Physician Assistant, Correctional Health Services (Sunday-Thursday, 4pm - 12pm)

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) for The Division of Correctional Health Services (CHS) of New York City Health + Hospitals (H+H) is responsible for the delivery of medical care, mental health care, and discharge planning in the jail system. Approximately 25% of new admissions per year to the NYC jail system will receive care on the mental health service. This service strives to provide safe, holistic and evidence-based therapeutic interventions for the diverse range of mental health issues that face the population, from serious mental illness to the natural struggles that accompany incarceration. The service provides some of the most comprehensive and unique treatment modalities in the country, including specialty housing units for individuals with serious mental illness, a 24-hour on-call psychiatric service, robust creative arts programming, a strong DBT training program, clinics in each of the facilities, substance use treatment, integrated re- entry services, and relationships with multiple training institutions throughout the city.

Practicing as a Physician Assistant at CHS

Physician Assistants are full members of a large provider team that includes physicians, nurse practitioners, and fellow PAs. You will carry your own panel and run your own clinical sessions with a high degree of independence, practicing at the top of your license. Attending physician support is always available — on site, immediately, and without ceremony — for the patient who needs it.

New graduates receive structured onboarding, orientation to the correctional environment, and close mentorship. Experienced PAs are given the latitude they have earned.

Your Clinical Home

Each Physician Assistant is based in one of our jail-based clinics, staffed by an integrated care team with strong administrative support. Available on site in the clinic:

• Nursing
• Phlebotomy
• Wound care
• Pharmacy
• Mental health
• Specialty services

Across CHS, additional services are also provided on site rather than by outside referral, including emergency medicine, cardiology, neurology, infectious disease, addiction medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy, podiatry, and dental. In practice, a consultation is usually a conversation down the hall.

The Scope of the Work

A single shift may include intake histories and physicals on newly admitted patients, chronic disease management in continuity clinic, evaluation of an urgent complaint, and response to a medical emergency alongside our emergency medicine physicians. Few settings combine urgent care, emergency medicine, and primary care this way, and few build a broader or more durable skill set.

Our patients frequently arrive after years without access to care. First diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, HIV, and hepatitis C are common, as are opportunities to restart treatment that had lapsed on the outside. There are no RVU targets, no billing, and no prior authorizations — you order what your patient needs.

Correctional medicine is an expanding field with real demand for clinicians who understand it, and CHS is among the places where that expertise is being defined. Physician Assistants leave here with experience that is difficult to obtain anywhere else.

Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive histories and physicals on all new admissions.
• Diagnose and treat acute and chronic illness.
• Evaluate the need for consult services and submit the prioritized consult when indicated.
• Review all on-island and off-island specialty consult clinic and hospital returns. Evaluate the recommendations to ensure that the standard of care is met,  and implement the recommendations of the consultant.
• Request radiology exams, lab tests, and EKGs when indicated, and interpret these results in conjunction with the patient’s clinical status.
• Respond to emergencies and fire drills on a priority basis, in a timely and professional manner.
• Notify Urgicare for 3-hour and EMS runs.
• Generate medical modifications as needed.
• Be familiar with performance indicators (P.I.) and take appropriate measures to comply with these standards.
• Maintain clinical competency by reviewing CHS protocols and current medical literature and by completing continuing medical education.
• Ensure that the standard of care is maintained.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of CHS,  and remain familiar with them by reviewing them as needed.
• When able, participate in the orientation and onboarding of new providers.
• Attend all mandatory in-services.
• Comply with and maintain Employee Health requirements.

Department Preferences (Preferred Skills):

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree
• New York State licensed Physician Assistant
• Must have 2 to 3 years of experience. 
• Familiarity with electronic health records
• Experience in primary care, urgent care, or emergency medicine
• Interest in or experience with safety-net and underserved populations
• Familiarity with harm reduction and with medications for opioid use disorder
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, as well as with NYC DOC staff

Qualification Requirements:

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant education program
• Current New York State registration as a Physician Assistant, or a current New York State limited permit to practice as a Physician Assistant
• Current certification issued by the NCCPA
• Current BLS and ACLS certification
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment

This position will be on various locations on Rikers Island.

Wage and Benefits include:

• This is an 1199 union position. Benefits will come from the union. 
• 401(k) account for Employee Contribution (subject to IRS contribution limits):
• Employees are immediately vested in their contributions.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Pre-tax employee-paid contributions for commuting expenses.

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) mission is to provide accountable, responsive, quality care with the highest degree of sensitivity to the needs of the diverse population that lives in our New York community. PAGNY is one of the largest physician groups in the country and directly employs nearly 4,000 physicians and allied health professionals who provide services to NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually.  Our providers are highly skilled professionals with outstanding credentials who deliver the highest level of quality healthcare to patients throughout New York City.   

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and equitable hiring practices. We are dedicated to fostering a respectful and supportive workplace where everyone is valued. All candidates are considered based on their individual qualifications, potential, and experience.  

To learn more about our culture and ongoing workplace practices, please visit our Workplace Culture | PAGNY page.

*Salary Disclosure Information: The salary listed for this position complies with New York City's Salary Transparency Law for Job Advertisements. The salary applies specifically to the position being advertised and does not include potential bonuses, incentive compensation, or benefits. Actual total compensation may vary based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, historical performance, and other relevant criteria.