Wellness Nurse

SouthCoast Health; Savannah (GA); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

SouthCoast Health seeks an experienced clinician to perform Annual Wellness Visits and preventive care in our clinic. You will conduct assessments, document in the EMR, and discuss preventive recommendations with patients.

Responsibilities include depression screening, cognitive screening, and coordinating with care teams to ensure high-quality, patient-centered care while maintaining confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited practical/vocational nursing program (LPN preferred).
• High school graduate or equivalent (MA).
• Graduate of an accredited Medical Assisting program, or Military MA/EMT-A/paramedic.
• Exception possible with national medical assisting certification and 2+ years experience.

Responsibilities

• Provides professional nursing care during Annual Wellness Visits.
• Documents AWV in the EMR and coordinates with care teams.
• Promotes wellness with patient education materials and instructions.
• Performs depression, cognitive and functional screenings; reports critical findings to physician.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and supports care coordination programs.

Skills

Assessment skills

Confidentiality & HIPAA

EMR documentations

Communication

Education

LPN qualification

MA/Medical Assisting training

EMT-A or Paramedic

Tools

EMR system

Job description

Description

JOB SUMMARY

Responsible for providing professional nursing care while conducting annual wellness visits to our clinic patients under the general policies and procedures established by SouthCoast Health. Will participate in providing health promotion, health maintenance and management of illnesses for patients.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creates a caring and healing environment that keeps the patient and family at the center of care throughout their experience at SouthCoast.
• Conducts Annual Wellness Visits (AWV) according to guidelines set forth by Medicare and ensure they are within insurance plans timeline.
• Document Annual Wellness Visits in the patient’s electronic medical record.
• Develops patient preventive reports in line with the Annual Wellness Visits guidelines and discusses preventive recommendations with patient.
• Conduct depression screening and brings any outliers to physician’s attention.
• Conduct Time and Go test and document in electronic medical record.
• Conduct the functional assessment to evaluate patient basic life skills and documents in electronic medical record.
• Conduct mini cognitive screening on patients as directed by the primary care physician.
• Use EMR messaging to communicate cases that may require further care coordination to the Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) program or Chronic Care Management (CCM) program.
• Use motivational interviewing strategies to initiate advance care planning. Discuss end of life and/or hospice. Assist patient with completing Advance Directive form.
• Be knowledgeable on how to obtain patient lists from the AWV registry.
• Maintain knowledge and skills in use of EMR to document elements of the AWV and communicate with Physician on critical findings.
• Maintains confidentiality in matters regarding the clinic, its patients and employees
• Promotes wellness by providing patient education materials, communicating physicians’ advice and instructions on how to self-manage care.
• Performs clinical and non-clinical duties assigned by Supervisor. Assists in other physician areas as assigned by Supervisor.
• Reports to work on a regular and consistent basis.

Requirements

EDUCATION

• LPN: Preferred: Graduate of an accredited school of practical/vocational nursing program.
• MA: High school graduate or equivalent required.

• 1. Graduate of an accredited Medical Assisting training program, or
• 2. Medical Assistant in the military, or
• 3. EMT-A or paramedic is required.

*An exception may be granted to individuals that have not attended an accredited training program but do have (i) a national certification in medical assisting and (ii) a minimum of 2 years of medical assisting experience. Such exception may only occur following (i) a thorough evaluation of the individual’s experience; training/education; skills and qualifications, (ii) a determination by the Director of Nursing that such individual has the requisite skills and knowledge to perform as a Medical Assistant and (iii) written approval from two Executive Committee members.*

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of one-year clinical experience, preferably in a hospital or office practice setting.

REQUIREMENTS

• LPN/MA: Current BLS/CPR Certification.
• KNOWLEDGE:
• Knowledge and demonstrated proficiency in performing clinical skills
• Knowledge of policies and procedures related to infection control, environmental safety and patient confidentiality.
• Knowledge of medical charge reporting/records.

SKILLS

• Skill in appropriate assessment and assistance techniques.
• Skill in appropriate use of universal precautions, safe workplace and confidentiality methods.
• Skill in health information management by appropriately charting patient data.
• Skill in the utilization of tact.
• Skill in use of computer.

ABILITIES

• Ability to perform independently within department’s policies and procedures.
• Ability to exercise professionalism in dealing with all levels of personnel, patients, and patients families.
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Ability to work effectively as team member with physicians and other staff.
• Ability to respond to changing demands in a flexible manner.

ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS

Primarily clinical setting. May be subject to infectious materials through the collection or handling of body fluids (i.e. blood, urine, sputum); medicinal preparation; caring for patients with highly infectious/contagious diseases. Occasional stress due to workload pressure. Initial Hepatitis B screening and initial and annual TB screening/testing is required.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS

Requires standing, walking for long periods of time. Occasionally sits, lifts and carries items weighing up to 20 pounds. Frequently required to talk, hear, eye/hand coordination as well as keyboarding. Occasionally stooping, lifting, grasping, pushing/pulling and grip strength.

HIPAA

This position shall have full access to information in a patient’s medical record, in order to provide quality patient care. Patient information is to be held strictly confidential. Patient information will not be used or disclosed for any purpose other than the performance of job responsibilities and duties. Access to a user’s own medical record and/or family members medical records is strictly prohibited unless related to job responsibilities.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT STATEMENT

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job functions either unaided or with assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

SouthCoast Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. Applicants selected for employment will be subject to pre-employment drug screening.