Heather Sigwalt, MPAS, PA-C
Summary
Certified Physician Assistant with comprehensive experience including addiction medicine, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health, palliative medicine, family medicine, and women's health coverage. Seeking position as a physician assistant in telehealth addiction medicine.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Physician Assistant Certified
Alliance Medical Services
11.2023 - Current
- Increased efficiency and quality of patient care during MAT intakes, annual physicals, and follow ups for outpatient methadone and suboxone treatment program.
- Effectively targeted symptoms of OUD and SUD in familiarity with prescription of medications including buprenorphine single (short and long-acting) and combination products, and naltrexone formulations.
- Provided compassionate care to diverse patient populations, including homeless, incarcerated, and underserved patients addressing harm reduction treatment approach.
- Managed complex cases involving medical, obstetric, and behavioral health conditions while collaborating with specialists to develop effective treatment plans.
- Managed ordering of methadone and organization of supplies, manual logs, and inventory tracking.
- Conducted physical examinations to assess patients' health and current condition for optimal diagnosis and treatment of concurrent behavioral health and substance use disorders.
- Referred to and consulted with physicians and other healthcare providers on patient care in MAT treatment.
- Educated patients on high risk of infectious disease issues, health maintenance, and smoking cessation to improve overall health and wellness.
- Contributed to team-based approach in caring for patients by effectively coordinating with nurses, therapists, social workers, and physician.
- Ordered, administered, and reviewed urinalysis results.
- Mentored nursing team in role of nursing supervisor.
Physician Assistant Certified
Independence Health System
08.2022 - 09.2023
- Performed psychiatric evaluations, diagnosed, and prescribed treatment regimen in outpatient and inpatient settings.
- Coordinated care with interdisciplinary team on daily and weekend inpatient and medical rounds for behavioral health consultations.
- Effectively utilized critical thinking to assess patients within the partial hospitalization program for admission, continuity of care, treatment, and in crisis evaluation and resolution.
- Performed admissions to and discharges from behavioral health inpatient child, adolescent, and adult psychiatric units.
- Evaluated and treated behavioral health patients in the ER, inpatient, and outpatient setting including diagnoses of acute psychosis, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, sleep disorders, substance use disorders, and post traumatic stress disorders.
- Analyzed symptoms for behavioral health diagnoses and prescribed targeted medications and therapies in practice, consulting physician when necessary.
Physician Assistant Certified
Medical Associates Of Boswell
11.2021 - 02.2022
- Thorough care, treatment, and documentation of patients in setting of outpatient acute sick family medicine visits, routine preventative care, pediatric care, geriatric care, behavioral health care, chronic disease care, and related medication management.
- Excelled in utilization of telemedicine to communicate with and provide continuity of care to patients in rural areas.
- Referred patients to other healthcare providers and consulted with them to ensure patient education regarding disease and treatment management.
- Identified alternative pain control methods to reduce opioid prescriptions within practice population.
- Educated patients on variety of infectious disease issues, nutrition, obesity and smoking cessation to improve overall health and wellness.
- Comprehensive history and physical exams, interpretation of lab values, and review of radiologic imaging to construct detailed, autonomous diagnosis and treatment plans.
- Compassionate, whole patient psychosocial care employing shared decision making.
Physician Assistant Certified
UPMC Altoona Family Physicians
07.2019 - 07.2021
- Compassionate, whole patient psychosocial care employing shared decision making with patients in inpatient and outpatient palliative clinic settings.
- Thorough care, treatment, and documentation of patients in other settings of outpatient acute sick family medicine visits and women's health complaints.
- Experienced in care of patients during inpatient palliative rounds and during day, night, and weekend call.
- Strong lead APP that coordinated with specialists, inpatient IDT, and a member of an active ethics committee.
- Strong background in cancer-related pain and medication management with use of opioids, anxiolytics, antiemetics, and antidepressants for relief of symptoms to improve a patient's quality of life.
- Provided anticipatory guidance and education to palliative care patients and their families in regards to treatment and symptom relief of acute and chronic illnesses.
- Excels in discussions of goals of care, delivering bad news, end-of-life care planning, POLST, and hospice.
- Determined surrogate medical decision maker in complex clinical and social situations.
- Comprehensive history and physical exams, interpretation of lab values, and review of radiologic imaging for efficient consult completion with detailed, autonomous diagnosis and treatment plans.
- Confident use of telemedicine modality for collaboration with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team.
- Instructed medical students and residents in the role of palliative care in acute hospital and long-term care settings.
Education
Master of Science - Physician Assistant
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA05.2019
Bachelor of Science - Physician Assistant
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA05.2019
Skills
- Solid critical thinking and decision making
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Communication
- Leadership
Certifications and Memberships
- Medical PA-C license, expires 12/2024
- Osteopathic PA-C license, expires 10/2024
- DEA license, expires 02/2027
- BLS certified, expires 05/2025
- NCCPA PANCE certification, 05/2019
- NCCPA, expires 12/2025
- UPMC Altoona Ethics Committee, 07/2019-07/2021
- Pallitalk UPMC Communications Course, 01/2021
- UPMC Altoona COVID-19 Limited Resources Committee, 2020
Teaching Experience
- Simulation instructor, 04/2021 for UPMC Altoona Family Physicians Palliative Communications Course for physician assistant students at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania
Timeline
Physician Assistant Certified
Alliance Medical Services
11.2023 - Current
Physician Assistant Certified
Independence Health System
08.2022 - 09.2023
Physician Assistant Certified
Medical Associates Of Boswell
11.2021 - 02.2022
Physician Assistant Certified
UPMC Altoona Family Physicians
07.2019 - 07.2021
Master of Science - Physician Assistant
Seton Hill University
Bachelor of Science - Physician Assistant
Seton Hill University
Similar Profiles
Tracey SarverTracey Sarver
Receptionist at Alliance Medical ServicesReceptionist at Alliance Medical Services
Nancy L. ToyNancy L. Toy
Chief Executive Officer at Sierra Medical Services AllianceChief Executive Officer at Sierra Medical Services Alliance
Avery CookAvery Cook
Emergency Medical Technician at Emergency Medical Services Alliance, EMSAEmergency Medical Technician at Emergency Medical Services Alliance, EMSA
Melissa PerezMelissa Perez
Physician Assistant Certified at Frontier Direct CarePhysician Assistant Certified at Frontier Direct Care
Jordan VieiraJordan Vieira
Physician Assistant Certified at Kaiser Permanente Orthopedic DepartmentPhysician Assistant Certified at Kaiser Permanente Orthopedic Department