Acute Care Provider

Job Summary

Under the general direction and supervision of the Chief Medical Officer, the Acute Care Provider with licensure of MD, DO, NP, and PA is responsible for delivering a full range of primary care and episodic patient services consistent with the Scope of Practice allowed by the State of West Virginia. Serving as a frontline clinician for urgent and acute care needs within the community health center, this role supports a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model that emphasizes team-based, coordinated care.

The provider participates as an active member of the clinical team, contributes to the development, implementation, and enforcement of clinical standards and protocols, and is committed to delivering high-quality, equitable care to diverse and underserved populations in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Unlike traditional primary care, your focus will be on the "right now”, managing acute illnesses, minor injuries, and urgent complications of chronic conditions. You will bridge the gap between routine office visits and the Emergency Room, ensuring our patients receive timely intervention regardless of their ability to pay.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Episodic Care Delivery: Works effectively with the Chief Medical Officer and support staff to provide high-quality medical care for walk-in, same-day, and acute-need patients. Unlike a traditional PCP, this provider focuses on episodic stabilization rather than long-term panel management.

• Clinical Triage & Procedures: Based upon license and privileges, performs high-acuity outpatient procedures including, but not limited to: suturing/laceration repair, incision and drainage (I&D), splinting, and foreign body removal.

• PCMH Integration (The "Warm Handoff"): Functions as a key member of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model by ensuring a seamless transition of care. This includes documenting acute visits for the patient's assigned PCP and identifying unassigned patients for empanelment within the VHC network.

• Acute-on-Chronic Stabilization: Manages acute exacerbations of chronic conditions (e.g., asthma flares, hypertensive urgency, or diabetic hyperglycemia) and provides immediate intervention before referring to the Emergency Department or the patient's primary provider for long-term management.

• Diagnostic Efficiency: Orders and interprets point-of-care (POC) testing and diagnostic imaging to provide rapid clinical decision-making and patient disposition.

• Resource Coordination: Works with VHC staff to screen for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) that may impact the success of the acute treatment plan (e.g., pharmacy access, transportation, or housing).

• Community Education: Participates in outreach and educational programs with a focus on appropriate healthcare utilization, helping patients understand when to seek acute care versus the emergency room.

• Compliance & Continuity: Complies with clinical policies that ensure continuity of care, focusing on the immediate health needs of VHC patients while upholding the mission of being "Here for Good."

• The Provider will manage same-day, open access, and walk-in patients, addressing immediate acute needs and stabilizing condition for transition back to their assigned Primary Care Provider (PCP).

• Based upon license and privileges, provides a full range of services in the outpatient setting and assists in the referral of patients to other outside services when appropriate.

• Cooperates with all provider staff in the conduct of a meaningful and productive peer review process, ensuring they meet all required quality measures and demonstrate improvements when needed.

• Works with other VHC staff in effecting a comprehensive patient education process as part of an overall wellness approach to disease prevention.

• Acute care will focus more on the 10 day approach rather than the PCP 10 yr approach so consider adding this and leaving the disease prevention. "Education focused on acute symptom management, medication adherence for the current illness, and warning signs requiring emergency intervention."

• Promotes VHC and its services to the community in general, the medical community, and the many, and varied, constituents. Involvement with appropriate local, state or national professional organizations is encouraged.

• Assists the Chief Medical Officer and VHC executive staff wherever possible in pursuit of additional grant and funding opportunities consistent with the mission of VHC to expand the center’s capacity to meet the health needs of the community.

• Comply with the established clinical policies and procedures that address established standards of medical care and ensure continuity of care that focuses on all the health care needs of VHC patients.

• Provides excellent patient-centered customer service while being friendly and courteous to all employees and patients; can handle multiple tasks at once and can compassionately and empathetically care for patients.

• Upholds the Code of Ethics and mission of Valley Health Care, Inc. by conducting professional activities with Valley Health Care’s values of integrity, teamwork, compassion, excellence, and Here for Good.

• Examine patients for symptoms or physical information.

• Elicits and records information about patients’ medical history.

• Orders or executes various tests, analyses, and diagnostic images to provide information on patient's condition. Rapid interpretation of point-of-care (POC) testing (Strep, Flu, COVID, UA, Glucose) and immediate triage of potentially life-threatening conditions to higher levels of care (ER).

• Analyzes reports and findings of tests, examination, and diagnoses condition of patients.

• Administers or prescribes treatments and medications.

• Promotes health by advising patients concerning diet, hygiene, and methods for prevention of disease.

• Promotes vaccines for prevention of communicable diseases.

• Performs procedures commensurate with surgical competency per licensure and privileges.

• Refers patients to medical specialist for consultant services when necessary for patient's well-being

• Refers patients to medical specialists or other practitioners for specialized treatment.

• Conducts physical examinations to provide information needed for admission to school, consideration for jobs, or eligibility for insurance coverage.

• Other duties may be assigned.