Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Liaison

Company: Compassus
Location: Phoenix
Posted on: January 25, 2023

Job Description:

Position SummaryThe Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Liaison is responsible for modeling the 3 Company values of Compassion, Integrity, and Excellence, and for promoting the Compassus philosophy, using the 6 Pillars of success as the foundation. S/he is responsible for upholding the Code of Ethical Conduct and for promoting positive working relationships within the company, among all departments, and all external stakeholders.

The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Liaison is a dual role that serves both the hospice and palliative service teams while growing the palliative care program for the local market. Once patient census thresholds are met, this role transitions to the Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, subject to market needs. S/he provides palliative care for patients facing chronic, complex, and /or life-threatening conditions at various locations within the flow of patient care. S/he provides assessments, disease and treatment education, and symptom management to meet the needs to palliative care patients and their families. The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner helps the patient and family maintain their maximum level of comfort and coping. S/he provides care and support in collaboration with the PCP and specialists; and ensures compliance with practice standards and codes. S/he must collaborate appropriately with the assigned Compassus Medical Director. S/he must flex schedule to meet agency needs. S/he is responsible for applying the rules and regulations of state and federal regulatory agencies and other certified agencies.

S/he also will perform Clinical Liaison duties for the Hospice team as determined by manager. S/he will act as liaison explaining hospice services and benefits to patients, family members, and significant others in a manner that facilitates an accurate and positive view of hospice services. In addition, s/he will aid in community outreach, including marketing and educational sessions for referring providers.

Position Specific Responsibilities

• * Attends and participates in staff meetings, educational programs and community events, as requested.
  
  
• * Performs routine and urgent assessments:
  
  
• Availability Monday - Friday, 8a-5p local time.
  
• Depending on the needs of the market, the NP will carry a percentage of the minimum, standard palliative census (80 patients). This percentage will be reviewed, and adjusted as needed, with the manager monthly.
  
  
• The number of palliative care visits you will complete per month will align with the percentage of the minimum standard census you hold.
  
  
• Ability to triage consults by patient acuity.
  
  
• Performs bedside palliative care with patient/family education.
  
  
• Subject to after hours and weekend on-call requirements per the needs of the organization.
  
  
• Orders, performs, and interprets laboratory and radiology tests within scope of professional practice.
  
• Prescribes medications including controlled substances to the extent delegated and licensed.
  
• Orders treatments and durable medical equipment as indicated.
  
• Performs other therapeutic measures as indicated.
  
• Consults with palliative care physician or designees as needed, informs primary physician of services provided and collaborate with other physicians as needed.
  
• Assists in all facets of care coordination for palliative care referrals.
  
• Prepares and maintains accurate patient records, charts, and documents to support sound medical practice and reimbursement for services provided.
  
• Complies with applicable laws and regulations with respect to Collaborative Agreements.
  
• Completes accurate billing and coding activities for all patient encounters according to CMS guidelines.
  
• Provides training and ongoing education and onboarding support for staff.
  
• Defines goals for professional growth and participates actively in professional activities and organizations.
  
• Engages in active and frequent self-care activities for personal and professional growth and longevity.
  
• Adheres to the practice of confidentiality regarding patients, families, staff and the Organization.
  
• Assists patients and families in identification of goals of treatment and ongoing plans of care at every visit. Communicates these goals among Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).
  
• Collaborates/Communicates with Medical Director, Attending Physician, Hospital Staff and IDT:
  
• Participates in monthly Palliative IDT meeting with market team.
  
• Collaborates/ Communicates with IDT needs of patient for clinical and psycho-social interventions.
  
• Assists in identifying the need for intervention of other IDT members.
  
• Effectively communicates patient and family needs to IDT.
  
• Completes and submits required clinical documentation within 24 hours of visit completion.
  
• Educates patient and caregiver regarding:
  
• Care of patient.
  
• Disease process.
  
• Goal setting.
  
• Symptom control.
  
• Treatment options.
  
• Prognosis.
  
• Advance Care Planning.
  
• Assists referrals to the appropriate level of care.
  
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, educational programs, and community events, as requested.
  
• Explains hospice services and benefits to patients, family members, and significant others in a manner that facilitates an accurate and positive view of hospice services.
  
• Obtains signatures on all required forms, provides copies to patient/responsible party.
  
• Ensures all forms are completed, dated, and signed, and turns in to the Admission Coordinator.
  
• Ensures all available medical records are turned into the Admission Coordinator.
  
• Establishes and maintains significant professional relationships.
  
• Works closely with community, hospital, and facility education representatives to meet growth and development targets and maintain market acceptance and allegiance.
  
• Facilitates the admission process to and from hospital and long-term care based referral sources.
  
• Assesses referred patient's clinical needs and disease status and confers with patient's attending physician and hospice physician regarding assessment to establish eligibility.
  
• Completes routine and emergency recertification visits on each patient entering their 3rd benefit period or beyond (including admissions and transfers).
  
• Records observations, treatments, and other pertinent information.
  
• Communicates with Medical Director, Attending Physician, DCS and IDT as directed regarding findings from the visits and any measures to alleviate symptoms.
  
• Provides physical and emotional care to support the patient and family in period of crisis.
  
• Facilitates patient discharge from hospital to home by establishing initial needs and coordinating transportation, DME, medication needs, supplies and admission by home hospice nurse.
  
• Oversees GIP patient admission process based on identified symptom management needs for that level of care.
  
• Works closely with facilities and hospitals to identify, transition, and admit patients appropriately for general inpatient services.
  
• Provides education to hospitals and facilities on the purpose, process, and goal of general inpatient care.
  
• Supervises nurse trainees, including graduate and advance practice nurses in field placements.
  
• Participates in supervision of other trainees, including medical students, residents, fellows, and social work and psychology trainees.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  Education and/or Experience
  • Master's degree, or higher, in Nursing required.
  • Minimum of five (5) years nursing experience required; clinical nursing care in oncology, hospice, geriatrics, intensive care preferred.
    Skills
    • Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage.
      
    • Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from leaders, colleagues, investors, and external parties. Strong written and verbal communications.
      
    • Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. Articulates and embraces hospice philosophy. Strong organizational and time management skills. Must be able to work a flexible schedule to include nights and weekends. Must be able to travel for training, conferences, and/or to provide education to Compassus colleagues. Ability to document as required by regulations. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information, such as patient and Company files.
      
      Certifications, Licenses and Registrations
      • Active and unencumbered CNS or Nurse Practitioner license in state of employment required.
        
      • Certified as a Nurse Practitioner in Adult, Family, Acute, or Geriatric required.
        
      • Active NPI number.
        
      • Maintain active DEA certification if state allows prescription of controlled substances by APPs.
        
      • Board Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care is preferred, but not required.
        State Specific Requirements
        
        Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the colleague is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk and hear. The colleague frequently is required to stand, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The colleague is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The colleague must frequently lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a colleague encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. There will be possible exposure to infectious diseases through working with clinical caregivers. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
        
        At Compassus, including all Compassus affiliates, diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our Pillars of Success. We are committed to creating a fair work environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, highly valued, and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Keywords: Compassus, Phoenix , Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Liaison, Healthcare , Phoenix, Arizona