Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Advanced Heart Failure

Description

The Advanced Heart Failure APP is responsible for providing exemplary cardiac care with a strong focus on advanced therapies such as ventricular assist device and cardiac transplant. S/he works closely with physicians, and allied health professionals in a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care which requires interfacing with many departments and agencies both internally and externally. The APP manages all aspects of the patient's experience, care, and treatment plan from the onset of care (both in the inpatient and outpatient settings) discharge and managing ongoing treatment and follow-up.

Desired Qualifications & Experience:

Education:Successful completion of an approved Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant education program. Maintain certification.

License/Certifications:NP -Current acute care nursing license issued by the State of Maine or eligible for licensure orPA- Certified by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.

Experience:Astrong clinical background in either cardiology or internal medicine is required. Knowledge of advanced HF technologies and treatments is preferred but not required; thorough and significant knowledge of the theories, practices, processes and results of current and emerging advanced heart failure technologies and treatment regimens; skill in case management, time management, problem solving, crisis intervention, multitasking and other organizational matters; ability to make responsible decisions within scope of NP or PA Practice; ability to educate patients, families, and staff in user-friendly manner; strong computer skills with skill in using computerized health information management system; excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships with patients, patient's families, clinical staff and the public; ability to maintain confidentiality.

Essential Functions:

In-Patient Care Delivery

• Inpatient VAD coverage (rounding, device interrogations, monitoring at procedures)
• Inpatient advanced heart failure workups (eg VAD, cardiac transplant)
• Writes admission, discharge, and progress notes on Advanced Heart Failure patients; enters orders, take phone calls from nurses, respond to in-house patient emergencies in the capacity of an APP; orders diagnostic tests and reviews results with the patient and family; collaborates with consulting physicians and services on in-house Advanced Heart Failure patients; completes comprehensive consults; facilitates work ups for advanced heart failure therapies

Out-Patient Care Delivery

• Outpatient advanced therapies (VAD/transplant) clinic coverage
• Be able to function as cross coverage for VAD and transplant Coordinators as necessary
• • Sees scheduled and urgent patients in the clinic. When no Advanced Heart Failure physician is available, sees the patient independently and reports to the supervising physician.
  • Makes medication adjustments, orders diagnostic testing, and interprets data on outpatients over the phone (when not in clinic).

Resource to the RN coordinators for advanced therapies such as VAD and Cardiac Transplant for ordering testing;facilitates patient referrals for advanced therapies to the program; serves as the main point of contact with other clinical and ancillary services that may be involved with the care of these patients; coordinates the evaluation phase for advanced therapies ensuring all requirements are complete.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensures clinical and financial data required for evaluation is obtained; reviews pertinent clinical data; risk stratifies patients and identifies clinical issues that influence patient selection for advanced therapies; collaborates with team to develop plan of care; coordinates testing and procedures consistent with protocols or in collaboration with physician; verifies advanced directives and ensures informed consent is obtained; educates/assesses patient and family regarding device technology; acts as resources to internal and external health care providers; manages pre-operative assessment and preparation ensuring patient, family, staff, and system are fully prepared for advanced therapies; serves as clinical resource to clinical team during the post-operative period, including immediately post op period, ICU care, and transition to step down phase of care; coordinates or delegates and oversees all aspects of discharge planning including:
• • Orders home equipment; performs in-home environmental assessment based on requirements; trains patient and family regarding home care and decision making; reviews medication schedules; monitors/evaluates patient response to treatment.
• Coordinates management of outpatient management in support of optimal patient outcomes including:
• Contributes to data registry; assists in developing patient and family education materials; creates and maintains advanced heart failure policies and procedures; trains internal and external staff on advanced heart failure management; participates in advanced heart failure related conferences and team meetings; resource to the RN coordinators for advanced therapies such as VAD and Cardiac Transplant for ordering testing; facilitates patient referrals for advanced therapies to the program; serves as the main point of contact with other clinical and ancillary servicesthat may be involved with the care of these patients; coordinates the evaluation phase for advanced therapies ensuring all requirements are complete.

MaineHealthis a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is, "Working togethersoour communities are the healthiest in America." MaineHealth consists of nine local health systems, a comprehensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and 1,700 employed clinicians working together through the MaineHealth Medical Group. With approximately 22,000 care team members,MaineHealthprovides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth offers a Total Rewards package that includes comprehensive and competitive benefits, along with programs and resources to meet the diverse needs of our workforce.

To learn more about our system, please visit www.mainehealth.organd ourbenefits page.

For more information, please apply and/or contact Kelley Johnson, Physician & APP Recruiter atkelley.johnson@mainehealth.org