Community Nurse

Community Nurse (Healthcare Coordinator)

ROLE DESCRIPTION :

POSITION SUMMARY : The Healthcare Coordinator is a part-time role (5-10 hours weekly) that provides oversight to the medical care and needs of the core members (adults with intellectual disabilities) who live in the five group homes of L’Arche Heartland. The Healthcare Coordinator works collaboratively with the staff members (DSPs) of each home to identify the needs of the seventeen core members and to ensure that all medication treatment orders and plans are being implemented competently by staff members working in the home.

The Healthcare Coordinator coordinates with physicians, pharmacy, guardians, medical staff and programing staff to ensure consistent and effective communication of core member conditions and needs. The Healthcare Coordinator ensures that assistants are trained in matters related to core members' health and safety.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Provide oversight to the medical care of core members by monitoring the healthcare of each core  member, according to current DHS regulations and standards. This includes ensuring proper  administration, handling, and disposal of medications during monthly medication monitoring visits to the home.
• On a monthly or bi-weekly basis, visit homes to check on each core member’s health status and address any concerns from core members or staff members.
• Communicate directly with House Coordinators to get updates on any concerns, follow up, or medication changes for core members.
• Complete a nursing assessment, review of nursing service packet, and re-authorization of staff members to administer medications annually.
• Teach the medication administration component of the State-mandated DSP training and authorize new assistants to pass medications.
• Attend core member annual plan meetings if necessary.
• Collaborate with House Leaders and the Director of Wellness to obtain medical services and specialty care with outside agencies as needed.
• Consult with House Leaders prior to major medical appointments and support the team with any necessary follow-up or outcomes.
• Accompany core members to major medical appointments as needed.
• Consult with House Leaders prior to core member beginning a new medication and ensure guardian consent when appropriate.
• Available for phone consultation with staff members to determine best course of action, intervention for medication occurrence or suspected illness, or injury of a core member.
• In the event of a hospitalization, be available to confer with the physician, and be aware of the plan of care for the core member while hospitalized. Be an integral part of the discharge planning process.
• Teach and update staff on various medical, health and safety, and medication topics.
• Become integrated into inexperienced staff member orientation for each house. Review medical concerns, unique needs, and individual diagnosis for each core member with the inexperienced staff member during their orientation.
• Monitor infection control practices in the homes and review quarterly.
• Develop relationships with health care providers, pharmacists, home care agencies and family members to facilitate optimum healthcare for each core member.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE :

COMPENSATION : $36 per hour + $10 per day on-call.

HOW TO APPLY :   Call or e-mail James Mickens- james@larcheks.org / 913-341-2265.