Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care Team - South Shore Health

Job Description Summary

The Palliative Care Physician's Assistant, in concert with a multi-disciplinary team, provides initial and ongoing clinical assessment for patients with advanced and/or progressive medical conditions who are referred for palliative care consultation. Consultations can take place in either the inpatient or outpatient settings. The nurse practitioner will modify the plan of care, as needed, in collaboration with the attending and/or consulting physicians. The main foci are: symptom management; assistance with decision-making and goals of care; collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to provide and facilitate emotional, spiritual, bereavement support, and coordination of care until death or discharge. The Physician's Assistant will also serve as a clinician educator and as an educational expert and will be expected to provide assistance with the multiple palliative care educational endeavors throughout the South Shore community. The service is expanding, and the Physican Assistant will need to be involved in both night telephone call and weekend coverage when this is developed. The Palliative Care Service is a new, growing and well-respected service that is looking for an experienced, competent, and compassionate Physician Assistant who will take an active part in the continued development of the service

Job Description

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Education - Preferred

Graduate of an accredited school of with a master's degree in medical science, or other Physician's Assistant related studies.

Minimum Work Experience

Prefer two (2) years' experience as a Physican Assistant in a palliative care of hospice.
Prefer hospital experience, particularly helpful to have oncology or intensive care experience.

Required Licenses / Registrations

PA-C

Required Classes/Skills -

ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Required additional Knowledge, and Abilities

Clear and direct verbal and written communication.
Demonstrated competency in providing comprehensive health care including evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.
Knowledge of accreditation standards and compliance requirements.
Knowledge of Billing and Coding standards.
In-depth knowledge of Hospice and Palliative Care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Essential functions are those tasks, duties and responsibilities that comprise the means of accomplishing the job's purpose and objectives.  Essential functions are critical or fundamental to the performance of the job.  They are the major functions that the person in the job is held accountable for.  Following are the essential functions of the job.

1 - Has appropriate knowledge of medical, and scientific principles, and appropriately applies those principles to practice for chronic, progressive or terminally ill patients.

2 - Provides independent direct advance care, performing physical examinations, ordering diagnostic studies, evaluates results and prescribes treatment as appropriate.  Follows patients appropriately within Advanced Practice Role as delineated within the State of Massachusetts and SSH policy.

3 - Identifies ethical issues in clinical practice and guides staff and other providers in application of ethical concepts to patient care issues.  Of particular importance is the patient's privacy and dignity during the provision of care.

4 - Designs a plan of care, in collaboration with the medical team, patients and families, that is based on a thorough assessment of physical, emotional, and social needs.  Initiates, facilitates, develops, and maintains collaborative relationships with peers, staff, administration, and interdisciplinary health team within the hospital and community to promote implementation and follow-up of care plan.  Evaluates outcomes of treatment plans.

5 - Coordinates and facilities interdisciplinary family conferences/meetings to assist with discussion of goals of care and decision making and effectively communicate the outcomes of the meetings to all members of the care team in an appropriate time frame.

6 - Completes daily rounds for patients who are admitted to the hospital with ongoing communication with the medical team, care coordination and nursing staff.

7 - Provides patient/family education around symptom management, disease trajectory, prognosis and terminal care.

8 - Maintains liaison with appropriate agency or facility after patient discharge from the hospital to ensure continuity and quality of care.  Communicate directly with primary care physician or patient's primary physician practitioner prior to patient discharge.

9 - Supports patients and their families with ongoing care questions.

10 - Provides bereavement follow-up and support after patient death.

11 - Works closely with the palliative care team, pharmacy and Pain Service, as needed, to develop effective pain management.

12 - As needed, participates in night telephone calls, and available for weekend clinical coverage as need once developed.

13 - Attends interdisciplinary Palliative Care team conferences, hospital staff meetings and business meetings.

14 - Participates in bi-monthly Palliative Care Conference, nursing staff education, and ongoing educational opportunities within the community that is served by SSH.

15 - Participates in the development and implementation of palliative care policies, procedures and standards of care.

16 - Participates in quality improvement and pay for performance activities related to palliative care.

17 - Identifies current trends in healthcare and their implications for nursing practice.

18 - Fosters collaborative relationships with community agencies.  Provides in-servicing and teaching as situation requires.

Shift requirements:

• Availability for two shifts per week.
• Shifts will be scheduled based on the needs of the department at the discretion of the leadership team. This need is subject to change in order to best meet the needs of the hospital medicine service. No per diem employee will be guaranteed requested shifts.
• All shifts that count toward the per diem requirement require an on-site presence

Privileges will only be maintained for per diem staff that meet shift requirements as outlined above.

Minimum Education -

This position is a licensed independent practitioner credentialed through the Medical Staff Services Office

• Completion of Advanced Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner training program from an accredited institution.
• All licensure re-certifications, as required.

Required additional Knowledge, and Abilities

Requires DEAx number for the ability to prescribe Buprenorphine/Suboxone

Demonstrated history of proficiency in the delivery of medical care to adult patients.
Demonstrated successful completion of the SSH Credentialing process.

ACLS Certification

Minimum Work Experience