Advanced Practice Provider - NP, PA

Responsibilities

• Provides palliative care consulting (providing palliative expertise directly to patients and their families) and palliative clinician education (helping RN’s, APP’s, physicians, and others develop primary palliative care skills).
• These tasks will blend synergistically and evolve as the palliative care program grows.
• Participates in and/or leads goals of care conversations with patients in various stages of serious illness, using advanced clinical communication and a “whole person” approach.
• Provides care in line with the disease trajectory that evolves with disease progression; implements palliative care plans when appropriate.
• Creates informative and clear documentation, particularly for patients with high complexity in need of contingency planning.
• Partners and collaborates with colleagues across multiple disciplines and settings (inpatient, skilled nursing, hospice, home health, specialty, etc.) to create integrative, robust care plans.
• Facilitates referrals to such organizations as appropriate.
• Works closely with provider colleagues to ensure that palliative care case management is coordinated, particularly when patients are dealing with multiple comorbidities, complex and/or serious illnesses, particularly towards the end of life.
• Conducts visits with patients and families telephonically, at in-home visits, in nursing facilities, in assisted and independent living facilities, and other locations as appropriate.
• Travels to patient locations.
• Grows provider and staff competency in advanced communication skills, serious illness management, and palliative care approach and philosophy of care, acts as a palliative resource for teams.
• Provide informal and formal education for providers and staff around serious illness management, end-of-life care, clinical communication, effective goals of care conversations, interdisciplinary collaboration, and other related topics.
• Attends and participates in palliative care and related meetings, team huddles, IDT meetings, and community meetings as appropriate.
• Engages in ongoing professional development and learning, particularly as it pertains to serious illness management and palliative care through informal and formal educational opportunities.
• Follows written and oral instructions and completes routine tasks independently.
• Completes annual compliance training on HIPAA/Privacy/Confidentiality/Non-Discrimination/Harassment/Integrity Statement and signs Agreements.
• Ensures confidentiality of patient information following HIPAA guidelines
• Attends training to meet the requirements of the job position.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• (Minimum qualifications will be considered required unless specifically stated otherwise)
• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing or an accredited Physician Associate program
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare providers (AHA) or CPR/AED for the professional Rescuer (American Red Cross)
• Experience with complex patients and interdisciplinary teams
• Knowledge of palliative care best practices
• Knowledge of medical terminology and disease states
• Knowledgeable about community resources appropriate to the needs of patients/families.
• Knowledge of culture and values in the patient population and local community
• Ability to identify and creatively solve challenges encountered in care.
• Advanced communication skills:
• Able to establish rapport with patients, families, and colleagues of diverse backgrounds, and able to work with representatives from local organizations and agencies.
• Skilled in building relationships and influencing organizational culture.
• Solid organizational skills to set priorities and ability to work with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail while responding to tight deadlines and multiple priorities and demands.
• Works at the top of their scope within their discipline, able to integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge when appropriate.
• Able to productively practice palliative care in complex systems.
• Demonstrates initiative, collaboration, energy, and effectiveness in a fast-paced environment both with a team and independently.
• Able and willing to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to individuals and families of varied ethnic, cultural backgrounds, ages, and economic circumstances.

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in nursing or a physician associate program

License/Certification Required

• Massachusetts License – Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician Associate
• Certification as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Associate

Experience/Skills

1. Experience working in an interdisciplinary team is highly desired. 2. Excellent organizational and time management skills. 3. Ability to relate professionally with a range of individuals and situations. 4. Knowledge and understanding of palliative and hospice philosophy and approach to care.

Key Program Accountabilities

• 1.
• Offers advice and information to staff and referring physicians on medical interventions consistent with a palliative plan of care.
• 2.
• Consults with attending physicians and referral sources as requested so that pain and symptom management for patients is effectively and expeditiously accomplished.
• 3.
• Provides palliative care consultations to non-hospice patients as assigned.
• 4.
• Participates in the review and development of practice protocols, proposing interventions that are consistent with palliative care literature and research.
• 5.
• Makes contact with the assigned patient and/or the family within twenty-four hours to arrange a meeting to provide information to the prospective patient/family and/or the referring professionals.
• 6.
• Informs primary physician and referral source of the outcome of nurse practitioner consultations and evaluations.
• 7.
• Completes all required documentation of patient care as per agency policies and procedures.
• 8.
• Presents education and information to members of the interdisciplinary team and/or medical community as needed.
• 9.
• Participates in the resolution of interpersonal conflict and issues of clinical and ethical concern.
• 10.
• Participates in research activities or special projects as requested.
• 11.
• Other activities as assigned.

Key Administrative Expectations

• 1.
• Maintains records and documentation of activities as directed, and inputs data as needed.
• 2.
• Attends agency meetings and required in-services (regular meetings with supervisor, staff meetings, etc.) 3.
• Meets individual and program expectations and goals as identified through performance appraisals, the annual plan, and the supervisor.
• 4.
• Demonstrates safe and efficient management of agency resources and funds.

Essential Job Functions

1. Communicate effectively in writing, on the telephone, and in person. 2. Sit or stand continuously for up to two hours. 3. Lift and/or carry items weighing up to 20lbs. 4. Complete written reports and forms 5. Drive vehicle to work appointments. 6. Operate office equipment (fax, copier, word processor, pager, etc.)

• Working Conditions
• Uniform / Dress Requirements (Beyond those requirements outlined within Policy No. C:3-015.1):None

Work Environment

• Working
• Conditions: May be exposed to extremes of heat and cold in all weather conditions. Must drive in various weather conditions on roads in varying repair.
• May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases. Contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances. May be exposed to/occasionally exposed to patient elements. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations. Handles emergency or crisis situations. Travel required.
• OSHA exposure category:
• OSHA exposure category: Category I
• Category I ― Position includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues.
• Category II ―Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues, but employment may require unplanned Category I tasks.
• Category III ― Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues; would not be required to perform Category I tasks.