APP - Pulmonary - Augusta, GA

Facility: AU Medical Associates, Inc.

Experienced APP interested in common pulmonary procedures including thoracentesis, chest tube placement, ultrasound who provides support and coordinates the procedural aspect of the Interventional Pulmonology program at Wellstar-MCG health. Most of the procedures involve patients who have lung cancer or metastatic disease to the lung or has a lung lesion that needs a diagnosis. The APP will evaluate both in and out-patient, prepare patients for procedure, follow-up on patients after biopsy results are available and coordinate further care along with the nurse navigator to facilitate access to cancer care. Procedural training will be provided.

The schedule is Monday-Friday, 8a-5p.

Position Summary

The APP will act as a resource and provide guidance of patient services by working closely with physicians, nurse-navigators, administrative staff, scheduling specialists in both the inpatient and ambulatory arenas.

Duties & Responsibilities

80% Patient Services

• Act as a contact person for Interventional Pulmonology inpatient consults and evaluate patients.
• Collaborate with Pulmonary consult team and other members of the Pulmonary division to confirm patient is appropriate for Interventional Pulmonology evaluation
• Triage all new patient (out and inpatient) referrals to determine urgency
  • Verify scheduling of ordered procedures/testing and ensures patients have the appropriate information/testing prior to clinic visit
• Complete H&P prior to all procedures both in and outpatient (4 half day outpatient clinics)
• Oversee procedures
  • Reviews medications and history
  • Completes procedural H&P
  • Collaborates with the inpatient team to ensure an understanding of the patient’s plan of care upon admission (post-procedural or pre-planned)
  • Collaborates with Anesthesia, Endo suite, and OR for seemless scheduling
  • Collaborates with PFT lab, DHC, OR for scheduling as needed
• Provides regular updates to attending physicians
  • Track and report radiographic imaging results
  • Track and report laboratory/pathology results
• Orders
• Liaison between patients and social workers to provide patient assistance with social issues – home care, hospice, transportation, etc.
• Follow-up patient calls as needed for well checks – frequent pleurx patients, patients discharged from inpatient admission, day after procedure well checks,
• Attend clinic with attending physicians (Dr Islam and Dr Allen)
• Review records of all new outpatient and intpatient referrals to confirm required information is available in coordination with the nurse navigator
• Communicate with referring physicians (office or clinic staff) to obtain any missing medical records or biopsy results
• Review all medication list prior to any procedures (e.g. anticoagulation) prior to scheduling any procedures
• Coordinate and facilitate diagnostic imaging, scheduling of procedures, follow up appointments in clinic.
• Interface with study coordinators and facilitate patients for clinical trials multidisciplinary research meetings
• Call prescriptions/refills as needed
• Manage pleural catheter patients (adequate training will be provided)

• Liaison with phone triage as needed to respond to clinical issues presented by patient and report to CNP and/or attending
• Provides patient education to new and established patients as needed
• Provides education on pleural catheter drainage, bronchoscopy
• Acts as a resource to clinic nursing and non-nursing staff to ensure all staff involved are informed regarding the patient plan of care

20% Administrative

• Creates, maintains and distributes an updated calendar of procedures to all team members
• Maintain a database of all IP procedures performed
• Helps attending physicians develop and maintain clinical protocols for patient evaluation, peri-procedure management and post-procedure surveillance as needed.
• Attends pulmonary case discussion meetings/ Thoracic tumor board
• Attends staff and department meetings as requested
• Attends local and national meetings as required
• Collaborates to develop standard operating procedures for area of responsibility
• Maintains IRB/Research database as appropriate
• Assists with completion of patient applications for FMLA, social security, insurance, disability, etc.
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives
• Identifies areas for improvement and collaborates to enhance the patient experience

Minimum Qualifications

For Hire: Appropriate state licensure. Completion of APP training. Interest in performing procedures. Previous hospital experience preferred but not required.  Oncology and/or ICU experience is a plus.

On-going: Attend conferences and other educational seminars as needed.

Supervisory responsibility: None