APP - Neurology (Outpatient)

WVU Medicine•Westmoreland Hospital, PA

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Professional (APP) provides high-quality, patient-centered care as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Working collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, the APP assesses, diagnoses, treats, and manages patients within their scope of practice and area of specialty. The APP is responsible for delivering evidence-based care, promoting positive patient outcomes, maintaining professional and regulatory standards, and supporting the clinical, educational, and operational goals of the department and organization. The APP provides coordination and clinical skills for comprehensive management of outpatient/ambulatory neurology patients, including biological, social, and psychological assessments. The role coordinates medical specialty teams to develop comprehensive care plans, reviews those plans with the clinical team, participates in directing care, performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and coordinates ongoing management of neurosurgical patients. The APP also participates in educating residents and medical and nursing students. Services must be consistent with state law and the requirements of professional licensing or certification authorities and applicable hospital privileges. The role is based in an ambulatory neurology setting and includes collaboration with clinic and hospital staff, patient and staff education, program development, and participation in research and clinical trials.

Requirements

For Nurse Practitioner candidates: graduate of a CCNE-accredited nursing program with a Master’s Degree in Nursing.
For Nurse Practitioner candidates: national certification by a recognized APRN Certification Center.
For Nurse Practitioner candidates: licensed or eligible for licensure as a professional Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia.
For Physician Assistant candidates: Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree as a Physician Assistant.
For Physician Assistant candidates: graduate of an ARC-PA-approved Physician Assistant training program.
For Physician Assistant candidates: certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants.
For Physician Assistant candidates: licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine or WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
American Heart Association BLS Certification is required; additional Advanced Life Support training may be required at the department’s discretion.
Proficiency with computers.
Strong communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Neurology or acute care experience is preferred; eligible new graduates will be considered.
For Physician Assistant candidates, a Master’s-level degree as a Physician Assistant is preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage comprehensive and individualized care for neurology patients and their families in the ambulatory setting.
Complete acute assessments, pre-procedure evaluations, surgical evaluations, and ongoing follow-up in the ambulatory setting.
Complete integrated and comprehensive evaluations and develop treatment and surgical plans.
In collaboration with neurology faculty or under established clinical guidelines and protocols, order additional tests or consultations as appropriate.
Perform diagnostic tests and communicate their results in accordance with established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.
Consult and communicate with clinic and hospital staff about abnormal findings in patient evaluations.
Complete comprehensive clinical evaluations and document findings in the medical record.
Coordinate appropriate services and tests before admission and for outpatient follow-up appointments, as applicable.
Develop individualized plans of care that include teaching, disposition planning, follow-up, and referrals to other healthcare team members as needed.
Provide care to patients across the age continuum appropriate to the APP’s education and certification.
Identify unstable or complex neurology care situations and facilitate appropriate intervention in clinic or hospital settings.
Recognize emergency situations and initiate effective emergency care.
Coordinate follow-up procedures and tests for neurology patients in the ambulatory setting and provide acute and ongoing ambulatory care.
Assist in collecting outcome measures, as applicable.
Use critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to identify, evaluate, and manage individual patient and family needs.
Use equipment safely and base decisions and actions on scientific principles, standards of care, and research findings.
Educate nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families, and the community using appropriate teaching strategies; support patient and family readiness to learn.
Update professional knowledge throughout the year and complete identified clinical competencies.
Serve as a resource for staff caring for neurology patients and provide educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in the area of expertise.
Participate in community programs and distribute relevant literature, as appropriate.
Document each visit’s plan of care, interventions, and evaluations clearly and concisely in accordance with hospital/UHA policies and compliance standards.
Collaborate with leaders and staff to improve care based on patient outcomes; help develop and implement changes in neurology practice that positively affect outcomes.
Work collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate problem-solving and provide professional support.
Participate in interdisciplinary patient care, program development, and education; serve as a professional role model.
Promote innovation in the expanded APP role in care delivery to neurology patients and families in inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Participate in and provide leadership for committees and task forces.
Document hours and submit billing reports, as appropriate.
Review neurology data, including patient registries, clinical and financial reports, length of stay, access to care, and cost per case, and recommend or implement changes as needed.
Participate in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator.
Assist neurology faculty, administrators, and directors with collection of outcome measures.
Perform other duties and projects as assigned.