Nurse Consultant

DC Government; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

DC Government seeks an experienced nurse to lead quality assurance and compliance for health services within the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). The incumbent applies nursing processes to assess, evaluate, and improve health care for individuals with IDD across residential, day, and vocational settings.

The role involves advisory services, training to providers, families, and staff, and ensuring adherence to HIPAA and district policies.

Qualifications

• Must have one (1) year or more full years of professional nursing experience at the next lower grade level.
• Four (4) years of related work experience evaluating healthcare delivery in disability services across settings.
• Graduate or higher-level nursing degree required; education cannot substitute for experience at this level.
• Current, active, full, unrestricted nursing license in DC or eligible.

Responsibilities

• Conduct analytical and evaluative quality assurance reviews of clinical services and performance among DDA providers.
• Identify deficiencies, propose corrective actions, and monitor implementation.
• Review clinical documentation and health care delivery across settings; produce reports.
• Communicate findings clearly; ensure HIPAA privacy and data security.
• Collaborate with DDS staff to improve community living arrangements and risk management.

Skills

Professional nursing experience

Compliance monitoring methods

Knowledge of health care regulations

Therapeutic regimens knowledge

Communication skills

Clinical evaluation skills

Data/documentation skills

Software applications (MCIS)

Education

Nursing degree (RN)

Tools

MCIS

Job description

If you like to stay busy and immersed in cultural activities, then Washington, DC is the place to be! Museums, restaurants, great climate, green space, and job opportunities are among the many positives of living in the Nation’s Capital. Not to mention the residents of the District of Columbia are highly educated and the region has some of the best schools in the country. Each day the District of Columbia continues to be ranked in the top 10 of thriving city indicators where you can live, work and play.

INTRODUCTION:

This position is located in the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), Service Coordination Health & Wellness Division.This unit is responsible for the evaluation and enhancement of health care and health care services for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities receiving services from the DDA.

The incumbent provides consultative and advisory services using nursing processes of assessment, evaluation, and intervention as applicable.This includes the provision of technical assistance and training to the provider community, family members, individuals served, and others relating to supporting health promotion and disease prevention.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Incumbent conducts analytical and evaluative quality assurance reviews of clinical services and performance among DDA residential, day and vocational service providers. Identifies program and clinical deficiencies, provides recommendations for corrective actions, and monitors implementation of recommendations. In addition, reviews program operations for compliance with applicable federal and District government laws, regulations, licensure requirements, and Department policies. Conducts visits to hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long term acute care facilities, clinics, and physician offices to ensure that individuals are receiving optimal and appropriate health care.Provides health counseling, training, and/or technical assistance to individuals, their families, caregivers, support staff, providers, and others individually or groups.Collaborates with other DDS staff in the evaluation of community living arrangements.Provides timely response, documents findings, and follow up in a clear and concise manner. Ensures implementation of and compliance with appropriate risk management protocols within the DDA provider network.
• R eviews clinical documentation, acuity level determination packets and monitors health care delivery in a variety of settings.Disseminates clinical practice policies and standards throughout the provider community. Coordinates reviews and uses standardized tools to collect data to evaluate the delivery of clinical services to determine the effectiveness of the services rendered and to identify areas for improvement.Records, tracks, and updates information using the Agency’s standardized automated system (MCIS). May be required to produce analytical reports on individual programs and aggregate those reports as required highlighting patterns and trends. Creates reports to communicate health care deficiencies to providers.Reviews reports from Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA), Protection and Advocacy Consultants, Court Monitors, Service Coordinators, Department of Health, incident management investigators, quality management specialists, Quality Trust, and others. Provides for the security of information, personnel, and physical Agency assets under his/her control or influence. Ensures the security and privacy of personal information, as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other laws and regulations.
• Makes recommendation to the DDA Health and Wellness Unit Manager to develop, review, and revise the organizational Performance Improvement Plan. Collects information, analyzes data, assesses emerging issues, forecasts trends, provides analyses, and develops plans of action to assist the Manager in making informed decisions regarding quality improvement issues. Evaluates ongoing and proposed activities, policies, and procedures for potential exposure of the District Government to liability or unnecessary costs and makes recommendations to the supervisor as to ways to mitigate such risks.
• Represents the DDA at various committees and stakeholder groups, including but not limited to Immediate Response Committee, Mortality Review Committee, and Quality Improvement Committee, as well as external committees and meetings.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicant must have one (1) year or more full years of professional nursing experience that is equivalent at the next lower grade level. Four (4) years of related work experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to evaluating the delivery of healthcare to people with disabilities living in a variety of environments, to include residential group homes, natural homes, hospitals, and nursing/rehab facilities.

Applicants must have met the qualifications requirement for this position by the closing date to be eligible for this position.

EDUCATION

Minimum requirement:A graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required.

Education cannot be substituted for experience at this level.

LICENSURES, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

For all grade levels and positions, applicants must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. In addition, they must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Applicant must be currently licensed in the District of Columbia.

WORK EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

Professional knowledge of compliance monitoring methods and appropriate treatments of acute and chronic diseases as well as knowledge of health and clinical services delivered in a developmental disability service system or program.

Knowledge of applicable Federal, District government, and Department of Health Care Finance regulations, policies, and procedures as they pertain to developmental disabilities.

Knowledge of therapeutic regimens, the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of health and/or clinical services and to interpret routine diagnostic and laboratory tests.

Knowledge of community resources and proven ability in connecting people and organization with those resources as appropriate.

Knowledge of and the ability to operate relevant software applications.

Skill in advocating for people receiving health care services from a variety of community and institutional providers or natural supports, e.g., family or friends.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Collective Bargaining Unit

This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) .

Additional information

Once applications are submitted, applicants will not be able to change their responses to the online questions.

The position for which the individual is applying has been identified and designated as requiring enhanced suitability screening.

If tentatively selected for the position, a criminal background check, traffic record check, consumer credit check, and mandatory drug and alcohol test will be conducted (as appropriate); and

The appointee to the position may be offered employment contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory enhanced suitability screening.

Work Schedule

This position requires 4 days a week in the office.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.Your application includes your resume, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume will result in a "not qualified" determination.

EEO Statement

The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.