Katherine Diggins, PA-C, RCIS
Aurora,CO
Summary
Highly skilled vascular surgery physician assistant with two decades of expertise in endovascular procedures. Specializes in complex aortic repair and peripheral revascularization. Seeking a position with a well-established surgical medical device company that aligns with my extensive endovascular background.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
Denver Health
01.2023 - Current
- Perform first assist duties in endovascular and open vascular procedures
- Assist with planning and coordinating complex endovascular aortic procedures
- Perform duties associated with daily inpatient rounding, including placing orders, progress notes, discharge summaries, and consultations
- Assist with teaching fellows and residents endovascular procedural techniques
- Attend post-operative outpatient vascular clinic
- Take call as needed for nursing/staff calls and emergent procedures.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction through effective communication and empathetic bedside manner.
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist - Per Diem
Boulder Community Health
03.2020 - Current
- Enhanced team efficiency by assisting physicians during complex invasive cardiac and peripheral procedures, ensuring optimal patient care, as a per diem employee
- Take call as assigned for emergent cases.
Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
Colorado Kidney Care & Vascular
07.2023 - 09.2023
- Inpatient rounding duties: daily patient rounds, consults, admissions, discharges
- Assisted in open and endovascular surgical procedures, ensuring proper preparation of operating room equipment and patient positioning for optimal outcomes.
- Evaluation, and ordering, of inpatient lab and imaging results
- Medication management
- Improved patient outcomes by providing thorough evaluations and developing personalized treatment plans in the outpatient setting.
Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist- Intermittent Traveler
Denver Health
08.2022 - 01.2023
- Performed first-assist duties during emergent and preventative endovascular cardiac and peripheral procedures, as a per diem employee, while looking for a permanent position as a physician assistant
- Take call as assigned for emergent cases.
Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
HCA Healthcare: Rose Medical Center
09.2021 - 07.2022
- First assist in the operating room for vascular procedures, both open and endovascular
- Evaluate inpatient vascular consults
- Develop comprehensive care plans
- Daily rounding responsibilities
- Established and ran outpatient vascular peripheral arterial disease clinic
- Interpretation of arterial duplex studies, CTA studies
- Educated nursing staff on vascular surgery cases and post-operative care management
- Take call as needed for patient and medical staff questions/concerns, or emergent procedures.
Vascular Medicine/Endovascular Physician Assistant- Front office lead
Modern Vascular
01.2021 - 08.2021
- Evaluate vascular consults and follow-ups in busy clinic, recommending procedures as needed
- Develop comprehensive care plans
- Streamlined clinic workflow by collaborating closely with physicians, nurses, and support staff.
- Ensured accurate diagnoses by ordering appropriate diagnostic tests and interpreting results efficiently.
- Support clinic nursing needs
- Provide vascular education to staff
- Take call for after hours for patient or medical staff questions/concerns.
Invasive Cardiology Physician Assistant - Per diem
Denver Health
11.2020 - 07.2021
- Inpatient management of invasive cardiac, peripheral and electrophysiology patients
- Perform minor cardiac procedures as directed by attending proceduralist, such as right heart catheterizations
- Serve as 'point-person' for the invasive cardiac procedurals and fellows as a liaison between various departments
- Assist with teaching new fellows procedural techniques, including arterial and venous access, left and right heart catheterizations, and arterial closure
- First assist in cardiac catheterization laboratory as assigned by attending.
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist - Traveler for Fusion Medical
Denver Health
08.2020 - 10.2020
- Performed first-assist duties during emergent and preventative cardiac and peripheral procedures, as a traveler, while looking for a permanent position as a physician assistant
- Take call as assigned for emergent cases.
Lead Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
Providence Portland Medical Center
02.2017 - 03.2020
- First assist in endovascular and open-vascular cases
- Provided ongoing education for floor, pre-op, OR and clinic nursing staff relating to vascular surgery procedures and the related peri-operative & post-operative care
- Worked in conjunction with vascular surgery chief in standardization of care/orders across the vascular service-line
- Coordinated and officiated monthly vascular PA/MD meetings to discuss and review morbidity & mortality cases, interesting cases, education topics, and group forum.
- Facilitated timely referrals to specialists when necessary, coordinating appointments and sharing pertinent medical information for seamless continuity of care.
- Assisted in research initiatives through data collection and analysis, contributing to evidence-based practice improvements within the clinic setting.
- Ordered and executed various tests, analyses, and diagnostic images to provide information on patient condition.
- Educated patients on variety of infectious disease issues, nutrition, obesity, and smoking cessation to improve overall health and wellness.
- Implemented therapeutic regimens involving medications and other interventions to mitigate symptoms and prevent reoccurrence.
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist- Temporary Employee
Boulder Community Health
04.2016 - 01.2017
- Performed first-assist duties during emergent and preventative cardiac and peripheral procedures, as a temporary employee, while looking for a permanent position as a physician assistant.
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist
Swedish Medical Center Issaquah
06.2015 - 09.2015
- Perform first-assist duties during scheduled and emergent cardiac and interventional radiology procedures
- Take call as assigned.
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist- Clinical Lead
Boulder Community Hospital
09.2004 - 01.2014
- Performed first-assist duties during emergent and preventative cardiac and peripheral procedures, as well as limited electrophysiology procedures
- Managed departmental logistics, including personnel management and coordinating care with different departments
- Moderated cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery Morbidity and Mortality/case review sessions
- Served on the Architecture and Design Committee for construction of a new hospital campus, including the design and outfitting of new invasive cardiovascular center.
Education
General Medical Studies, Pre-Requisites -
Front Range Community College
Westminster, COBachelor of Sciences in Clinical Health Sciences -
University of Washington
Seattle, WA08.2016
Physician Assistant - General Medicine
University of Washington- MEDEX
Seattle, WA08.2016
Skills
- Manipulation of fluoroscopic equipment: Siemens, Phillips and GE
- Surgical first assist
- Pre an post procedural care
- Inpatient management of post- operative patients, critical and non-critical
- Run an efficient outpatient surgical/procedural practice
- Proficient in percutaneous closure devices: Angioseal and Perclose (regular and large bore access)
- Assessing Pathophysiology
- Treatment Planning
- Interpreting Radiology Results
- EMR / EHR
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Staff Education and Training
Certification
- ACLS
- BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Oregon PA license
- NCCPA board certified
- DEA
- Colorado PA license
Timeline
Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
Colorado Kidney Care & Vascular
07.2023 - 09.2023
Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
Denver Health
01.2023 - Current
Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist- Intermittent Traveler
Denver Health
08.2022 - 01.2023
Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
HCA Healthcare: Rose Medical Center
09.2021 - 07.2022
Vascular Medicine/Endovascular Physician Assistant- Front office lead
Modern Vascular
01.2021 - 08.2021
Invasive Cardiology Physician Assistant - Per diem
Denver Health
11.2020 - 07.2021
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist - Traveler for Fusion Medical
Denver Health
08.2020 - 10.2020
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist - Per Diem
Boulder Community Health
03.2020 - Current
Lead Vascular Surgery Physician Assistant
Providence Portland Medical Center
02.2017 - 03.2020
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist- Temporary Employee
Boulder Community Health
04.2016 - 01.2017
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist
Swedish Medical Center Issaquah
06.2015 - 09.2015
Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist- Clinical Lead
Boulder Community Hospital
09.2004 - 01.2014
General Medical Studies, Pre-Requisites -
Front Range Community College
Bachelor of Sciences in Clinical Health Sciences -
University of Washington
Physician Assistant - General Medicine
University of Washington- MEDEX
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