APP) Plastic Surgery Advanced Wound Care Specialist

UVA Health•Charlottesville, VA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Virginia Health System is seeking a dedicated Advanced Practice Provider (APP)—Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA)—with a strong background in advanced wound care to join our Wound Care team within the Department of Plastic Surgery. This full-time role focuses on the management of patients with chronic, non-healing wounds in both inpatient and ambulatory settings. The APP will collaborate with our Wound Ostomy Care (WOC) team and other experienced wound care specialists to care for adult and pediatric patients with a wide range of complex wounds. Our wound care team is specially trained and experienced in providing comprehensive care, including evaluation, diagnosis, and management and treatment of chronic wounds, pressure injuries, neuropathic ulcers, burns, skin tears, traumatic wounds, surgical wounds, osteoradionecrosis, and osteomyelitis. The successful applicant will bring clinical expertise, autonomy, and a passion for delivering high-quality wound care in an inpatient and outpatient setting as well as coordinating multidisciplinary care with colleagues in orthopedics, digestive health, podiatry, plastic surgery, and other specialties as needed. This role provides a unique opportunity to develop a deep expertise in chronic wounds within an academic and supportive environment. The APP will conduct comprehensive patient assessments, perform advanced wound care procedures such as dressings and topical treatments, sharp debridement, compression therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, bioengineered skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO), and offloading techniques to develop individualized treatment plans to promote healing and improve patient outcomes. As an Advanced Practice Provider, you will be responsible for providing comprehensive care at an advanced practice level to patients and their families through assessment, communication, clinical management, collaboration, coordination, education, program development, research, quality, professional development, and system participation.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) program.
Current national certification and eligibility for Virginia licensure.
BLS certification.
Master’s Degree as an Advance Practice Provider - Nurse Practitioner or as an Advance Practice Provider - Physician Assistant
One to two years minimum experience as an Advanced Practice Provider Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant preferred.
License or license eligible as an Advance Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) as set forth by the state of Virginia.
If Nurse Practitioner, license to Practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia is required.
Must demonstrate and maintain all credentialing and licensing requirements of the UVA Medical Center, the Virginia Board of Medicine or the Virginia Board of Nursing, and the appropriate certifying bodies.
Must be enrolled with all payers through Delegated Credentialing and can participate in Medicaid and Medicare for billing.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
Current PALS/NRP, as required specific to position.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) as required.

Nice To Haves

Wound care certification (WCC, CWON, CWS, or equivalent)
Experience in wound care or related clinical field is helpful; but new graduates with strong clinical interest in wound care will be considered.
1-2 years of experience in wound care, primary care, or surgical specialty is helpful though new graduates with related experience will also be considered.
Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of healthcare systems, leadership abilities, and prior experience with quality improvement efforts.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive assessments and evaluations of patients with chronic, non-healing wounds.
Develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans tailored to patient needs.
Perform wound care procedures including dressing changes, sharp debridement, negative pressure wound therapy, and application of advanced wound technologies.
Performing and documenting histories and physical exams, ordering tests, developing comprehensive treatment plans, prescribing medications
Educate patients, caregivers, and families on wound management, prevention, and lifestyle modifications.
Collaborate with Home Health agencies, caregivers, and interdisciplinary providers (primary care, specialists, therapists) to ensure continuity of care.
Accurately document wound assessments, including measurements and photographs, and maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record (EPIC).
Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to wound care services.
Stay current on advancements in wound care therapies, devices, and clinical protocols.
Participate in clinical teaching of medical students and residents as appropriate.
Independently and in collaboration with physician(s) and interdisciplinary team members, provides comprehensive clinical and organizational direction and leadership to the healthcare provider team in the care of patients.
Performs comprehensive history and physical assessment
Documents findings noting pertinent normal and abnormal findings
Orders and interprets the appropriate diagnostic labs and tests
Forms medical diagnoses based on history, assessment and diagnostic findings
Develops, implements and evaluates treatment plans
Prescribes and recommends pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions
Initiates appropriate specialty consultations referrals when requisite
Initiates and evaluates clinical pathways and protocols
Collaborates with Attendings and/or Fellows regarding admissions and community transfers
Facilitates the timely flow of patients via collaboration with interdisciplinary team members and supports all interdisciplinary relationships
Recognizes acute/emergent situations requiring immediate responsiveness and initiates life-saving interventions, alerting the interdisciplinary team members for assistance
Recognizes and incorporates age-specific requirements, communicates plan of care with patients and families
Advocates for patients and family members in educational needs, treatment options, participation in care and ethical issues and patient rights with recognition and consideration of the diverse needs of the individual/family
Provides consultation in specialty area
Maintains confidentiality of patient information
Coordinates meeting applicable clinical standards for all disciplines in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members
Explains the necessity, preparation, nature and anticipated effects of procedure(s) to patients, patient families, staff and students
Performs designated procedures after demonstrated competency
Acts as a clinical resource, utilizing both formal and informal opportunities for the education of other members of the interdisciplinary team.
Provides education consistent with evidence-based practices and protocols
Precepts APP students and provides mentoring for other APP’s
Provides outreach and education to the community and within the Advanced Practice arena
Coordinates meeting applicable educational standards for all disciplines in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members
Acts as a role model to colleagues, interdisciplinary team members, the institution and to the community
Demonstrates respect to all within the institution and community
Demonstrates leadership abilities in the development, mentorship and empowerment of others within the healthcare community
Assumes leadership role in the development of the Advanced Practice Role to patients, families, other healthcare professionals and to the community
Coordinates meeting applicable leadership standards for all disciplines in collaboration with physician(s) and team members
Meets leadership competency standards
Participates in, supports and leads quality assurance initiatives, performance improvement, benchmarking initiatives to advance patient care delivery
Utilizes research and Evidence-Based practice in the delivery of patient care
Evaluates the implications of access, quality, safety and cost on the delivery of healthcare
Participates in the development of instruments to measure patient and practice outcomes
Identifies needs, variations and interventions to ensure and improve quality care
Maintains compliance and regulatory documentation for the purposes of administration and reimbursement
Provides expertise in the measurement, development, evaluation and communication of the status and progression of applicable patient care standards
Participates and contributes to departmental/divisional/institutional initiatives
Provides input in the annual review of other staff members
Assists in the development of clinical pathways and protocols
Participates in accreditation preparedness
Coordinates meeting applicable performance improvement standards for all disciplines in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members
Pursues opportunities for active engagement in research and in the analysis of evidence-based practice
Coordinates meeting applicable research standards for all disciplines and areas of practice
Maintains professional licensure, DEA registration (as applicable), certification and practice agreements as required by the Virginia Board of Medicine or the Virginia Board of Nursing,national certification organizations, and the institution
Maintains and demonstrates competencies for designated privileges requested as required for ongoing professional practice evaluation and outcomes
Maintains Advanced certification(s)
Pursues educational opportunities for professional growth (CEU/CME, conferences, and or seminars, etc.)
Serves on appropriate committees in department/division/institution and community
Participates in/presents at M&M, Grand Rounds, etc.