Internal Posting Only

Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner – Palliative Care

Portland, ME

Maine Medical Center

Part Time

Maine Medical Center, a MaineHealth member, is seeking an Advance Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) to join our Palliative Medicine Practice Group. Our 16 member interdisciplinary team serves the community in both tertiary/ academic inpatient and ambulatory/ home settings. The Palliative Care team focuses on highest quality specialty palliative care services to patients and their families of all ages and disease stages. The NP/PA will provide palliative care along with the Palliative Care interdisciplinary team, which includes physicians, APP’s, Social Workers and Chaplains. The NP/PA also provide primary palliative care education within the organization as regards to pain and symptom management, communication, and support of patients/families with the primary focus on the quality of life.

Responsibilities:

• Provides inpatient/ambulatory specialty palliative care consultation services in collaboration with the Palliative Care interdisciplinary team by providing expert assessment and treatment of complex symptoms, assisting with complex decision making, and providing psychosocial support.
• Collaborates successfully as a member of the multidisciplinary Palliative Care Team, taking responsibility for quality and continuity of care of assigned patients.
• Embodies and serves as an ambassador for the philosophy of evidence-based care provision following NCP guidelines.
• Works with the interdisciplinary team to facilitate clarification of patient and family goals of care and access to appropriate support models of care i.e. home health, hospice, rehabilitation.
• Completes timely and accurate documentation of all activities in the EPIC EMR system.
• Plans care with social work and case management, utilizing community resources (including home health and home hospice agencies).
• Participates in education of non-palliative care providers and promotes culture transformation to reinforce primary palliative care education to enhance compassion and support for patients within the health system.
• Respects patient confidentiality, privacy, and dignity.
• Provides services in a timely and courteous manner with care and respect for the patient’s individual needs.
• Participates in all practice group assignments and meetings.
• Helps educate medical students, residents, nurses, APP colleagues and other hospital staff about Palliative Care principles and practices.

Qualifications:  

• Advanced knowledge of nursing theory and practice, and additional specialized medical training, in order to provide expanded nursing practice at a level generally acquired through completion of a Master’s Degree.
• Current license and registration to practice as an Advance Practice Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant as required in the State of Maine.
• Palliative Medicine specialty certification and/or palliative practice experience equivalent/ eligible for specialty certification.
• Advanced skill and knowledge in conducting physical examinations and treating patients in expanded practice model with minimal direction at a level generally acquired through years of in-depth experience as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant.
• Analytical abilities necessary to obtain medical histories, conduct physical examinations, prepare complex treatment plans, and treat assigned patients with minimal guidance and direction.
• Interpersonal skills and communication skills to engage as a specialist with a variety of personnel (e.g., patients, employees, physicians, and other health care professionals.)