Department of Critical Care Medicine

RANK: Assistant Professor, CFA or Associate Professor, CFA

Division: Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: This faculty position reports to the Chair Ad Interim, Department of Critical Care Medicine

SUMMARY:

This is a full-time academic Department of Critical Care Medicine position at the rank of assistant or associate professor, clinical faculty appointment (CFA). Excellent computer and interpersonal skills are required. The faculty member’s CARE distribution will be: 90% Clinical (45% in the ICU and 45% in the OR/OOOR), 4% Administration, 4% Research, and 2% Education. The faculty member is responsible for clinical expertise in the management of the critically ill cancer patient in the ICU and in providing anesthesia to patients in the OR and OOOR. The faculty member will also provide an appropriate teaching environment for fellows, residents and students in the specialties of Critical Care Medicine and Anesthesiology.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CLINICAL (90%)

Critical Care Medicine:

Practice both medical and surgical critical care medicine in an exemplary manner. Requires the ability to visually monitor patient progress, to verbally communicate with the patients, to understand and comprehend a complex set of medical data, and to communicate verbally and in writing with other physicians.

Must be capable of providing complete and thorough history and physical patient examinations. Must be able to perform invasive procedures as dictated by the physician’s specialty. This may require standing, bending, stooping, lifting, hearing, manual dexterity, and clear and concise verbal communications.

Complete patient documentation for medical records within time frames provided by Departmental and Institutional policy. Will require dictating in a clear and concise manner, and visual review of documents.

Correspond as appropriate, in writing or by telephone, to conversations with primary teams regarding patient care and treatment and provide patient hand-off per Departmental and Institutional policy.

Keep abreast of current approaches in the management of patients through attendance at continuing education conferences in critical care medicine or other applicable specialties. This will require listening and assimilating information from the conferences.

Anesthesiology & PeriOp Medicine:

Support life functions during the period in which anesthesia is administered, including induction and intubation procedures;

Provide appropriate preanesthesia and postanesthesia management of the patient; and

Provide consultations relating to various other forms of patient care, such as respiratory therapy and emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and special problems in pain relief.

Specific Duties:

Preoperative evaluation and reasonable explanation to the patient of the proposed anesthetic procedure;

Appropriate premedication of the patient in conjunction with the house staff;

Administration of anesthesia to the patient based on the ASA guidelines; i.e, the anesthesiologist will be personally responsible for the conduct of the selected anesthetic and will be immediately available at all times to fulfill this responsibility;

Documentation of post-operative visit or visits as indicated;

Provide role model in anesthesiology as a practitioner for faculty, fellows, resident, and other trainees rotating through the Department; and

Provide peer review for assessing the clinical practice for faculty within the Department.

Medical Direction of Non-Physician Personnel: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, (CRNAs)

An anesthesiologist is responsible to each patient for all aspects of anesthesia care.   A physician who is trained in the administration of anesthesia, preferably an anesthesiologist; a physician who has completed an approved residency in anesthesiology should administer anesthesia, in all its forms.

While optimal anesthesia care involves a one-to-one relationship between anesthesiologist and patient, it may be necessary to utilize non-physician personnel to perform technical functions relating to the administration of anesthesia under the personal direction of an anesthesiologist.

Delegation of functions to non-physician personnel is based on specific criteria (i.e., the individual’s education, training, and demonstrated skills).  Such criteria includes the competence to the follow the anesthesia plan prescribed by the anesthesiologist and the technical ability to: 1) Induce anesthesia under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist; 2) Maintain anesthesia at prescribed levels; 3) Monitor and support life functions during the perioperative period; 4) Recognize and report to the anesthesiologist any abnormal patient responses during anesthesia.

ADMINISTRATION (2%)

Provides M.D. supervision of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) and educational staff.

Assumes accountability for clinical outcomes in the ICU and OR/OOOR.

Oversees the utilization of order sets in the ICU and OR/OOOR.

May participate in investigation and review of best practice initiatives and clinical effectiveness projects.

Triages admissions and discharges within the ICU.

May serve on institutional and hospital committees as requested by the Department Chairs.

RESEARCH (5%):

Actively engage in clinical research and scholarly activity to enhance the academic environment of the Departments and the Division.

Demonstrate an ability to perform peer-reviewed clinical research and foster participation in multidisciplinary clinical research programs. Must be able to synthesize information and communicate verbally and in writing with other faculty members in this regard. Provide instruction to clinical research support personnel;

Provide expertise in study design. Provide advanced analyses of data sets from critical care studies, integrating with clinical variables of interest. Collaborate in project analysis and final report preparation. Prepare presentations and manuscripts for journals and national and international meetings; and

May identify grants and funding sources for funding of research, submit grants and protocols in accordance with rules and deadline applications, and develop budgets and analysis and complete grant and protocol application forms.

EDUCATION (3%)

Acts as a role model for faculty, fellows, residents and students. Provides a balanced and integrated educational program for residents, fellows, and other trainees who rotate through the Department of Anesthesiology & PeriOp Medicine or the Department of Critical Care Medicine.

Requires the ability to review the development and implementation of comprehensive written learning materials and standards for the graduate curriculum, and to communicate verbally and in writing with the trainees as required by either the Department of Anesthesiology & PeriOp Med or the Department of Critical Care Medicne.

Attends and participates in Department teaching and continuing education conferences.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

Required:

Completed an M.D./D.O. degree from an accredited medical school in the field appropriate to the faculty role or department mission.

Completed residency training in an approved American residency program or equivalent; and

Be licensed as a physician in the State of Texas.

Board Certification

Required:

A Certificate of Competence in Critical Care Medicine from the American Board of Anesthesiology (or approved foreign equivalent). Candidates in the examination process will have five years to achieve certification in Anesthesiology and Critical Care.

Board certified in Anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology (or approved foreign equivalent) and be actively participating in the Maintenance of Certification Program, or in the examination system with the ABA.

Experience

Required: Completed a Critical Care Fellowship in Anesthesiology.

Preferred: Minimum of two years of experience as a practicing Intensivist.