Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant

JOB SUMMARY At the direction of the Director of Clinical Services and Medical Director, the Nurse Provider works collaboratively with High Desert PACE Physicians and the IDT, providing assessments, planning and primary care, and continuing medical education to High Desert PACE participants RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs initial assessment, including comprehensive history and physical of assigned participants at intake and at least quarterly in cooperation with family member and/or caregiver and interdisciplinary team members.
• Develops and implements a therapeutic plan of care quarterly and when a participants conditions changes.
• Monitors plan of care on an ongoing basis and presents and coordinates the plan of care with the interdisciplinary team.
• Helps ensure that participants experience a smooth transition into High Desert PACE by coordinating with providers.
• Provides evaluations, treatment and ongoing monitoring of episodic illness.
• Oversees management of the primary care clinic.
• Refers participants to medical specialist as indicated with interdisciplinary team input.
• Provides oversight of hospitalized participants (in collaboration with a hospitalist as appropriate) including: providing primary care responsibilities for management; providing updates to the team on a regular basis judiciously utilizing medical specialty consultants; and coordinating discharge planning with the interdisciplinary team.
• Provides primary care to participants in a manner consistent with professional standards and regulation including: providing regular visits; performing telephone contacts with nursing home staff as required; and admitting to hospital as necessary.
• Participates as an active member of the interdisciplinary team and attending weekly intake and assessment meetings; participating in daily morning meetings, family meetings and clinical case conferences as needed.
• Consults with nurses and other staff as medical care issues arise.
• Administers or orders diagnose/tic tests and interprets test results for deviations from normal.
• Performs therapeutic procedures such as injections, immunizations, EKGs and manages infections and aspirations.
• Prescribes drugs according to licensed prescriptive authority, dispenses supplies and works with the interdisciplinary team to recommend other treatments to aid in the management of acute and chronic health problems.
• Instructs and counsels participants regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens.
• Establishes a collaborative relationship with other medical providers and specialists to determine need for consultation and assists in medical care treatment that is provided at the direction of other specialist.
• Documents and maintains participant records of service provided according to High Desert PACE standards.
• Participates actively in High Desert PACE assessment and performance improvement activities.
• Works closely with High Desert PACE nurses to provide clinical care.
• Participates in primary care program development and implementation as determined by High Desert PACE needs.
• Complies with safety policies and procedures, including identifying and immediately reporting unsafe acts or conditions to the Medical Director. Takes necessary measures to ensure a safe environment for oneself, co-workers, contractors, participants, visitors and others.
• Consistently meets or exceeds High Desert PACE targets for productivity.
• Make home visits as needed in coordination with High Desert PACE nurse and home care coordinator.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program.
• RN and NP currently licensed by the California Board of Registering Nursing.
• DEA required within six (6) months of hire.
• Five (5) years nursing experience with at least one (1) year of experience with frail or elderly population.
• Supervisory experience preferred. Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary team preferred.
• Meets standards of Board of Registered Nursing and the appropriate Business and Professional Code, State of California.
• Competition of CPR (BLS) and first aid training.