Physician Assistant — GI Telehealth Screening Colonoscopy Program
Part-Time | Remote | After-Hours and Saturday Availability Required
Location
Remote position supporting a gastroenterology practice based in Bakersfield, California
Position Summary
We are seeking a licensed Physician Assistant (PA-C) to join our gastroenterology practice in a part-time, remote telehealth role supporting our screening colonoscopy program.
The Physician Assistant will conduct telehealth visits for patients referred or scheduled for screening colonoscopy, review medical history, assess appropriateness for screening colonoscopy, identify clinical risk factors or contraindications, provide patient education, review bowel preparation instructions, and coordinate care with the gastroenterology team.
This position is ideal for a clinically strong PA with experience in gastroenterology, primary care, internal medicine, urgent care, or pre-procedure screening who is comfortable working independently in a structured telehealth environment.
This is an after-hours role and will include evening and Saturday hours to improve patient access and reduce delays in completing colonoscopy screening requirements.
About the Practice
Our gastroenterology practice serves patients in Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County region. We provide diagnostic and preventive GI care, including colonoscopy services for colorectal cancer screening, surveillance, and evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms.
The goal of this role is to improve access, reduce scheduling barriers, and ensure patients are clinically prepared and appropriately screened before colonoscopy.
Key Responsibilities
Telehealth Screening Visits
The Physician Assistant will conduct remote telehealth visits with patients who are being evaluated for screening colonoscopy. Responsibilities include:
· Review the patient’s medical history, surgical history, family history, and medication list
· Assess colonoscopy screening eligibility and clinical appropriateness
· Review prior colonoscopy history, pathology history, and recommended surveillance intervals when available
· Identify patients who may require additional provider review before proceeding
· Screen for red flags, active GI symptoms, or medical issues that may shift the patient from routine screening to diagnostic evaluation
· Document the visit accurately and completely in the electronic medical record
· Communicate findings and recommendations to the GI physician or clinical team as needed
Patient Population
The PA will primarily work with patients who need colorectal cancer screening or surveillance colonoscopy, including:
· Average-risk screening colonoscopy patients
· Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
· Patients with prior colon polyps who require surveillance
· Patients overdue for routine colonoscopy screening
· Patients referred by primary care providers for preventive GI screening
· Patients needing pre-procedure review before being cleared for colonoscopy scheduling
The PA must be able to recognize when a patient is no longer appropriate for a routine screening pathway and should instead be escalated for physician review or diagnostic GI consultation.
Clinical Screening Responsibilities
The Physician Assistant will assess for clinical factors that may affect colonoscopy planning, including:
· Anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication use
· Diabetes medications and peri-procedure medication considerations
· GLP-1 medication use
· History of cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, or neurologic disease
· History of anesthesia or sedation complications
· Obstructive sleep apnea or elevated sedation risk
· Prior poor bowel preparation
· Prior incomplete colonoscopy
· History of inflammatory bowel disease
· History of colon polyps or colorectal cancer
· Family history of colorectal cancer or hereditary GI syndromes
· Current symptoms such as rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, anemia, abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, or persistent diarrhea/constipation
Patients with concerning findings should be escalated according to practice protocols.
Patient Education Responsibilities
The PA will provide clear, patient-centered education regarding:
· Purpose of colonoscopy screening
· What to expect before, during, and after the procedure
· Bowel preparation instructions
· Diet modifications prior to colonoscopy
· Medication instructions based on practice protocol
· Transportation requirements after sedation
· Importance of completing the bowel prep correctly
· When to contact the office before the procedure
· Risks, benefits, and alternatives to colonoscopy, as directed by practice policy
The ideal candidate must be able to explain clinical information in a way that is accurate, calm, and easy for patients to understand.
Care Coordination
The Physician Assistant will collaborate with the GI physicians, scheduling team, medical assistants, and administrative staff to ensure patients move efficiently through the screening process.
Responsibilities include:
· Route patients appropriately based on clinical findings
· Communicate with physicians when additional review is needed
· Support timely completion of colonoscopy clearance requirements
· Document patient readiness for procedure scheduling
· Help reduce incomplete screenings, cancellations, and poor bowel prep outcomes
· Maintain consistent communication with the practice team
Documentation and Compliance
The PA is responsible for complete, accurate, and timely documentation, including:
· Medical history review
· Medication reconciliation
· Colonoscopy indication
· Risk factors and relevant clinical findings
· Patient education provided
· Bowel prep review
· Escalation or follow-up needs
· Physician communication when applicable
All documentation must comply with practice standards, payer requirements, HIPAA, telehealth requirements, and applicable California regulations.
Schedule
This is a part-time, remote position designed to support patient access outside traditional office hours.
Expected schedule may include:
· Weekday evening availability
· Saturday telehealth hours
· Flexible part-time schedule based on patient volume
· No in-office requirement unless otherwise agreed upon
· No procedure-room responsibilities
· No hospital rounding
Specific schedule will be determined based on practice needs and candidate availability.
Required Qualifications
· Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program
· Current PA-C certification through NCCPA
· Active California Physician Assistant license or eligibility to obtain California licensure
· BLS certification
· Prior clinical experience in gastroenterology, internal medicine, family medicine, urgent care, pre-operative screening, or procedural clearance
· Strong telehealth communication skills
· Ability to work independently and follow established clinical protocols
· Excellent documentation skills
· Comfortable reviewing medical histories, medications, and risk factors
· Ability to identify patients who require physician review before proceeding with colonoscopy
Preferred Qualifications
· Prior gastroenterology experience
· Experience with colonoscopy screening or pre-procedure clearance
· Experience working with open-access colonoscopy workflows
· Familiarity with bowel prep protocols and colonoscopy patient education
· Experience with telehealth platforms
· Experience with eClinicalWorks or similar electronic medical record system
· Experience serving diverse patient populations
· Bilingual English/Spanish preferred
Technology Requirements
Because this is a remote position, the PA must have access to a professional, private, HIPAA-compliant workspace and reliable technology, including:
· Secure internet connection
· Computer with camera and audio capability
· Ability to access the practice’s EMR and telehealth platform
· Ability to communicate securely with the clinical and scheduling teams
· Professional remote work environment free from interruptions during patient visits
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is clinically sharp, organized, reliable, and comfortable providing care remotely. This role requires someone who can follow protocols without being robotic, recognize when something does not belong in a routine screening pathway, and communicate clearly with patients who may be nervous, confused, or unfamiliar with colonoscopy preparation.
The strongest candidates will have:
· Strong clinical judgment
· GI or primary care experience
· Excellent patient education skills
· High attention to detail
· Reliable evening and Saturday availability
· Comfort with structured workflows
· Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate
· A patient-centered approach to preventive care
Compensation
Compensation will be competitive and based on experience, schedule commitment, and scope of responsibilities.
This position may be structured as hourly, per-session, or part-time employment depending on the final role design.
Why Join Our Team?
This is an opportunity to support an important preventive health service while working remotely with a respected gastroenterology practice. The Physician Assistant will play a key role in improving access to colorectal cancer screening, helping patients prepare successfully for colonoscopy, and supporting a more efficient, patient-centered GI care pathway.
We are looking for a dependable, clinically thoughtful PA who understands that good screening starts before the patient ever arrives for the procedure.
Pay: From $57.00 per hour
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bakersfield, CA 93309
