Physician Assistant Orthopedics

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Orthopedic Physician Assistant, you will join a collaborative team dedicated to delivering high-value, top-quality orthopedic care to the communities we serve in Durango, Colorado, and throughout the surrounding Four Corners region. As part of a physician-facing organization, you will be supported by extensive resources designed to allow you to focus on what matters most—caring for patients and serving the community. You will provide comprehensive orthopedic care while contributing to the delivery of the highest quality and most cost-effective healthcare within our integrated delivery system. Through your work, you will help expand access to specialized musculoskeletal and orthopedic services while improving the health, mobility, and quality of life of individuals throughout Southwest Colorado.

Every day you will evaluate, diagnose, and manage patients with a broad range of orthopedic conditions, including musculoskeletal injuries, fractures, joint disorders, sports-related injuries, and degenerative orthopedic conditions. You will conduct comprehensive patient assessments, order and interpret diagnostic imaging, develop individualized treatment plans, and provide preoperative and postoperative care. You may also assist orthopedic surgeons in the operating room, perform appropriate office-based procedures, and support patients throughout their recovery and rehabilitation. You will collaborate closely with orthopedic surgeons, physical and occupational therapists, primary care providers, nursing teams, and multidisciplinary specialists to deliver coordinated, evidence-based care. As a key member of the orthopedic team, you will help promote positive patient outcomes, improve access to timely orthopedic services, and build lasting relationships with patients and referring providers throughout Durango and the surrounding rural communities.

To be successful in this role, you will be a skilled, board-certified, and compassionate Physician Assistant committed to providing exceptional, evidence-based orthopedic care.

• You will possess strong clinical assessment skills, knowledge of musculoskeletal conditions and orthopedic treatment, and strong communication abilities, along with excellent clinical judgment and the ability to collaborate effectively with patients, families, surgeons, and multidisciplinary care teams.
• You will also demonstrate a deep commitment to patient-centered care, quality outcomes, and continuous improvement. Important to this role is embracing the Mission and values of this Christian organization, contributing to a team-centered culture that prioritizes collaboration and service, and supporting an environment of transparency, accountability, and excellence.
• You will thrive in a collegial and supportive environment while making a meaningful impact by helping patients restore mobility, return to the activities they enjoy, and achieve an improved quality of life.
• With the opportunity to practice in beautiful Durango, surrounded by the abundant outdoor and recreational opportunities of Southwestern Colorado, this position offers a rewarding professional and personal lifestyle.

Job Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree; may be accepted if from an accredited PA program and meets the license and board criteria to be in good standing with state and other applicable requirements and 1 years of APP experience
• Physician Assistant by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
• Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association
• NRP is required for both hybrid work in person and telemedicine neonatology at SANHC, LUH, SFMC, MRMC (include in PB as needed). BLS not required for these departments.

Preferred

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program

Where You’ll Work

Mercy Hospital is an 82 bed, acute care hospital located in the scenic southwestern Colorado town of Durango. It is the only hospital in Colorado to be rated by Medicare with five stars for overall hospital quality. It is recognized for excellence in orthopedic and spine surgery and for outstanding patient experience and patient safety. Mercy has also received ten consecutive 'A' grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Our providers use state-of-the-art technology in an environment designed to promote wellbeing and healing of body, mind, and spirit. Among the many specialty services available at Mercy are emergency care (Level III trauma designation), surgical care, cardiac care (including interventional), Orthopedic and Spine Centers of Excellence, a Family Birthing Center, home care, hospice care and more. Durango offers an exceptional quality of life with small town charm, excellent schools, and year-round, world-class outdoor recreation opportunities including snow sports, river sports, hiking, biking, camping and more.