaborates in the preparation of annual evaluations with supporting physicians and management personnel to ensure all paperwork is in compliance with all HR policies and guidelines.
• Develop and supervise program development; participate in designing organizational processes appropriate to area of expertise congruent with patient/client needs and CSHS goals.
• Participate in and conduct (chairs) housewide committee work where appropriate, which determines and guide clinical policy and practice standards related to area of expertise.
• Lead and actively participate in the Medical Center's Performance Improvement Program and will periodically assess the quality of patient care delivery and identify opportunities for changes in practice, rooted in evidence-based standards of care/protocols, to promote positive patient outcomes.

Education:

• Graduate of a PA program approved by Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation required
• Master?s Degree required

License/Certification:

• Current, unrestricted Physician Assistant license issued by the State of CA required
• Certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) through successful completion of National Board Examination required
• ACLS from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross required
• Current DEA License required

Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years? experience as a Physician Assistant.
• Must have working experience in Cardiac Surgery
• Experience in endoscopic vein harvesting is a must
• Experience in radial harvesting is preferred
• Acute care hospital experience is a must