SUMMARY:

Work with other personnel of the health center and the physicians, to make the delivery of health care more efficient, more comprehensive, and improve the quality in accordance with the policies and procedures of PCHC, the laws of Rhode Island, and appropriate standards of care. All duties/responsibilities are performed across life cycle (infants, children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric) as appropriate for training and certification.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perform physical examinations, treat illness, injuries, health problems, and address preventive health needs appropriate to that clinician’s training, experience, and specialty, taking into consideration the ambulatory nature of the health center.
Maintain a close, ongoing relationship with PCHC physicians and consult with the appropriate PCHC physician at the clinician’s health center, or with the appropriate Lead Clinician or with the Medical Director, as needed and in accordance with PCHC policies and procedures to ensure good care. Review more complex or serious patient problems with the appropriate PCHC physician, Lead Physician or the Medical Director. Refer patients to the physician as needed and in accordance with PCHC policies, procedures and standards of care.
Make appropriate referrals to specialists, subspecialties, hospital emergency rooms, hospital clinics, etc., when good medical judgment dictates such referrals.
Provide first-aid to patients but may refer serious injuries or severely acute conditions requiring hospital care to local hospital emergency rooms or in-patient facilities, as appropriate, after stabilizing the patient as clinically necessary at the health center.
Ensure that standards of quality medical care are met. Participate in medical audits, performance improvement, and peer review activities, and participate in appropriate PCHC committees, when necessary.
Provide in-service training sessions for other PCHC staff, as necessary.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
Attend PCHC staff meetings, unless exemption granted due to direct patient duties or absence preventing such attendance.
Achieve clinical and discipline specific productivity and quality expectations

Ensure proper and current charting in the electronic medical record.
Participate in "special" physical examination sessions, or extra medical sessions as needed by PCHC patients and arranged by PCHC.
Participate in Performance Improvement, Risk Management, and Peer Review activities at PCHC as per PCHC policies and procedures. This includes peer review audits, chart reviews, etc.
Coordinated Care/Patient Centered Medical Care Management: Works with all members of the Health Care Team towards achieving coordinated patient centered care. Demonstrates knowledge of the goals and objectives of PCHC’s patient care management plan. Effectively able to perform and communicate individual tasks within role in the process.
Participate in all PCHC programs appropriate for specialty, in accordance with PCHC policies and procedures, e.g. High School satellite clinics, special immunization sessions held at PCHC, physical examination sessions held at PCHC, and community services activities sponsored by PCHC (e.g. health fairs, camp/school/Boy or Girl Scout/sports physicals), registered PCHC patients.
Home visits, nursing home visits, and other off-site medical activities related to PCHC patients, when deemed necessary by provider or PCHC.
Participate in PCHC medical activities or outreach activities at any or all sites operated by PCHC or partners appropriate for specialty, in accordance with PCHC policies, procedures and needs.
Participate in health center training and educational efforts for staff and patients.
Maintain patient confidentiality at all levels of interaction in accordance with HIPAA, State and federal laws and regulations.
Perform other job-related duties deemed necessary by Supervisor.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education - RN and Nurse Practitioner training program in accredited college or university.

Must be licensed as RN and as a Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner with prescriptive privileges in Rhode Island.
Must be certified as a Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care (Pediatrics, Family Practice, Internal Medicine).
Must conform to prescribed standards for continuing education as set down by appropriate state or national advisory boards.

Experience – One year in a community health or ambulatory setting. Bilingual and bicultural skills are valued.

RESTRICTIONS:

May not have any private practice or outside employment without the written approval of the Medical Director or Chief Medical Officer. Private practice or outside employment without such approval is grounds for immediate dismissal.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret medical periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public. Ability to speak both English & Spanish strongly preferred; bicultural and bilingual experience valued.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations required.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of medical/technical instructions and deal with many variables required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; stoop, kneel; and taste or smell.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include near vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SUMMARY OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE:

Classified by CDC as High Risk