Physician Assistant for Bariatric Surgery and Weight Loss Program in Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Bariatric and Weight Loss Program, a service of Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, seeks a NYS-licensed Physician Assistant to join our bariatric surgery care team.  Find our program at www.saratogabariatriccenter.com

An APP (PA) in this role will provide perioperative management and weight loss management of bariatric patients in collaboration with Dmitri Baranov, MD, our bariatric surgeon, and our bariatric team.  The role includes first assist duties, pre-operative and post-operative patient care management and development of plan of care, intraoperative technique and expertise and postoperative care.  Office responsibilities include: care of post-operative bariatric patients from the day of hospital discharge, assessment and evaluation of lab work, patient testing, and medical weight loss management, etc.

Light call coverage required, approximately 1:6, shared with APPS, mostly by phone. On some occasions, may need to present in person for surgical emergency or emergency consult. 

Excellent communication skills are required with patients, family members and colleagues.  This candidate will function as a clinical role model, leading clinical skill development, fostering critical thinking skills, promoting safe practice and acting as a consult/liaison as needed.  Active participation in applicable committees and continuing education through workshops, conferences, in-services and self-study is expected.  Call responsibilities and phone triage will be shared among the group of four.

The Saratoga Bariatric Surgery and Weight-Loss Program at Saratoga Hospital is accredited as a comprehensive bariatric facility by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

The Physician Assistant serves as an additional patient care provider, augmenting and extending patient services provided by the health care team. The PA will work closely with members of the team and have a reasonable amount of autonomy in the care and medical decision-making for patients. A few highlights of responsibilities:

• Obtains, documents and updates medical history. Identifies health risks and needs. Performs physical examinations and conducts preventive screening procedures based on age and history. Formulates a differential diagnosis and plan of care based on history, physical examination, and clinical findings. Identifies needs of the individual, family, or community.
• Orders and review diagnostic tests. Identifies, prescribes, and manage pharmacological therapies.
• Determines effectiveness of the plan of care through documentation of patient care outcomes.
• Reassesses and modifies plan of care as necessary to achieve medical and health goals.
• Makes referrals to other health professionals and community agencies. Admits/discharges to appropriate service.
• Participates in team meetings and conferences to enhance an interdisciplinary approach to health care delivery.
• Serves on departmental and multidisciplinary committees, which influence or determine policies affecting advanced practice providers.
• Participates in and develops projects and quality improvement programs, as well as standards of care and practice.
• Maintains current level of knowledge relative to professional practice.
• Maintains all required professional documentation, such as license, certifications, infection control, ACLS/BLS, DEA as well as system requirements.
• Acts as resource to staff and implements educational programs, as needed.

Qualifications

One to two years of experience and current license to practice as a Physician Assistant in New York State

Saratoga Hospital

Saratoga Hospital is a 171-bed independent, locally governed community hospital and a leading healthcare provider in the region. The hospital earned a reputation for high-quality, personalized, compassionate patient care.

Notable awards and designations include

• Four Grade A's in a row in patient safety - Leapfrog Group
• Magnet® designation for nursing excellence since 2004
• 4-Star Quality Rating under the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Compare Initiative
• Age-Friendly Health System
• Mission: Lifeline® – STEMI Receiving Center – Gold Plus
  
• Get with the Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Target: Stroke Honor Roll
• Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence recognition from the American College of Radiology
  

The Albany Med Health System

Saratoga Hospital is a member of the Albany Med Health System, the largest and only regionally governed, not-for-profit health system serving northeastern New York and western New England. Physicians at Saratoga Hospital and within Saratoga Hospital Medical Group have access to shared best practices, continuing medical education (CME) programming, and teaching opportunities. The partnership guarantees additional access to services not typically offered by community hospitals, as well as a seamless connection to the Capital Region’s only academic medical center and the highly specialized care it provides.

Saratoga Hospital is experiencing overall growth to meet the needs of the community. Since 2000, major construction projects include:

• Whitney-Hendrickson CardioVascular Interventional Suite offers cardiac catheterizations and interventions with a 24/hour STEMI receiving program, peripheral vascular angiography and  interventions. The suite is utilized by Cardiology, Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery. (2000, Recently renovated with second interventional suite added with pre and post-op rooms.)
• Saratoga Surgery Center: Saratoga Surgery Center offers six ORs, one procedure room, and two treatment rooms. (Constructed in 2004) 
• Alfred Z. Solomon Emergency Center: In 2009, the Emergency Department was constructed, with 36, state-of-the-art private rooms. The Department remains in like-new condition. 
• Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center: Constructed in 2005, was recently renovated with a new addition. The $6 million project included a second linear accelerator.
• Marylou Whitney and Desmond DelGiacco, MD, Intensive Care Unit: 19-bed, state-of-the art Intensive Care Unit opened in 2016.
• The Surgical Pavilion at Saratoga Hospital: twelve operating rooms, supporting minimally invasive surgery, endoscopy suite renovations, pre-op suite, PACU, registration and waiting areas, was complete in 2016. 

The acute care division includes:

• D-1 ( 43-bed telemetry and hemodialysis)
• A-1 (overflow unit with six private rooms)
• C-2 Newly renovated 12-bed Women's Health and Birthing Center
• C-2 (20-bed Medical Surgical unit - private rooms)
• A-3 (40-bed Medical Surgical unit, adults and low acuity pediatrics)
• C-3 (20-bed Medical Surgical unit with three private rooms)
• D-3 (20-bed orthopedic & bariatric surgery unit - private rooms)
• Recently renovated 16-bed inpatient mental health unit
• Infusion Center

Wilton Medical Arts, located three miles from the hospital, offers urgent care, laboratory, medical imaging:

• Saratoga Hospital Center for Breast Care with breast MRI and on-site biopsies
• 3 tesla wide bore MRI
• CT, PET/CT with cardiac capabilities
• DEXA
• Ultrasound
• x-ray

The hospital also offers primary care at nine locations around the region.

The Saratoga Community Health Center offers primary care, mental health, addiction and dental services in the heart of Saratoga, serving the underserved.

Saratoga Surgery Center is located on the Wilton campus with physician practices conveniently located on the second floor, including:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Interventional Pain Management
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Ophthalmology
• Otolaryngology

The Regional Therapy Center offers services in a variety of settings at five locations, offering:

•  PT, OT, Speech therapies and Specialty Services
• Aquatic PT
• Hand therapy
• Incontinence Therapy
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Cardio-pulmonary rehab. 

In collaboration with Albany Medical Center, Malta Med Emergent Care, located on Saratoga Hospital's 140 acre southern medical campus, offers 24-hour emergent care staffed by board certified emergency physicians, with advanced imaging (MRI, CT, US and x-ray) and laboratory services on the first floor and on the second floor medical offices, specialty services, an additional imaging suite offering mammography and DEXA, and infusion center.

Saratoga Hospital and The Saratoga Regional YMCA opened a 55,000 square foot facility on the Malta campus in 2018,  a shared facility that is the home for hospital-affiliated medical and specialty offices and the Y’s Malta Branch. This Y is the first of its kind in the area and will incorporate traditional Y health and wellness activities and programs, as well as a unique level of design, which creates an integrated facility that collectively serves the needs of individuals in the community. Our medical offices at this space include: primary care, sports medicine, specialty physician suite in addition to the Regional Therapy Center offering PT, OT, Speech, including specialty programs of Vestibular Rehab, Pelvic Floor and Aquatic Therapy program.

A third building opened in 2021, The Bone and Joint Surgery Center at Exit 12, a joint venture with Albany Medical Center, Saratoga Hospital and Capital Region Orthopedic Associates.

The medical park is located close to Luther Forest Technology Campus where the GlobalFoundries ^TM is located. The $ 4.2 billion chip factory manufactures computer chips from silicon wafers which has brought hundreds of families to the region.

Employment at Saratoga Hospital

Saratoga Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability or protected veteran status, and any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal law or Executive Orders.

Located a half hour from Albany, less than three hours from NYC, Montreal and Boston, Saratoga Springs is a family-centered community offering lovely neighborhoods, and a lively downtown with fine restaurants and specialty shops.

This small city is known for world-class entertainment including thoroughbred horse racing, polo, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), which is the summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The center hosts internationally known jazz, pop, rock and country musicians and is located in the Saratoga Spa State Park. The park's attractions include The Spa Little Theater, the Saratoga Auto Museum, National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, Lincoln Mineral Baths and Spa, and the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa, Victoria and Peerless pools. The park offers a number of options for outdoor fun. Consider cycling, golf, tennis, running, walking, fishing, swimming, snowshoeing, ice skating and x-country skiing. A local recreation and athletics commission provides children with an array of activities. Private clubs are also available for youth and adults, with two notable offerings, the Saratoga Rowing Association and the Saratoga Winter Club, a speedskating club that has turned out a number of Olympic athletes. The city is noted throughout the travel industry as a top tourist destination. A few local favorite places to visit include the Saratoga Farmer's Market, Spa City Farmer's Market, Congress Park with its historic wooden Carousel, Beekman Street Arts District and the Tang Museum of Skidmore College. Saratoga was voted the inaugural recipient of the Great American Place award by American Heritage Magazine and selected as one of Sports Illustrated’s Top 10 Sports Venues in the World. Saratoga Springs is the home of native-bred Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

The Adirondacks, Green Mountains of Vermont, The Berkshires of Massachusetts and regional parks beckon outdoor enthusiasts for year-round recreation, including skiing, hiking, climbing, camping and more. Water sports draw many to nearby lakes and rivers. Golf lovers will find many offerings from public to private courses in and around Saratoga Springs.

Educational opportunities abound in the Capital - Saratoga and North Country Regions with excellent public school systems. Local colleges and universities include: Skidmore College, Empire State College, both located in Saratoga Springs, and nearby Albany Medical College, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany Law School, Adirondack Community College, Excelsior College, Hudson Valley Community College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Schenectady County Community College, Siena College, St. Rose College, The Sage Colleges, Union College and University at Albany.