PAs & NPs :: Why Join CEP America

CEP America recognizes that physician assistants and nurse practitioners (PA/NPs) significantly enhance the quality of care received at hospital emergency department and ambulatory care sites. PA/NPs have become an integral part of our practices.

CEP America’s PA/NP program has grown considerably in the past five years. In 2001 the PA/NP workforce represented about 1/5 of the CEP America provider hours, and by 2005 the PA/NP hours represented 1/3 of CEP America provider hours. We now employ over 400 PAs and NPs at over 60 contract sites in California, Georgia, Oregon and Arizona.

The Partnership has also greatly improved benefits and communication within the PA/NP program over the last few years. Some of our PA/NP career offerings include:

  • A collegial and rewarding work environment
  • Excellent compensation
  • Health insurance/life insurance
  • A 401(k) plan with employer match
  • Long term disability plan, paid time off and sick leave accrual
  • Paid malpractice insurance
  • Dependent care assistance plan/medical flexible spending account
  • Bonus/profit sharing distribution
  • 24/7 access to password-protected CEP America private site
  • Professional expense reimbursement allowance
  • Leadership opportunities

CEP AMERICA 101 FOR PAs & NPs

What are the advantages of working with a large medical group?

CEP America promotes long-term and satisfying work opportunities for its high quality PA/NPs. In fact, the very first PA hired by CEP America in 1985 is still working at a CEP America client site. PA/NPs enjoy the networking advantages and resources of a large, nationwide group while practicing at local sites that largely function autonomously. CEP America providers interact and share proven solutions with colleagues from similar practice situations and, at the same time, become integral parts of the local community and hospital team.

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How is the PA/NP program structured at CEP America?

The PA/NP program is structured as an employee model - PAs and NPs are employees of the Partnership. By law, only physicians can be Partners in CEP America.

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What role do PA/NPs play in CEP America's clinical practice?

CEP America utilizes PA/NPs in many different settings including the Main ED, Fast Track, Rapid Medical Evaluation© (RME) areas, and Ambulatory/Urgent Care settings. Our goal is to allow PA/NPs to function at an optimal level that ensures the best in patient care.

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What kind of benefits does CEP America offer PA/NPs?

PA/NPs at CEP America sites are eligible to participate in a generous benefits package and enjoy the collegial partnership of a medical group. Benefits include excellent compensation, health insurance, 401(k) with employer match, a paid time-off accrual system, a long-term disability plan, paid malpractice insurance, a dependent care plan, bonus/profit distribution, and leadership opportunities.

We recently expanded our medical insurance options by adding a high-deductible PPO, coupled with a healthcare savings account (HSA) partially funded by CEP America. We also enhanced our professional reimbursement policy to include hospital staffing privilege fees, as well as CME tuition and related costs.

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What are some of the ways PA/NPs are involved in the Partnership?

CEP America leadership is committed to the integration of PA/NPs. For instance, PAs and NPs are currently included in Partnership Wellness initiatives and, as part of a 2006 management initiative, Medical Directors are encouraged to involve PAs and NPs in monthly site staff meetings.

CEP America also invites PA/NPs to our annual Partnership Meeting and Regional Meetings. At these events, CEP America sponsors a special track for PAs and NPs providers, featuring guest speakers, workshops, and round table discussions. In addition, PA/NPs are included in physician group lectures to promote better understanding of the organization and are given the opportunity to complete CME courses. CEP America also uses the annual Partnership Meeting as a chance to formally recognize providers, announcing employee service awards and performance-based achievement awards alongside the physician and site awards.

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How are PA/NPs represented in the CEP America model and what leadership opportunities within the Partnership are available for PA/NPs?

CEP America has created PA/NP Lead, Regional Lead, and Liaison roles to ensure proper representation within the group.

Lead PA/NP:
CEP America hosts quarterly conference calls with the Lead from each site to exchange information. A small group of particularly active Leads meets periodically as a Lead Advisory Group to discuss further PA/NP program enhancements with the Vice President of Operations and MedAmerica staff. To build the PA/NP infrastructure and instill a sense of belonging to the organization, CEP America now hosts a Lead PA/NP Academy to teach leadership skills and a MD-PA/NP relationship program to promote ED teambuilding.

Regional Lead PA/NP:
The Regional Lead position was created in the fall of 2006. The Regional Leads are involved in the Lead Advisory Group, new site start-ups and regional initiatives.

PA/NP Liaison:
Cyndy Flores, PA-C, is our current PA/NP Liaison, a position she has held since 2000. She has been a practicing physician assistant since 1990 and has spent most of that time as a CEP America provider. The Liaison position was introduced as an advisory role to increase communication and recommend changes to enhance the PA/NP program, but the role has evolved along with the PA/NP program. The Liaison works with the PA/NPs, Medical Directors, Regional Directors, MedAmerica, and MedAmerica Mutual.

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What are the professional expense reimbursement benefits for a CEP America PA/NP?

CEP America offers reimbursement for CME courses to regular full-time employees with six months of service. The reimbursement maximum is $1,000 in the calendar year for tuition, meals, lodging, and travel expenses associated with CME courses. Professional reimbursement benefits also cover medical staff dues and ACLS/PALS certifications for sites that require these credentials.

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What are the communication forums available to PA/NPs?

The Gauzette, a quarterly newsletter, was created to help keep PA/NPs informed of policy updates, meeting summaries, site recognition, and provider recognition stories. In addition, PA/NPs have 24/7 access to a password-protected section of the CEP America website containing best practices, provider directories, scheduling, and other proprietary tools.

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What are PAs and NPs saying about CEP America?

"In 1984, CEP America was on the cutting edge of emergency medicine by hiring its first PA. Today, over 20 years later, the program has grown to include over 450 PA/NPs who provide service at over 60 practice locations. The PA/NPs are an integral and significant part of CEP America, and we recognize the tremendous service they provide. CEP America's goal is to make each PA/NP feel a part of the physician partnership as well as provide stable and challenging career opportunities at various practices throughout California."

-- Mark Spiro, MD, CEP Vice President of Operations

"I have worked with CEP America for seven years in a busy metropolitan ED. Since beginning my employment with CEP America, I have seen many positive enhancements that have made the PA program stronger and more attractive to prospective PA employees. The physicians I work with are the best. I feel like part of the team and I am treated as a professional and a colleague. My work is rewarding, and I look forward to each day in the ED. I have learned and grown as a PA during the time I've worked with CEP America, partly due to the commitment of the physicians I work with. They are dedicated to providing excellent patient care in the emergency department arena. CEP America is a well established organization that is devoted to maintaining and constantly improving the PA workforce. The compensation is competitive, the benefits superior to other local employers, and the support of the PAs within the practice is unbeatable. One of the main reasons I chose CEP America was because of its over 30 year history. They must be doing something right to have more than 900 physicians, 400 PAs and over 50 contracts in California. The security those numbers provide are very important to me."

--Cyndy Flores, Physician Assistant, Regional Medical Center San Jose

"CEP America was ahead of its time in 1985 when they hired me as the group's first Physician Assistant at Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville, CA. Since then, there has been a tremendous expansion of PA opportunities in the group. CEP America's board certified and EM residency trained physicians are very supportive and value PAs contributions to the group. Personally, it has been a privilege working with and being part of a high quality and respected EM group where my skills are fully utilized."

--Tom Chambers, Physician Assistant, Sutter Roseville Medical Center

"The PA team at Corona Regional Medical Center is a tight knit group and CEP America makes us feel like a part of their physician family. As the lead PA, I applaud the Medical Director, Michael Bear, MD, for recognizing the contributions of the PAs and serving as an advocate for our professional development within CEP America. Dr. Bear is always at the cutting edge of recognizing and utilizing the Physician Assistant to the fullest capacity. Dr. Bear encourages our attendance at CEP America's annual Partnership Meeting to participate in special sessions designed especially for us. In addition, Dr. Bear includes the PAs in all department meetings and has implemented recognition programs such as patient satisfaction incentives (for those that have the highest scores) as well as sponsoring team dinners. Lastly, CEP America has given me many opportunities to grow within my field by affording leadership opportunities and professional development while offering the most competitive compensation package in the country. I sincerely look forward to continuing and advancing my career with CEP America."

--Jon Brummond, Physician Assistant, Corona Regional Medical Center

"Having worked for CEP America since 1997, I have been able to realize many of the advantages and opportunities that CEP America offers to its Physician Assistants. Because CEP America has multiple Emergency Department contracts, CEP America offers the flexibility to work at several sites. This allows for more variety in patient populations with flexibility to work for different CEP America sites should you relocate. The benefit package is outstanding with CME reimbursement, health, vision and dental coverage, and paid time off/sick time accrual. After six months, CEP America also offers 401(K) pension plan contributions. CEP America has a better organizational structure than most Emergency Department groups. Control has been kept local for most decisions, yet each site has the ability to call on CEP America's vast resources for assistance if needed. The individual site generally handles Physician Assistant issues, such as scheduling and compensation. In addition, CEP America highly encourages and welcomes Physician Assistant involvement in the practice."

--Cama Garcia, Physician Assistant, San Mateo Medical Center

"CEP America provides a variety of desirable work environments which challenge and satisfy the expectations of new practitioners as well as experienced Physician Assistants. There is a growing and encouraged Physician Assistant presence within CEP America, and we are well represented to CEP America by our PA Liaison and our multiple Physician Assistant Leads at the various sites throughout California. Employees also enjoy the ability to work in many distinct areas within the system: Urgent Care, the main ED, County jails, Behavioral Health, Triage or a Fast Track area, just to name a few. The benefits are excellent and include Medical, CME reimbursement of $1000/year and an extraordinary 401(K) plan which includes a generous employer match. You have the opportunity to work in specialties and environments that enhance your knowledge and career satisfaction. CEP America is on the cutting edge of service, career opportunities and employee satisfaction and I encourage you to experience teamwork at its best."

--Anna Marie Lubatti, Physician Assistant, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

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