Registered Nurse Case Manager

The Organization:

Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) is a community-based health care organization. Our programs have been recognized as national models. With a career at Lowell Community Health Center, you will be joining a dynamic team of passionate and talented people.

The Position:

The Registered Nurse Care Manager assesses patients and families affected by HIV, Hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted diseases and provides case management to ensure high quality and cost-effective care. The goal of nurse case management is to promote/maintain optimal care for patients, to assist providers with patient management, and to enhance revenues by appropriate management of resources. Case management includes, but is not limited to, direct nursing care to caseload, patient teaching, procurement of other services as needed, and some limited home visits. The RN Care Manager responds to patient needs and assures health care services for patients and families are reflective of Lowell Community Health Center mission and values. Incumbent works as part of the nursing team that may extend to Adult Medicine Department and assists in the continuity of medical/health care for patients.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Direct care and support for people living with HIV and Hepatitis C
• Direct care and support for people accessing HIV/Hepatitis C/STI counseling and testing
• Pre-visit planning and care coordination for HIV and Hep C patients
• Complex care management for HIV patients
• Coordination with medical case management team for outreach efforts
• Oversight of treatment adherence program including nurse visit clinic
• Attendance at departmental and agency meetings

• Participate in individual supervision with Clinical Director
• Work collaboratively with treatment teams to assure optimal patient outcomes
• Attend interdisciplinary treatment team meetings
• Complete all required documentation/progress notes of client visits, phone calls in client’s  electronic medical record
• Responsible for the management, provision, and evaluation of nursing care in their center area of assignment.
• Assist with telephone and face-to-face patient communications, lab testing and patient education.
• Maintains clinical logs for central area. Develops a system for summarizing clinical and laboratory data for evaluation and planning purposes, and quality assurance.

• Assists with the planning and implementation of educational programs for patients and families to increase awareness of relevant medical conditions, decrease risk-behaviors, and increase responsibility for self-care.
• Attends and participates in in-service education programs for staff, quality assurance programs, and risk-management programs
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in an ambulatory or outpatient setting is desirable, with a focus on pediatric and/or adult nursing.
• 1-3 years of experience working with infectious disease preferred.
• Previous HIV/STI experience preferred.

License/Certifications

• Current CPR/BLS Certification
• Registered Nursing License in Massachusetts required.

 Experience/Other:

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Bilingual skills in English and Khmer, Spanish, Portuguese, Kiswahili, Pashto, desired.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequent standing and walking for up to 80% of the work day or shift. 
• Some lifting, pushing or pulling required up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to see and distinguish color.  
• Ability to perform CPR (chest compressions).

Non-Essential Functions:

• Other duties as assigned
• Performs work of equal skill and responsibility as directed.   May also perform work of a higher level in preparation for increased responsibility and may be requested to do work of lesser responsibility when the work load so requires.
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Work Environment:

Frequent contact with patients, families, visitors, nurses and other department staff. Occasional requests to change work areas to cover another priority area to meet patient needs. May be exposed to various body fluids and/or infectious diseases.  Universal precautions and techniques are included in orientation and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure.