Harm Reduction Nurse Practitioner

Prevention Point Philadelphia • Full-time • Philadelphia, PA, US • 22m ago

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) is a multi-service public health organization dedicated to promoting health, empowerment and safety for communities affected by drug use and poverty. PPP works to provide safe and humane alternatives to the war on drugs, working to reduce the prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C by linking people to the health resources they need. PPP meets people where they are, providing information and access to resources with dignity and respect. Using a harm reduction approach, PPP offers low threshold, culturally sensitive, non-judgmental services to address the health and social service needs of people in Philadelphia. PPP promotes harm reduction through mobile medical care, sterile syringe exchange, rapid HIV and HCV testing, referrals to social services, and comprehensive prevention case management services. PPP continues to expand the scope of its services in an endeavor to meet the needs of people in Philadelphia as comprehensively as possible.

HARM REDUCTION MEDICAL SERVICES OVERVIEW:

PPP is actively strengthening, bundling, and diversifying its medical services to ensure that all individuals needing medical treatment at PPP are able to access medical care within all programs in the organization, receive a range of high quality on-site as well as external medical treatment, and collaborate with external medical resources and partners. Strategic goals for the Harm Reduction Medical Services Department over the next 2-5 years include strengthening and implementing a One Stop Shop approach to treatment and prevention for People Who Use Drugs, particularly People Who Inject Drugs, and, most critically, People Living with HIV / AIDS, to scale up a Red-Carpet approach to low barrier high quality access to medical care. Additional goals of the Medical Services Department include working to re-design PPP to further serve as the entry point for PWUD and PWID, as well as supporting creation of a Status Neutral approach to medical care for PWID. The Harm Reduction Medical Services NP will support a model of integrated care within Prevention Point Philadelphia’s care medical services, under the direction of the Medical Director, and in collaboration with the other Department Directors.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Harm Reduction Nurse Practitioner will provide a range of integrated medical care at PPP, including behavioral health medicine as well as prevention and treatment medicine with respect to infectious diseases.

Direct provision of care will include: on site and home based induction with buprenorphine, administration of long acting medications for opioid use, MAT medication adherence counseling and management, treatment of Hepatitis C, treatment with PrEP, treatment of HIV for a small subset of participants, treatment of basic wounds, particularly those related to substance use, and assessment of reproductive health needs and either initiation of LARC as requested or referral to other co-located medical providers with a specialty in reproductive health and administration of LARC.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Assistance with the integration of PPP’s Medication Assisted Treatment and Recovery Clinic with Hepatitis C, HIV, PrEP, Wound Care, and Reproductive Health services at PPP with direction from the HIV providers, Medical Director, and Director of HIV Services and actively collaborate with other medical staff and contracted medical clinicians, as well as non-clinical program Coordinators and Navigators/Case Managers to provide high quality integrated medical care and social work and care coordination to improve participant health and quality of life

· Conduct initial medical histories and physicals with new Medication Assisted Treatment and Recovery clinic participants on panel

· Review Medication Assisted Treatment and Recovery clinic participants in panel for necessary lab work, and/or referral and treatment for hepatitis C, HIV, PrEP, Wound Care, and Reproductive Health services

· Provide clinical specialty care including Hepatitis C, PrEP, HIV, Wound Care, and Reproductive Health care for participants in PPP’s Medication Assisted Treatment and Recovery Clinic

· Develop treatment care plans that holistically address substance use, hepatitis, HIV or prevention of HIV, wounds, and reproductive health care needs

· Conduct initial prescribing as well as ongoing medication management of individuals receiving substance use treatment services on site, including prescription of MOUD, as well as prescription of HIV, HCV, PrEP medications as appropriate based on testing results and interest in care

· Conduct in depth MAT and other medication adherence counseling in coordination with the Medical Director and all practice specialty clinicians, including novel strategies related to medication adherence which may involve transition to long acting medications, bridge and co-prescription of initial psychotropic medications for untreated mental health conditions, lower barrier MAT treatment for individuals with longer chronic substance use histories, on-site storage and administration of medication for unsheltered individuals, directly observed therapy, and community based street side medicine, outreach, and medication support

· Assist with roll out of novel group-based care models, including group treatment for OUD, as well as alternative induction and medication management strategies for OUD. Work with new technologies for the improvement of patient services and clinic operations

· Participate in quality improvement activities and evaluation of PPP’s HIV, HCV, PrEP, and MAT care continua

· Provide health counseling and education to primary care participants and specialty populations including people living with HIV/HCV, people who use drugs, those experiencing homelessness, and gender diverse persons

· Identify, evaluate, and address disease prevention and health promotion issues for clinic participants on topics such as safer drug use, wound management, prevention of HIV/HCV transmission, and sex worker safety

· Document patient encounters and health information in compliance with state regulatory standards and clinic policies and procedures in PPP’s EMR within 6-12 hours of provision of care

· Assist in implementing protocols and procedures to facilitate delivery of comprehensive health services

· Participate in-service training for all staff in selected topics of personal specialty as deemed necessary

· Perform additional duties as requested by the leadership team

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Current Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

· At least 1 year experience working in an ambulatory care setting

· Experience working with folks living with HIV and people who use drugs preferred

· Commitment to social justice, harm reduction and trauma-informed care

· Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative work approach

· Strong bed-side manner and communication abilities

· Ability to work well and communicate effectively with persons of varying educational, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.

· Bilingual in English/Spanish highly desirable

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

· This position is fulltime

· This position includes the normal physical demands of a community-based health program, including lifting/moving up to 25lbs, bending, and carrying. Other physical requirements include walking and standing for long periods and sitting for up to 30 minutes

· This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act

TO APPLY

· Submit CV and cover letter.

· Applications that do not contain both a CV and cover letter will not be considered

· Phone calls will not be taken for this position at this time.

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

I certify that I have read this position description and understand my duties and responsibilities as stated herein. I further understand that this job description does not in any way constitute a contract for continued employment. Prevention Point of Philadelphia maintains an at-will policy of employment, which means that employment and compensation may be terminated with or without cause and with or without notice at any time at the option of either the employer or the employee.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits: