Lead APP (SMG)

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 Advanced Practice Professional (APP) has coordination and clinical skills required for the comprehensive management of emergency medicine patients, including biological, social, and psychological assessments. The APP coordinates involvement of medical/surgical specialty teams to develop a comprehensive plan for the patient, reviews the plan of care with the clinical team, participates in directing that care, performs diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, and coordinates discharge planning/follow-up (as applicable). The APP participates in the education of residents and medical/nursing students. 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 emergency medicine patients and their families in the DEM and immediate post-discharge in the ambulatory setting.
• Coordinates hospitalization if necessary.
• Completes pre-procedure evaluations and integrated assessments.
• Orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate, following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.
• Performs and communicates results of diagnostic tests.
• Consults and communicates with DEM clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in patient evaluations.
• Performs succinct comprehensive clinical evaluations and documents findings in the medical record.
• Facilitates patient DEM discharge by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to discharge for outpatient follow-up.
• Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care, including teaching, discharge planning, and necessary referrals or admission.
• Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients across the age continuum of their educational experience and certification.
• Identifies unstable or complex emergency medicine patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention.
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.
• Evaluates emergency medicine patients and serves as a coordinator for follow-up procedures and tests in the ambulatory setting or upon admission.
• 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.
• Updates own knowledge base and completes all identified clinical competencies.
• Serves as a resource person for staff caring for emergency medicine patients.
• Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise.
• Participates in community programs and distribution of literature, as appropriate.
• Documents the plan of care, interventions, and evaluations 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 the development and implementation of changes in emergency medicine 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 inter-disciplinary approaches to patient care, program development, and education.
• Serves as a professional role model and promotes innovation in the delivery of care to emergency medicine patients and families.
• Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces.
• Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate.
• Reviews and interprets emergency medicine 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 emergency medicine faculty, administrators, and directors in the collection of outcome measures.
• 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.
• American Heart Association BLS, ACLS, and ATLS certifications are required.
• Acute care or emergency medicine experience preferred; eligible new graduates will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications for Nurse Practitioner

• ACNP or FNP certification considered.
• American Heart Association PALS certification is encouraged.

For Physician Assistant

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree as a Medical/Surgical 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, ACLS, and ATLS certifications are required.

Preferred Qualifications for Physician Assistant

• Master’s level education as a Medical/Surgical Physician Assistant preferred.
• American Heart Association PALS certification is encouraged.

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.

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

Schedule

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36