Overview

Provides continuity of care to all Hospice patients and their families after normal operating hours. Responds to incoming calls from patients/families/caregivers and paraprofessionals, assesses and addresses needs within context of patient's Interdisciplinary Plan of Care and Hospice Care mission, objectives, policies, and procedures. Documents and reports to team patient's needs, significant events, plan of care and other issues. Also provides advance nursing clinical care to patients during after hours. Provides clinical leadership and instruction to others within Hospice in quality care, consistent with VNS Health philosophy and standards of nursing practice in relation to VNS Health goals and objectives and evaluates effectiveness of clinical directions. Works under general direction.

Compensation Range:$52.10 - $69.39 Hourly

• Assesses the physical, emotional and medical needs of hospice patients and their caregivers through after hours telephone consult. Provides support and direction to families in accordance with the patient’s Interdisciplinary Plan of Care and Hospice Care mission, objectives, policies and procedures. Takes referral information and triages for immediate response, dispatches the on call nurse to do the evaluation/ admission. Contacts Physician for verification of prognosis and appropriateness for Hospice/Palliative care. Contacts and interface with team members, primary physician, team physician, administrator and other staff to ensure patient’s and family’s needs are met. • Provides appropriate interventions including E-prescribing medications and entering orders into the EMR per organizational policies and procedures. • Obtains and reviews daily report from each team on significant patient care situations that may require contact/follow-up during course of shift. Documents all calls received using high degree of accuracy and detail to ensure team/physician is provided with all relevant and necessary information. • Provides after hours clinical oversight to members of the interdisciplinary team. Supervises nurses during their on-call shifts as a subject matter expert in the assessment and treatment of patients and families. Works collaboratively with the daytime managers in the evaluation and management of after-hours staff performance. Recommends hiring, discipline, and termination, as needed. • Determines/Deploys on-call interdisciplinary members for home visits, provides necessary information and follows-up regarding status of visit and to obtain necessary report. • Participate in case reviews as needed for practice improvement, response to RL Solutions incidents or complaints and/or other quality improvement initiatives. • Collaborates with patients, families, primary care physician and other team members to provide assessment and care planning. Consults with the primary care physicians and specialists in the community, when necessary, in relation to management and disposition plans. • Identifies need for new/revised clinical protocols and procedures. Provides recommendations to Hospice Medical staff and others within Hospice regarding new/revised protocols and procedures for the program. • Assesses patients for certification at admission to the Hospice Program and re-certification at specified intervals for continued service in the program, as needed. Completes certification of death. • Documents patient care services in accordance with VNS Health standards. Prepares and maintains accurate patient records, charts, and documents to support sound medical practice and reimbursement for services provided. • Advises staff nurses on treating complex patient care issues. • Provides on-call coverage, as needed. • Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications:
Licensed and currently registered to practice as Nurse Practitioner in New York State required DEA license required Valid driver's license may be required, as determined by operational/regional needs.

Education:
Master's Degree in Nursing required

Work Experience:
Minimum of five years clinical nursing experience including two years in the specialty of advanced illness management, oncology and/or palliative care or hospice required Minimum of two years as a Nurse Practitioner preferred Experience in a community health setting, conducting professional presentations and writing for professional publications preferred Demonstrated knowledge of symptom management, understanding of end of life issues with appropriate interventions, and understanding of the impact of cultural background on illness management required Demonstrated knowledge of home care and/or hospice services and regulations, Title XXII, Medicare Conditions of Participation, JCAHO home health and/or hospice accreditation requirements, QI outcomes/benchmarking, infection control, reimbursement patterns for Medicare and other payers, and budget and other financial reporting required