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Physician's Assistant

UCI Series Concepts

Class Specifications - H.45
Senior Physician's Assistant - 9202
Physician's Assistant - 9203

September, 1980

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SERIES CONCEPT

Physician's Assistants in accordance with standardized procedures 
perform certain clinical duties customarily carried out by physicians, 
and perform other related duties as assigned.

Incumbents perform clinical assessments and care management services 
which include construction and interpretation of histories and physical 
exams; perform initial and periodic physical examinations, mental status 
examinations, and medical history on both in-patients and out-patients; 
order appropriate laboratory tests, x-rays, EKG, and comparable 
procedures, according to criteria previously established by the 
responsible physician(s); draw blood specimens for testing and perform 
other comparable procedures as directed by the supervising physician 
when personnel who customarily perform such procedures are not 
available; write orders to increase, decrease or change medication 
(subject to checking and counter-signing by physician); initiate 
consultations and monitor scheduling of patients for special tests; 
identify problems and develop and implement treatment plans; make daily 
rounds to observe and record pertinent progress of patients, updating 
and summarizing charts, changing orders when appropriate, and notifying 
the responsible physician(s) of changes in the patient's condition; 
counsel patients and families as to preventive care, medical problems, 
psychological problems and use of prescribed treatment and drugs; assist 
in operative and other procedures; and participate in clinical 
investigations.

The series consists of two levels.  The Senior Physician's Assistant is 
the lead/advanced operation level.  The Physician's Assistant class is 
the operational level where the majority of positions are allocated.

                         CLASS CONCEPTS

Senior Physician's Assistant

Under direction and in addition to performing operational-level 
assignments, incumbents are consistently assigned the more complex 
cases which require the use of advanced operational skills or are 
assigned continuing responsibility for a group of Physician's 
Assistants.  This class is distinguished from the Physician's Assistant 
class by the greater degree of independence exercised in the performance 
of primary care and chronic ambulatory medical care services.  Workleader 
duties typically include the direction and training of Physician's 
Assistants, nursing and paramedical personnel; the assignment of 
duties to a small group of Physician's Assistants; and the arrangement 
of work schedules.

Physician's Assistant

Under general supervision incumbents perform operational level duties as 
listed in the Series Concept.

                  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Incumbents for positions included in the Physician's Assistant series 
are expected to meet the legal requirements to practice as a Physician's 
Assistant as determined by graduation from a training program approved 
by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California; to be 
certified by the State Board of Medical Examiners or the National Board 
of Medical Examiners; and possess the skills, knowledges, and abilities 
essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the 
position.

Note: Specific qualification requirement are defined for positions by 
      the appropriate user departments.

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