JANET TATE PA-C

• Total of 21+ years in healthcare (of which, 19 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs);
• Delivered comprehensive orthopedic patient care transitioning between inpatient rounds and outpatient clinic settings;
• Exercised independent clinical judgement to evaluate new patients, ordered/interpreted advanced imaging, and formulated evidence-based treatment plans;
• Competent in independently performing comprehensive orthopedic physical exams, ordering/interpreting diagnostic imaging and/or labs, and executing minor procedures such as joint injections.
• Counseled patients on orthopedic diagnoses, contrasting conservative management with surgical interventions to facilitate informed decision-making;
• Conducted comprehensive pre-operative history and physical examinations to identify disqualifying surgical conditions.
• Coordinated discharge planning for inpatient surgical and non-surgical patients to ensure safe transition of care;
• Partnered with multidisciplinary allied health teams to ensure seamless continuity of care from initial orthopedic evaluation through final rehabilitation;
• Executed timely and comprehensive clinic charting within EMR system;

Communication and Customer Service:

• Liaised between veterans, veteran’s family, VA stakeholders to streamline orthopedic care delivery;
• Delivered compassionate, patient-centered orthopedic care to veterans, addressing complex clinical concerns with empathy and professionalism.
• Skilled at translating complex musculoskeletal diagnoses into easily understood layman’s terms which not only enhanced patient education but also improved treatment plan adherence;

Software and Technology:

• Proficient in using CPRS, Vista, Vista Imaging, and PACS/I-site;
• Proficient in MS Office;

Organizational Skills and Time Management:

• Developed injection clinic resulting in reduced new-patient access.
• Established orthopedic pre-op H&P clinic in CBOC for proposed surgeries at central VA Medical Center to minimize patient travel times and emotional stress.
• Proven ability to manage full patient caseload independently at CBOC while seamlessly collaborating with allied health colleagues creating continuity of care demonstrated autonomous and collaborative skill set;
• Contributed to continuous improvement efforts by participating in quality assurance initiatives related to orthopedic care delivery processes.
• Collaborated with physicians to implement comprehensive orthopedic care strategies.
• Assisted in patient evaluations and assessments to determine treatment plans.

• Evaluated emerging technologies in the field of occupational health and safety; implemented cost-effective solutions that enhanced overall HSE performance.
• Collaborated with Occupational Health Department to track and analyze trends in worker health data for proactive intervention strategies leading to improved workforce wellbeing.
• Developed policies and procedures related to occupational health and safety, fostering a safer work environment for employees at all levels.
• Kept up-to-date with industry best practices regarding occupational health techniques, sharing knowledge with colleagues to improve overall team effectiveness.
• Collaborated with management to develop strategies for addressing emerging occupational health concerns.
• Maintained up-to-date knowledge on emerging trends in occupational health and safety practices, sharing insights with colleagues for continuous improvement efforts.

• Performed hospital admissions, complete H&P for all ages, dictation of intraoperative note, conducted daily hospital rounds on in-patients, documented progress notes/post-operative notes/discharge orders, and discharge summaries;
• Medical management of acute and chronic orthopedic conditions achieved by obtaining thorough physical examination, ordering/interpreting diagnostic studies, and coordination of allied services to include but not limited to:
• Structured Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Home Exercise Program
• Prosthetic devices if appropriate
• Ambulatory Aids if appropriate
• Pharmacology as appropriate
• Surgical Intervention if recommended;
• Provided extensive patient education regarding diagnosis, diagnostic imaging results, and treatment plan recommendations enabling patient to make informed decision(s) as to which treatment options they want to implement;
• Proficiency skills utilized: surgical first-assist, splint/casting placement, intraarticular joint injections and aspirations, tendon sheath injections, bursal injections, suture/staple removal, K-wire removal, post-operatively and post-operative incision care.
• Diagnostic skills utilized: ECG interpretation, radiological interpretation (x-ray, MRI of knees, shoulder and spine, bone scans), and laboratory interpretation.