Nurse Practitioner

Overview

This position is a dual focus clinical role, with time split between 1) providing direct primary care, infectious disease treatment, and treatment for substance use disorders in both an office and mobile health setting, and 2) providing telehealth and in-person hepatitis C (HCV) assessments and treatment for a SAMHSA-funded project (COMPASS).

The APRN / PA will report to the medical director / Principle Investigator of the Community Health Care Van, and will collaborate with the clinical team to provide coverage for day-to-day clinical operations as well as split responsibility to provide clinical coverage for SAMHSA HCV treatment grant. The APRN will collaborate with the COMPASS project coordinator in the development of clinical protocols and workflows and will work alongside the other APRNs to implement stated project initiatives, ensuring treatment of HCV, substance use disorders, and mental health via telemedicine and at both the office and mobile clinics. The APRN/ PA will accept referrals from partner sites in CT for medical management of HCV and other medical needs by telehealth per a designated schedule. The clinical team will collaborate on the implementation of Cepheid GeneXpert equipment at partner clinical and mobile sites and provide training and oversight for COMPASS partner sites. APRNs will complete thorough patient assessments, assess health-related social needs, make timely clinical decisions and order labs and prescriptions for HCV, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), PrEP, and other conditions as needed. Provides primary care services, diagnosis/prevention/treatment of HCV/HIV, and STIs; wound care, on site at Yale (mobile clinic and referrals). Ensures that COMPASS participants receive a patient centered, low barrier approach to HCV treatment. The Clinical team will problem solve issues participants may have in accessing HCV treatment medications. Works with Outreach Workers to integrate Syndemic Screening protocol into workflow. Provides back-up coverage for Behavioral Health clinicians as needed for the treatment of substance use disorders, including medications for opioid use disorder (refilling prescriptions, delivering long-acting injectables if due.) Provides care for skin and soft tissue infections and wound care related to injecting (especially xylazine or medetomidine). Provides overdose prevention and disease prevention counseling to patients. Collaborates with Clinical team and outreach workers to determine coverage schedules for COMPASS implementation and same day. HCV treatment. Participates in team and funder meetings and quality improvement activities to guide service delivery, SAMHSA meetings, and Learning Collaboratives.

May require travel on mobile medical clinics in vulnerable neighborhoods in New Haven and at partner outreach locations. Travel as needed for project meetings. Must be available for various shifts, including nights and weekends, as operational demands require.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Experience treating infectious diseases (HCV, HCV, STIs) and prescribing PrEP, PEP, and doxyPEP. Experience providing vaccinations (e.g., for viral hepatitis [A/B], influenza, HPV, others as needed) to at-risk populations
2. Demonstrated clinical expertise with target population of people who use drugs, homeless patients, and those with serious mental illness.
3. Experience providing basic primary care, ability to coordinate care with other primary care sites as applicable. Ability to provide care in a mobile setting and telehealth. 

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or Physician Assistant (PA) with at least 5 years’ experience.
2. Demonstrated leadership in infectious disease oriented clinical settings.
3. Experience working in an integrated clinical setting (primary care, treatments for substance use disorders, behavioral health, harm reduction, research) preferred.
4. Experience writing grants and program reports and participating in research studies. Ability to collect and analyze program and research data.

Required Certifications

Wound care certification or working towards.

Human Research Protection Training will be required.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Examines patients to collect information about their physical condition and establishes a clinical diagnosis. 2. Conducts physicals, provides treatment, formulates a health care plan and counsels patients on various health practices. 3. Encourages compliance with treatments plan through education, assessment of patient understanding and regular patient monitoring. 4. Provides reasonable and prudent medical care, practices appropriate management, and uses sound clinical judgment based on best practice standards and evidenced based medicine. 5. Obtains, compiles, and records patient medical data, including health history, progress notes and results of physical examination. 6. Provides preventive health practices to patients to maintain and improve health and prevent illness. 7. Coordinates patient care including ordering of laboratory tests and radiographic studies. 8. Interprets diagnostic test results for deviations from normal. 9. Prescribes therapy or medication as necessary. 10. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Master’s Degree from an accredited Advanced Nurse Practitioner program or graduation from a Physician Assistant (PA) Training Program accredited by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

CT APRN license (or eligible) with ANA certification OR CT PA license (or eligible).

Prescriptive privileges (or eligible) in the State of Connecticut, federal DEA license and CT DCP license for prescription of controlled substances.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the work involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, and occasional slight lifting. The employee occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds when transferring a patient from chair or wheelchair to exam table and turning patients for examination. Proper body mechanics must be used when maneuvering patients.