Welcome! We’re excited you’re considering an opportunity with us! To apply to this position and be considered, click the Apply button located above this message and complete the application in full.  Below, you’ll find other important information about this position. 

The West Virginia University Health System, the state’s largest health system and largest private employer, comprises 18 hospitals throughout the state and bordering states. In addition, it includes five institutes, as well as providing management services for other local hospitals through affiliate agreements.

Whether you are caring for our patients at one of the critical access hospitals, community sites, regional or academic medical centers, we are all one WVU Health System.

Work Here. Thrive Here.

Additional Job Description:

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• High quality training
• Working closely with Dr. Rezai
• Must have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment as well as the ability to handle high-pressure situations with professionalism

Specific Links that feature Dr. Rezai and what this position will support:

Dr. Ali Rezai Ted Talk “Breaking Barriers in Neuroscience”

Ali Rezai: Breaking Barriers in Neuroscience | TED Talk

RNI 60 Minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BGtVJ3lBdE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Frni.wvumedicine.org%2F&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ

The RNI Vision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdGjTBSthiM&list=PLJ0b6p51yYc0Zna94UjSTnlTMW5SzI4CP&index=2&pp=iAQB

Dr. Ali Rezai on Bloomberg TV at the Milken Global Conference

https://youtu.be/GrvOTKOUqgs

RNI Featured in American Scientist

https://www.americanscientist.org/article/brain-surgery-without-a-knife

Dr. Rezai featured in Wall Street Journal’s “The Future of Everything” on treating addiction with FUS

WSJ | Can Zapping the Brain Help Treat Addiction?

Other Links that feature the RNI as a whole:

RNI Human Operating System (HOS) – “The Future of Managing Addiction”

https://youtu.be/QYbC1kill1Q

NBC News Features Dr. Javier Cardenas’ Patient, Celena (a domestic violence victim) and the RNI DVIP Program

Brain injuries often go unrecognized among domestic violence victims

Dr. Cardenas featured in Newsweek article on NFL’s concussion protocol

Blood Test Can Benefit NFL Concussion Return-to-Play Decisions - Newsweek

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Essential Tremor - 3D Animation

WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute – High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Essential Tremor

Using Focused Ultrasound for Alzheimer’s – Opening the Blood-Brain Barrier – 3D Animation

WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute – Using Focused Ultrasound for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

JOB TITLE & CODE:    ADVANCED PRACTICE PROFESSIONALS – Neurosurgery, Neuromodulation Physician Assistant (85101)

DEPARTMENT:    Department of Neurosurgery

REPORTS TO:    Chief APP – Neurosurgery, Faculty Supervisor, Executive Chair, Vice President Neuroscience, OAPP

FLSA STATUS:    Exempt
    

POSITION SUMMARY:    The Advanced Practice Professional (APP) has coordination and clinical skills required for the comprehensive management of neurology/neurosurgery patients, specifically neuromodulation, (including biological, social, and psychological assessments).  The APP coordinates involvement of medical specialty teams necessary to develop a comprehensive plan for the patient and reviews the plan of care with the other members of the clinical team, participates in directing that care, performs diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and coordinates discharge planning (as applicable).  The APP participates in the education of residents and medical/nursing students. 

Provide healthcare services consistent with state law and the requirements of the professional licensing or certification authority and/or hospital privileges, where applicable.  Such service may include but are not limited to.   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:
1.    Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree as a Medical/Surgical (as applicable) Physician Assistant 
required.  
2.    Graduate of an ARC-PA approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program required.
3.    Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants required.
4.    Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine or WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
5.    American Heart Association BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of 
the department.

EXPERIENCE:
1.    Eligible new graduates will be considered.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:
1.    Masters level education as Medical/Surgical (as applicable) Physician Assistant preferred. 

EXPERIENCE:
1.    Acute care or neurology/neurosurgery experience preferred.  

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.  Other duties may be assigned.

1.    Manages comprehensive and individualized care, managing peri-operative care including but not limited to first assisting in the operating room, for neuro-modulation patients and their families in the inpatient phase of hospitalization, immediately post discharge and in the ambulatory setting.

2.    Completes daily rounds; consults and/or pre-procedure/evaluations.

3.    Completes integrated assessments.

4.    With the collaboration of neurology and neurosurgery faculty or by following established clinical Guidelines and Protocols, orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate.

5.    Performs and communicates results of diagnostic tests following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.

6.    Consults and communicates with clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in the evaluations of patients.

7.    Performs succinct comprehensive clinical evaluations and documents findings in medical record.

8.    Facilitates patient discharge by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to discharge necessary for outpatient follow-up appointments in the clinic (as applicable).  

9.    Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care for neurology patients, which includes teaching, discharge planning and necessary referral to other members of the health care team as necessary.

10.    Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients across the age continuum of their educational experience and certification.

11.    Identifies unstable or complex neurology patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention in the clinic and/or hospital setting.

12.    Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.

13.    Evaluates neuro-modulation patients and serves as a coordinator for follow up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting (as applicable).

14.    Assists in the collection of outcome measures (as applicable).

15.    Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision making by the identification, evaluation, and management of the individual needs of patients/families.

16.    Demonstrates the ability to utilize equipment in a safe manner.

17.    Bases decisions made/actions taken on the relevant scientific principles, established standards of care and/or research findings.

18.    Utilizes teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies in the provision of education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community.

19.    Promotes an environment that facilitates learning by responding to appropriate patient/family preferences, priorities, and readiness to learn.

20.    Updates own knowledge base throughout the year.

21.    Completes all identified clinical competencies.

22.    Serves as a resource person for staff caring for the neuro-modulation patient.

23.    Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise.

24.    Participates in community programs, distribution of literature, as appropriate in area of expertise.

25.    Documents the plan of care, interventions, and evaluations in a clear and concise manner for every patient visit in the patient’s medical record following approved hospital/UHA policies and compliance standards for documentation.

 
26.    Collaborates with other leaders and staff to effectively achieve patient outcome-based improvements in care.

27.    Provides leadership in the development and implantation of changes in the neurology/neurosurgery practice that positively impact patient outcomes.  

28.    Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem solving and provide professional support.

29.    Participates and initiates inter-disciplinary approaches to patient care, program development and education.  Serves as a professional role model.

30.    Promotes and practices innovation of the expanded role in the delivery of care to neurology/neurosurgery patients and families throughout the inpatient hospitalization, and the ambulatory setting.

31.    Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces.

32.    Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate.  

33.    Reviews and interprets neurology data from sources such as patient registries, clinical and financial reports, length of stay, access to care, and cost per case reports and recommends/implements changes as necessary.

34.    Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator.

35.    Assists neurology/neurosurgery Faculty, Administrators/Directors, and VPs in the collection of outcome measures.

36.    Assist faculty in operating room as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.    Heavy/Hard Work:  Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, and carrying of patients, materials and equipment weighting 40+ pounds.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.    Working closely with others.
2.    Protracted or irregular hours.
3.    Working around biohazards.
4.    Working around infectious diseases.
5.    Working with or near the deceased.
6.    Working with hands in water.
7.    Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
1.    Proficiency with computers.
2.    Strong communication skills.

Date Reviewed/Revised:   April 12, 2024
 

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Shift:

Exempt/Non-Exempt:

United States of America (Exempt)

Company:

UHA University Health Associates

Cost Center:

8100 UHA Neuro Neurosurgery

Address:

1 Medical Center Drive

Morgantown

West Virginia

WVU Medicine is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among our workforce and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, language, national origin, religious affiliation, spiritual practice, age, mental and physical ability/disability or Veteran status.