Advanced Practice Professional- Infectious Disease

POSITION SUMMARY: The Advance Practice Professional (APP) is an individual with clinical skills and medical skills, with an expertise in the care of infectious disease patients. The APP completes comprehensive patient health evaluations (including biological, social and psychological assessments), taking into account their co-morbid conditions and overall disposition; in collaboration with the appropriate clinical/faculty team. The APP assesses, and coordinates the educational and psychosocial needs of the patient and caretakers. The APP develops and reviews the plan of care with the other members of the clinical team, participates in directing that care, and coordinates discharge planning/and or follow-up (as applicable). The APP participates in the education of residents and medical/nursing students and performs diagnostic procedures and therapeutic procedures.

Provide healthcare services consistent with state law and the requirements of the professional licensing or certification authority and/or hospital privileges, where applicable. Such service may include, but are not limited to.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR NURSE PRACTITIONER :

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Graduate of a CCNE accredited nursing program with Master’s Degree in Nursing.

2. National Certification by one of the recognized APRN Certification Centers.

3. Licensure, or eligibility for licensure, as a professional Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia.

4. BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.

EXPERIENCE:

1. Acute care, internal medicine or infectious disease experience preferred. 

2. Eligible new graduates will be considered.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT :

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Bachelor’s Degree as Physician Assistant, or Master’s degree as Physician Assistant required.

2. Graduate of an ARC-PA approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program required.

3. Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants required.

4. Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine.

5. BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department. 

EXPERIENCE:

1. Acute care, internal medicine or infectious disease experience preferred. 

2. Eligible new graduates will be considered.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Master’s level degree as Physician Assistant preferred.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Manages comprehensive and individualized care for patients and their families in the inpatient phase of hospitalization and immediate post discharge in the ambulatory setting.

2. Completes daily rounds; consults and/or pre-procedure/evaluations.

3. Completes integrated assessments.

4. With the collaboration of infectious disease faculty or by following established clinical Guidelines and Protocols, orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate.

5. Performs and communicates results of diagnostic tests following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.

6. Consults and communicates with clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in the evaluations of patients.

7. Performs succinct comprehensive clinical evaluations and documents findings in medical record.

8. Facilitates patient discharge and/or follow-up by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to discharge necessary for outpatient follow-up appointments in the clinic (as applicable). 

9. Performs necessary procedures following established clinical guidelines and Protocols and scope of practice (SOP).

10. Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care for infectious disease patients, which includes teaching, discharge planning and necessary referral to other members of the health care team as necessary.

11. Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients across the age continuum of their educational experience and certification.

12. Participate in physician rounds, as applicable.

13. Identifies unstable or complex infectious disease patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention in the clinic and/or hospital setting.

14. Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.

15. Evaluates infectious disease patients and serves as a coordinator for follow up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting (as applicable).

16. Assists in the collection of outcome measures (as applicable).

17. Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision making by the identification, evaluation and management of the individual needs of patients/families.

18. Demonstrates the ability to utilize equipment in a safe manner.

19. Bases decisions made/actions taken on the relevant scientific principles, established standards of care and/or research findings.

20. Utilizes teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies in the provision of education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families and the community.

21. Promotes an environment that facilitates learning by responding to appropriate patient/family preferences, priorities and readiness to learn.

22. Evaluates the effectiveness of patient/family teaching and collaborates with the nursing and clinical staff in the completion of education plan. 

23. Updates own knowledge base throughout the year.

24. Completes all identified clinical competencies.

25. Serves as a resource person for staff caring for the infectious disease patient.

26. Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise.

27. Mentors nursing personnel in all levels of clinical practice. 

28. Participates in community programs, distribution of literature, as appropriate in area of expertise.

29. Communicates effectively with patients/families, physician and ancillary services at all levels to assure coordinated efficient patient care. 

30. Documents the plan of care, interventions and evaluations in a clear and concise manner for every patient visit in the patient’s medical record following approved hospital/UHA policies and compliance standards for documentation. 

31. Documents all interventions in the patient’s medical record following approved hospital/UHA policies and compliance standards for documentation. 

32. Collaborates with other leaders and staff to effectively achieve patient outcome based improvements in care.

33. Provides leadership in the development and implantation of changes in the infectious disease practice that positively impact patient outcomes. 

34. Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem solving and provide professional support.

35. Participates and initiates inter-disciplinary approaches to patient care, program development and education. Serves as a professional role model.

36. Promotes and practices innovation of the expanded role in the delivery of care to infectious disease patients and families throughout the inpatient hospitalization, and the ambulatory setting.

37. Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces.

38. Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate. 

39. Participates in the WVUH/UHA Performance Improvement Plan. 

40. Applies information from Performance Improvement activities, changing practice as necessary, to improve care provided to patients. 

41. Reviews and interprets infectious disease data from sources such as patient registries, clinical and financial reports, length of stay, access to care, and cost per case reports and recommends/implements changes as necessary.

42. Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator.

43. Assists Faculty, Administrators and Directors in the collection of outcome measures.

44. Adheres to the established Performance Expectations for UHA Employees in the areas of People, Service, Performance Improvement, and Shared Values & Culture.

45. Other duties/projects as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Heavy/Hard Work: Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, and carrying of patients, materials and equipment weighting 40+ pounds.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Working closely with others.

2. Protracted or irregular hours.

3. Working around biohazards.

4. Working around infectious diseases.

5. Working with or near the deceased.

6. Working with hands in water.

7. Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Proficiency with computers.

2. Strong communication skills.

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