Advanced Practice Professional - Medical Oncology - Wheeling

West Virginia University Health System, the state’s largest health system and largest private employer, comprises 18 hospitals throughout the state and bordering states. In addition, it includes five institutes, as well as providing management services for other local hospitals through affiliate agreements.

About the role

The Advance Practice Professional (APP) is an individual with clinical skills and medical expertise in the care of Hematology/Oncology (hem/onc) patients. The APP completes comprehensive patient health evaluations (including biological, social, and psychological assessments), considering 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.

Responsibilities

• Manages comprehensive and individualized care for patients and their families in the infusion center and in the ambulatory setting.
• Completes daily rounds; consults and/or pre-treatment or pre-procedure evaluations in the infusion center (as applicable).
• Participates in ambulatory clinics and inpatient care of patients.
• Completes integrated assessments.
• Orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate, following established clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Performs and communicates results of diagnostic tests following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.
• Consults and communicates with clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in the evaluations of patients.
• Performs succinct comprehensive clinical evaluations and documents findings in medical record.
• Facilitates patient discharge and/or follow-up by ordering/coordinating appropriate services and tests.
• Performs necessary procedures following established clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care for hem/onc patients, including acute management, teaching, discharge planning, and necessary referrals.
• Participates in physician rounds (as applicable).
• Identifies unstable or complex hem/onc patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention.
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.
• Evaluates hem/onc patients and directs follow-up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting (as applicable).
• Assists in the collection of outcome measures (as applicable).
• Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
• Utilizes equipment in a safe manner.
• Bases decisions/actions on relevant scientific principles, established standards of care, and/or research findings.
• Utilizes teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies in the provision of education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of patient/family teaching and collaborates with nursing and clinical staff in the completion of education plans.
• Updates own knowledge base throughout the year and completes all identified clinical competencies.
• Serves as a resource person for staff caring for the hem/onc patient.
• Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise.
• Mentors nursing personnel in all levels of clinical practice.
• Participates in community programs and distribution of literature, as appropriate in area of expertise.
• Communicates effectively with patients/families, physicians, and ancillary services at all levels to assure coordinated, efficient patient care.
• Documents the plan of care, interventions, and evaluations in a clear and concise manner in the patient’s medical record following approved policies and compliance standards.
• Collaborates with other leaders and staff to effectively achieve patient outcome-based improvements in care.
• Provides leadership in the development and implementation of changes in hem/onc practice that positively impact patient outcomes.
• Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem-solving and provide professional support.
• Participates and initiates interdisciplinary approaches to patient care, program development, and education.
• Serves as a professional role model.
• Promotes and practices innovation of the expanded role in the delivery of care to hem/onc patients and families in the infusion center, inpatient hospitalization, and ambulatory setting.
• Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces.
• Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate.
• Participates in the WVUH/UHA Performance Improvement Plan.
• Applies information from Performance Improvement activities to improve care provided to patients.
• Reviews and interprets hem/onc data from sources such as patient registries, clinical and financial reports, and recommends/implements changes as necessary.
• Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator.
• Assists faculty, administrators, and directors in the collection of outcome measures.
• Adheres to the established Performance Expectations for UHA Employees in the areas of People, Service, Performance Improvement, and Shared Values & Culture.
• Oversees and provides comprehensive and individualized care for evaluating and managing patients in the infusion center within practice scope.
• Provides direct supervision of patients in the infusion center until the last patient receiving an infusion leaves the infusion center.
• Other duties/projects as assigned.

Requirements

For Nurse Practitioner

• Graduate of a CCNE accredited nursing program with Master’s Degree in Nursing.
• National Certification by one of the recognized APRN Certification Centers.
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure, as a professional Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia.
• American Heart Association BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• Hematology/Oncology, acute care, internal medicine experience preferred. Eligible new graduates will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications for Nurse Practitioner

• OCN or AOCN certification preferred.

For Physician Assistant

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s degree as Physician Assistant required.
• Graduate of an ARC-PA approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program required.
• Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants required.
• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine or WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
• American Heart Association BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• Hematology/Oncology, Acute Care, or Internal Medicine experience preferred. Eligible new graduates will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications for Physician Assistant

• Master’s level degree as Physician Assistant preferred.

Skills

• Proficiency with computers.
• Strong communication skills.

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.

• 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 weighing 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.

• Working closely with others.
• Protracted or irregular hours.
• Working around biohazards.
• Working around infectious diseases.
• Working with or near the deceased.
• Working with hands in water.
• Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

Schedule

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40