APP Infectious Disease

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 infectious disease patients. The APP completes comprehensive patient health evaluations (including biological, social, and psychological assessments), taking into account 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, develops and reviews the plan of care with the clinical team, participates in directing that care, and coordinates discharge planning and/or follow-up. The APP also participates in the education of residents and medical/nursing students, performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and provides healthcare services consistent with state law and professional licensing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manages comprehensive and individualized care for patients and their families in the inpatient phase of hospitalization and immediate post-discharge in the ambulatory setting.
• Completes daily rounds; consults and/or pre-procedure evaluations.
• Completes integrated assessments and orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate in collaboration with infectious disease faculty or established clinical guidelines.
• 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 patient evaluations.
• Performs succinct, comprehensive clinical evaluations and documents findings in the medical record.
• Facilitates patient discharge and/or follow-up by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to discharge.
• Performs necessary procedures following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice (SOP).
• Develops a comprehensive, individualized plan of care for infectious disease patients, including teaching, discharge planning, and referrals to other healthcare team members.
• Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients across the age continuum based on educational experience and certification.
• Participates in physician rounds, as applicable.
• Identifies unstable or complex infectious disease patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention.
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.
• Evaluates infectious disease patients and serves as a coordinator for follow-up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting.
• Assists in the collection of outcome measures.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
• Utilizes equipment in a safe manner and bases decisions on relevant scientific principles, established standards of care, and/or research findings.
• Provides education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community using appropriate teaching strategies.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of patient/family teaching and collaborates with clinical staff to complete the education plan.
• Updates own knowledge base and completes all identified clinical competencies.
• Serves as a resource person for staff caring for infectious disease patients.
• 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.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, physicians, and ancillary services to ensure coordinated, efficient patient care.
• Documents the plan of care, interventions, and evaluations clearly and concisely in the patient’s medical record following approved policies and compliance standards.
• Collaborates with other leaders and staff to achieve patient outcome-based improvements in care.
• Provides leadership in developing and implementing changes in infectious disease practice to positively impact patient outcomes.
• Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem-solving and provide professional support.
• Participates in and initiates interdisciplinary approaches to patient care, program development, and education.
• Serves as a professional role model and promotes innovation in the delivery of care to infectious disease patients and families.
• Participates in and provides leadership for committees and task forces.
• Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate.
• Participates in the WVUH/UHA Performance Improvement Plan and applies information from performance improvement activities to improve care.
• Reviews and interprets infectious disease data from sources such as patient registries and clinical/financial reports, recommending and implementing 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 established performance expectations for UHA employees in the areas of people, service, performance improvement, and shared values & culture.
• Performs other duties/projects as assigned.

Requirements

For Nurse Practitioner

• Graduate of a CCNE-accredited nursing program with a 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.
• BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• Acute care, internal medicine, or infectious disease experience preferred; eligible new graduates will be considered.

For Physician Assistant

• Bachelor’s Degree as Physician Assistant, or Master’s degree as Physician Assistant required.
• Graduate of an ARC-PA-approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program.
• Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants.
• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine.
• BLS Certification required; additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
• 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: 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