Nurse Practitioner - Palliative - Full-Time at Frederick Health

Job Summary

The Nurse Practitioner functions in the role of clinician, consultant, educator, researcher, and serves as a resource to the physicians. Coordinates clinical services to provide consistent quality of care for patients in the healthcare setting and is responsible for providing evaluation and management of behavioral health services. Conducts physical examinations, provides treatment, and counsels patients and families.

Supports, and is responsible for incorporating into job performance, the Frederick Health mission, vision, core values and customer service philosophy and adheres to the Frederick Health Compliance Program, including following all regulatory requirements and the Frederick Health Standards of Behavior.

Example of Essential Functions:

• Provider Competencies:
• Participates in Process Improvements by engaging and actively participating in new QI workflow and processes.
• Positive customer focus.
• Completes Peer Audits in a timely manner.
• Accepts ownership of own behavior and actions.
• Completes assigned duties within specified timeframes.
• Recognizes an opportunity and acts to solve the problem.
• Does not waste time and resources.
• Maintains safe and clean work environment.
• Works cooperatively as a team to service patients.
• Shares ideas and concerns constructively.
• Fosters good inter- and intra-departmental relations.
• Demonstrates respect and dignity in all interactions with patients, families, and staff across all dimensions of difference to include at least ethnic, cultural, spiritual, and lifestyle differences.
• Shows courtesy and consideration for others.
• Truthful in all interactions.
• Meets responsibilities tied to the FH Corporate Compliance Program Standards.
• Quality
• Responsibility  
• Stewardship
• Teamwork
• Respect and Dignity
• Integrity
• Operational:
• Attends Provider meetings and in-services on a regular basis.
• Is responsible to patients and staff by maintaining their anticipated schedule on a consistent basis.
• Maintains a professional demeanor at all times.
• Is ready to begin work session at scheduled time.
• Maintains an adequate patient flow to minimize delays.
• Understands the role of his/her nursing assistant in providing patient care to improve waiting times.
• Documentation:
• Uses EMR for documentation as per Frederick Health Hospice standards. Employs new changes necessary to meet the ongoing requirements for PCMH and other agency/payer entities.
• Documents in a timely manner. Accurately documents to maintain an adequate clinical record. All the necessary elements required for a particular visit per standard medical guidelines are documented.
• Complies with pharmaceutical agent dispensing regulations when administrating medications in the office or giving medication samples. Proper documentation is included in the medical chart.
• The level of coding corresponds to the medical care given and to the detail of the documentation done.
• Patient Care:
• Performs appropriate history, physical examination, assigns a diagnosis, and develops a treatment plan that is consistent to standard medical guidelines for patients/families. Care given stems from evidence-based medicine.
• Orders/arranges for appropriate labs, radiology tests, and consults taking into account evidence-based medicine and costs.
• As indicated by his/her training, skill set, and experience, performs various therapeutic procedures when clinically relevant.
• Care Coordination: Proactively addresses needs of patients/families by collaborating with Care Team regarding new findings, status changes.
• Coordinate care which may include: obtaining test results and referral letters, communicating with specialists, health plans, and other facilities.
• Addresses needs of patients/families based on principles of Population Management by managing the health needs of specific patient populations (eg. Diabetes, Hypertension, Smokers)
• Proactively participates in the Care Team using evidence-based approaches to self management (patient coaching, motivational interviewing).
• Effectively communicates to all patients and families, particularly the vulnerable populations.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must have knowledge of computer skills. Experience with prior electronic medical records (EMR) is preferred.
• Maintains the necessary CME credits to maintain licensure.
• Must demonstrate ability to stay organized; is able to multi-task effectively.
• Must demonstrate time management, conflict resolution, and trouble shooting skills.
• Complex problem solving skills.
• Critical thinking with judgement and decision-making skills as well as excellent collaborative skills with physicians, ancillary medical staff, and others in the clinical setting.
• Excellent written, verbal, and computer skills as well as organization and time management skills.
• Must demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills.

Minimum Education, Training, and Experience Required:

• Nurse Practitioner: Certification of completion from an approved program for Family, Adult, or Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners.
• Licensure as a Nurse Practitioner by the Maryland State Board of Nursing (or eligibility for licensure).
• Sufficient medical training to qualify legally and professionally to perform all demands placed upon them
• At least 1 year of relevant working experience in Hospice, Palliative Care or Oncology preferred.
• Current DEA license.
• Current Maryland Controlled Substance license.
• Current BLS Certification through American Heart Association or an approved training center.
• License to practice in any state that has never been suspended or revoked.
• Has not been excluded from participation from any Payers.

Patient Contact

Must demonstrate and maintain current knowledge and skills in providing appropriate care/contact for patients in the following age groups:

•             _X_      Neonate (0 thru 30 days)
•             _X_      Infant (31 thru 12 months)
•             _X_      Child (13 months thru 12 years)
•             _X_      Adolescent (13 years thru 17 years)
•             _X_      Adult (18 years thru 65 years)
•             _X_      Geriatric (66+ years)

Physical Demands:

Light Work - Lifting up to 20 pounds on an infrequent basis (less than one lift every three minutes and/or carrying up to 10 pounds, or requiring walking or standing to a significant degree (about six [6] hours a day).

Ergonomic Risk Factors:

Repetition:  Repeating the same motion over and over again places stress on the muscles and tendons.  The severity of risk depends on how often the action is repeated, the speed of the movement, the required force and muscles involved.

Working Conditions:

Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Risk: Category A – WILL have exposure to blood or body fluids.

Reporting Relationship:

Reports to Medical Director