Houston Methodist Hospital is the flagship hospital within the Houston Methodist system. Ranked as one of the top 20 hospitals in the country and the No. 1 hospital in Texas by U.S. News & World Report, the hospital takes pride in providing patient-centered care for not only Texans but international patients as well. Houston Methodist Hospital has also been a national leader throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in research and offerings of innovative treatments.

• ED Volume: 51,000
• ED Beds: 67
  • 8 intake-dedicated beds
• Staffing Model:
  • 50 hours of physician coverage (M-F); 44 hours Sat/Sun
  • 38 hours of APP coverage (M-F); 18 hours Sat/Sun
  • 9- or 10-hour APP shifts
• Scribe coverage available
• Separate psych ED 
• Academic/General Medical and Surgical
• EMR: Epic

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The Lead APP s primary responsibility is to care for patients by building highly reliable, high performing APP clinicians as well as providing leadership for daily functioning, operations, administrative and clinical support to the APP s within select observation sites. Their scope of responsibility includes 1-2 sites. They collaborate with the Medical Directors, Hospital Leadership, Emergency Department Physicians, ED/Observation Nursing leadership team, and hospital medical staff; to ensure the care delivery model provides and achieves high quality care for the patients, the department, the hospital, and the community. As a leader, they are responsible for creating and developing a pipeline of talent for the organization in addition to maintaining an inclusive work environment, providing recognition, performance coaching and career guidance to the APP teams.

Clinical and Service Operations

• Assist with hiring of APPs to fulfill adequate staffing needs.
• Responsible for onboarding and orientation of all new hires and monitoring compliance with APP Academy.
• Under direction of Medical Director, may be responsible for investigating and responding to patient complaints or grievances related to patient care by APPs
• Responsible for generating, verifying and validating monthly unit metrics.
• Ensure APP providers are aware of and compliant with departmental, hospital and medical staff policies.
• Work to ensure that medical staff policies support the department and hospital vision for ED/Observation Medicine care.
• Address questions or concerns of the APPs or other members of the ED/Observation team related to the APPs
• Coordinate staffing and scheduling of APPs for sites within their scope of responsibility.
• Maintain peer review, Web QI and other quality programs in conjunction with Medical Director.
• Provide leadership for department and operational meetings in the absence of Medical Director.
• Attend all Observation department meetings, unit meetings run by nursing management, and quality department meetings if applicable.
• Conduct 30 and 90-day performance evaluations of APPs and aid Medical Director with annual performance appraisals.
• Responsible for coaching, refining and providing support to APPs with respect to performance and professional growth.
• Identify and participate in, and/or provide opportunities for ongoing, focused education courses for/by the APP staff, as appropriate to the staff, patient population and facility needs.
• Additional teaching or supervisory responsibilities may exist in teaching facilities.
• Monitor ED/Observation related regulatory issues and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance.
• Educate APPs and physicians on regulatory issues and requirements surrounding APP utilization and supervision within the department.
• Participate in risk management activities including communication with facility legal representative(s) concerning relevant departmental issues. Work with APP staff to identify and mitigate areas of risk.
• In conjunction with Medical Director and Case Management; maintain knowledge of CMS guidelines as it relates to Observation services.
• Interface with various hospital sub-specialties to provide necessary support and resolve conflicts.
• Participate in hospital/campus base committees and sub-committee for USACS.
• Attend ED departments meetings.
• Participate in monthly Obs Lead APP calls and no less than monthly Regional Lead- Obs 1:1 meeting.
• Attend Regional Biyearly Lead APP meeting.
• Be cognizant of financial consideration in management of Observation units.
• Assist with 90-day implementation of new Observation Units if applicable.

Required Education and Experience

• PA or NP Degree
• NCCPA or Nursing Board Certification
• State PA or NP License
• Federal DEA License and State CDS License

Preferred Experience

• Two (2) + years of clinical experience
• Leadership experience either with USACS or previously

Financial Benefits:

• Industry-leading 10% company funded 401(k)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision and Rx coverage
• Short- and long-term disability (own occupation)
• Annual CME/BEA (Business Expense Account)
• Medical Malpractice with tail and litigation support
• Pioneering Paid Military Leave
• Groundbreaking 100% Paid Parental Leave

Intangible Benefits:

• Location flexibility and career stability of a national group
• National Clinical Governance Board (NCGB) of internally elected clinicians
• Clinical Management Tools (CMTs)
• 24/7/365 live physician support
• USACS Orientation and Assemblies
• Professional Development Programs including:
  • Scholars (Leadership Training)
  • Efficiency Academy
  • Engagement & Experience Academy