PA - Physician Assistant - Neuro Surgery
Forbe’s - America’s most educated small town

The Community - Bethesda, MD
Bethesda is located in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, just northwest of the United States capital of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda. The National Institutes of Health main campus and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center are in Bethesda, as are a number of corporate and government headquarters. Bethesda is one of the most affluent and highly educated communities in the United States. In 2014 it placed first in Forbes list of America's most educated small towns and first on CNNMoney.com's list of top-earning American towns in 2012. In April 2009, Forbes ranked Bethesda second on its list of "America's Most Livable Cities." In October 2009, based on education, income, health, and fitness, Total Beauty ranked Bethesda first on its list of the U.S.'s "Top 10 Hottest-Guy Cities."

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the Nation’s Medical Center, proudly serving military beneficiaries in the Washington, D.C. area as well as those from across the country and around the globe. As the largest military medical center in the U.S., we are a tertiary care destination providing services in over 100 clinics and specialties. We are proud to be known as the first destination in the continental United States for caring for the wounded, ill and injured from global conflicts.

OVERVIEW (duties include but are not limited)
You will be working alongside an outstanding team of neurosurgeons who have broad experience in treating neurological conditions, having trained at the most renowned neurosurgical programs in the United States. Areas of expertise include brain, skull-based, pituitary and acoustic tumors; trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia; peripheral nerve surgery; cerebrovascular problems; spine and spinal cord tumors; Chiari malformations; syringomyelia; cranio-cervical disorders; and epilepsy.

• Operates independently and works collaboratively with physicians, residents, physician assistants and nurses in the management of complex neurosurgical problems. Performs comprehensive and problem focused histories and physical examinations, interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests. Interprets and correlates subjective and objective data. Formulates a differential diagnosis and a working diagnosis. Develops a treatment plan for neurosurgical conditions within the scope of practice of the contract Physician Assistant. Implements therapeutic intervention for specific conditions where appropriate. Exercises judgment on conditions requiring consultation, referral or evaluation by the supervising neurosurgeon or other healthcare professi
• Be able to perform as first assistant on all neurosurgical procedures to include craniotomies, spinal procedures, and peripheral nerve cases. Conduct hospital rounds on all patients including intensive care units, write orders, progress notes, perform history and physicals, order appropriate laboratory and radiographic tests such as MRIs, Myelograms, Cat Scans and other radiographic studies as indicated.  Able to perform appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as Lumbar punctures, ventriculostomies, placement to Tongs traction, Halo fixation devices.  Coordinate discharge planning, dictate discharge summaries.
• Examines new clinic patients and completes thorough history and physical examination that is problem oriented for neurosurgical conditions. Presents patients to the attending neurosurgeon and then assists with the formulation of a treatment plan.  Be able to perform clinic procedures such as shunt taps and lumbar punctures.   Evaluates postoperative patients and routine follow-ups visits. The Physician Assistant is accessible to see patients that require a same-day clinic visit, return phone calls from patients, and handles prescriptions refills.
• Provides follow-up care as necessary to ensure continuity of care. May prescribe medication for disease of the brain, central nervous system, spinal cord, peripheral nervous systems within his or her scope of practice.
• Participates in Staff Meeting and Conferences as scheduled. These tasks are accomplished in conjunction with routine work.
• Provides health education to patients and families. Interfaces with local, state and federal agencies responsible for alternate care such as Home Health Care, which DoD beneficiaries may be entitled to receive.
• Applies knowledge of the pharmacology of most commonly used medication used for neurosurgical patients in the pre, peri and postoperative settings.
• Assesses the physical profile status of all service members; initiates, reviews, and renews physical profiles as required. Initiates and composes narrative summaries for medical evaluation and retention boards. Completes all other required medical documentation for service members.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be a graduate of a Physician Assistant Training Program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or it predecessors as long as the license has been maintained uninterrupted.
• Must possess board certification as a Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• Possess a valid unrestricted Physician Assistant License in at least one state, territory or commonwealth of the United States.
• Having one (1) year of orthopedic spine or neurosurgical clinical experience is preferred.
• Must have and maintain a Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advance Life Support (PAL) as approved by the American Heart Association (AHA).

KurzSolutions is committed to improving health outcomes by providing well-managed companies with the top healthcare talent in the market.
www.kurzsolutions.com