Pulmonary Hypertension Physician Assistant

Job Summary

The Division of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine is seeking a Physician Assistant to support the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Program at Primary Children's Hospital.

The Physician Assistant will serve as a key member of the multidisciplinary pulmonary hypertension team and will support clinical care, care coordination, and program development for children with pulmonary vascular disease. The Physician Assistant will work closely with pulmonary hypertension physicians, nurse coordinators, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver care in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

This role offers an opportunity to develop expertise in the management of pediatric pulmonary hypertension while helping support the continued growth of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Primary Children's Hospital.

Responsibilities

Outpatient Clinical Care

• Participate in pulmonary hypertension outpatient clinics initially with PH attending physicians and eventually see patients independently as competency develops.
• Perform comprehensive clinical assessments including patient history, physical exams, and medication management.
• Provide patient and family education regarding pulmonary hypertension, disease management, and treatment plans.
• Coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams involved in the management of pulmonary hypertension patients.
• Assist with ordering and coordinating laboratory testing, imaging studies, and specialty referrals.
• Support clinic follow-up including test results, medication adjustments, equipment orders, and patient communication.
• Assist with insurance authorizations and appeals for pulmonary hypertension therapies.
• Triage patient phone calls in collaboration with the PH nurse coordinator and communicate urgent concerns to PH attending physicians.
• Participate in multidisciplinary clinic conferences and care planning discussions.

Inpatient Clinical Care

• Develop progressive independence in the consultative care of hospitalized children with pulmonary hypertension.
• Participate in inpatient consultation services for pulmonary hypertension patients.
• Round on stable chronic inpatients including NICU and other inpatient units outside of the CICU.
• Participate in CICU rounds as a pulmonary hypertension consultant in collaboration with the primary team.
• Serve as a clinical resource for management of pulmonary hypertension therapies including oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, and inhaled treatments.
• Facilitate approval, initiation, and medication refill coordination for PH therapies with the PH nurse coordinator.
• Provide education and training for patients, families, and clinical staff regarding pulmonary hypertension management and home monitoring.
• Participate in discharge planning and transitions of care for PH patients.
• Attend cardiac catheterization procedures to support care coordination and patient education when appropriate.
• Participate in weekly multidisciplinary care conferences.

Program Development, Quality Improvement, and Research

• Participate in development and revision of clinical protocols and care pathways related to pulmonary hypertension.
• Contribute to quality improvement initiatives focused on outcomes for pediatric pulmonary hypertension patients.
• Assist with data collection and reporting for national registries and program accreditation requirements.
• Support ongoing program development initiatives within the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program.
• Participate in clinical research and collaborative studies when appropriate.
• Provide educational presentations to multidisciplinary teams regarding pulmonary hypertension care.