Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant – WellMed – Harris, Fort Bend & Montgomery

WellMed, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a CareCoach Connect Palliative Care Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) to join our team. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live. The CCC Palliative Care APC will provide palliative, longitudinal and episodic medical care to mostly Medicare-aged patients on a Medicare Advantage plan. The clinician will conduct visits in patients’ homes and virtually to manage their acute and chronic conditions. The APC collaborates with the Associate Medical Director or Senior Medical Director to formulate a diagnosis and appropriate care plan. 

As a member of the Optum Care Delivery team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.

At Optum, you’ll have the clinical resources, data and support of a global organization behind you so you can help your patients live healthier lives. Here, you’ll work alongside talented peers in a collaborative environment that is guided by diversity and inclusion while driving towards the Quadruple Aim. We believe you deserve an exceptional career, and will empower you to live your best life at work and at home. Experience the fulfillment of advancing the health of your community with the excitement of contributing new practice ideas and initiatives that could help improve care for millions of patients across the country. Because together, we have the power to make health care better for everyone. Join us and discover how rewarding medicine can be while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

APC will provide care to patients in all advertised counties: Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend

Position Highlights & Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide care in patient’s homes and virtually consistent with their licensure and/or certification
• Diagnose and treat both acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and other chronic medical conditions. The APC will also treat acute conditions such as injuries and other medical conditions such as infections or exacerbations of chronic disease
• Order and interpret diagnostic lab work, x-rays, EKG
• Prescribe pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for both acute and chronic conditions
• Perform procedures based on the patient’s condition (ex: place IVs, wound debridement, joint injections, vaccinations, etc.)
• Collaborate with lead Associate Medical Director/Senior Medical Director, specialists, other health care team members, the patient and family in developing a plan of care
• Determine effectiveness of interdisciplinary treatment plan, evaluate patient response, and revise plan of care accordingly including program designation, discharge planning and frequency of visits and visitors
• Communicate effectively with patients and families for understanding of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plans
• Oversee the census of longitudinal care patients and manage them with the team on a regular basis (census may change regularly due to geographic catchment area changes)
• Transition appropriate patients to hospice or back to usual care when clinically necessary
• Perform transition of care evaluations and acute visits for patients when clinically necessary
• Prepare and maintain accurate patient records, and documents
• Provide palliative education to patients and families regarding chronic disease management, symptom management and quality of life expectations
• On-Call responsibilities as required
• Travel to outlying areas to provide patient care as necessary
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Compensation/Benefits Highlights:

• Base Salary plus Incentive bonus target
• Optum Care Advanced Provider Clinician Partnership Plan
• 401k with match and UHG Employee Stock Purchase Program
• 160 hours of PTO, 40 hours CME, and 9 national holidays
• Comprehensive Benefits from Optum Partner Services 

In 2011, WellMed partnered with Optum to provide care to patients across Texas and Florida. WellMed is a network of doctors, specialists and other medical professionals that specialize in providing care for more than 1 million older adults with over 16,000 doctors’ offices. At WellMed our focus is simple. We’re innovators in preventative health care, striving to change the face of health care for seniors. WellMed has more than 22,000+ primary care physicians, hospitalists, specialists, and advanced practice clinicians who excel in caring for 900,000+ older adults. Together, we’re making health care work better for everyone.

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant Program
• Current Licensure through the State Board of Nurse Examiners or State Medical Board
• Current prescriptive authority from the State Board of Nursing or State Medical Board
• Comfortable with chronic condition management for Medicare-aged population
• Must have a valid driver’s license within the state of work
• Ability to establish effective working relations with patients and their families

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years internal medicine/family practice with geriatric care experience
• Knowledge of Palliative care and end of life symptom management
• Home health experience
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) language proficiency preferred
• Ability to assess the physical, and psychosocial, status of geriatric populations
• Ability to work independently and interdependently with the interdisciplinary team, showing initiative and motivation

The salary range for this role is $104,500 to $156,000 per year based on full-time employment. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. UnitedHealth Group complies with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.