Job Summary & Requirements
Department:

Physician Assistant Program and Emergency Department

Responsible to:

Manager, Medical Education, Simulation and Physician Assistant Program

Chief of Emergency Medicine

The Position Summary: The Physician Assistant (PA) is a healthcare provider who always works under the supervision of a registered physician. The PA supports the physician as the principal medical decision-maker and the supervising physician is responsible for the direction of the PA's activities. PAs are highly skilled providers with the knowledge, skills, and experience to work as part of a physician-led team in a variety of clinical settings.

The Emergency Medicine PA will provide dedicated clinical support to the Emergency Department at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, working directly under the supervision of the on-call and attending Emergency Physicians. The role is designed to assist with the growing patient volume and acuity across the department, including undifferentiated presentations, minor and major trauma, medical resuscitation, and time-sensitive diagnostic pathways, with coverage spanning multiple ED zones. Clinical expert competencies are central to the function of the PA and draw on the other competencies of Communication, Collaboration, Management, Health Advocacy, Scholar, and Professionalism.

Qualifications:
Education:

Secondary School Diploma or Equivalent

Undergraduate Degree

Graduate of a Canadian or US Accredited Physician Assistant Education Program

Eligible to challenge the National Physician Assistant Certificate Exam, or Canadian Physician Assistant Certification – Mandatory

Must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) or eligible to register with the CPSO upon passing the Physician Assistant certification examination – Mandatory

Must maintain active CPSO registration on an annual basis as a condition of continued employment – Mandatory

BCLS, ACLS, and ATLS – Mandatory

PALS – preferred

Experience:

2 years' experience in an acute care or emergency setting preferred

Experience in emergency medicine, critical care, or internal medicine preferred

Familiarity with high-acuity presentations, trauma resuscitation, and rapid clinical decision-making preferred

Competencies:





Integrate all core PA competencies to provide optimal, ethical, and patient-centred medical care

Perform a complete and appropriate clinical assessment of a patient and formulate a clinical treatment plan

Use preventive and therapeutic interventions effectively

Demonstrate proficient and appropriate use of diagnostic and procedural skills, including point-of-care ultrasound where applicable

Recognize their scope of practice while demonstrating effective and appropriate consultation practice with other healthcare professionals in respect to patient care, education, and legal opinions

Function effectively in a high-volume, high-acuity, quick-paced clinical environment with shifting priorities

Responsibilities:
Emergency Department Clinical Support

Assess and manage patients presenting to the Emergency Department under the direction of the on-call/attending Emergency Physician, across assigned zones (including designated low- and high-acuity areas)

Obtain health history as appropriate, including patient demographics, chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical, surgical, family, and relevant psychosocial history, medications, allergies, and systems review

Perform comprehensive and focused physical assessments and interpret findings, including vital signs and examination of major body systems

Utilize assessment results to formulate a differential diagnosis and determine if further clinical investigation is required, in conjunction with the most responsible physician

Initiate and participate in resuscitation and stabilization of critically ill or injured patients, including trauma activations, in accordance with departmental protocols

Perform or assist with emergency procedures within scope of practice (e.g., wound management, splinting, procedural sedation support) under physician supervision

Support timely disposition planning, including admission, discharge, and transfer coordination,



and facilitate patient flow across the department

Complete assessment notes, procedure notes, and discharge documentation as required

Diagnostic Procedures

Order and complete preliminary interpretation of diagnostic tests, including hematology, microbiology, chemistry, serology, urinalysis, blood gas, ECG, and plain film x-ray

Demonstrate at least an academic understanding of:

Routine and micro-urinalysis

Basic hematology and coagulation studies

Chemistry and serology panels

Microbiology cultures and sensitivities

Communication

Provide relevant information and explanations, including proposed treatment plans, to the supervising physician and seek further direction where appropriate

Communicate with members of the healthcare team and other hospital departments, both orally, in writing, and electronically

Provide education to patients, families, and other health providers as appropriate to the clinical setting

Medical Documentation and Record Keeping

Maintain clear, accurate, and appropriate records of patient encounters and management plans

Complete consultation requests, assessment notes, procedure notes, discharge notes, and other documentation as required

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Collaborate with nursing, pharmacy, social work, respiratory therapy, and other allied health in the care of Emergency Department patients

Liaise with subspecialty consultants including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Trauma services as required

Participate in case conferences, teaching rounds, morbidity and mortality reviews, and quality improvement initiatives as appropriate

Teaching and Education
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre is a teaching hospital. As such, participation in the education of learners is an expectation of all clinical staff.

Participate in the clinical supervision and teaching of Physician Assistant students on rotation when required

Serve as a clinical resource and role model for PA students, supporting their integration into the emergency medicine clinical environment

Contribute to the academic mission of the hospital by supporting learner objectives in alignment with affiliated PA education programs

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📌 Physician Assistant (Ontario)
🏢 Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
📍 Ontario