EDUCATION/LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Current, valid licensure as an Advanced Practice Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing; or current, valid licensure as a Physician Assistant from the Colorado Medical Board

Substitutions:

• None

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will have two or more years experience in the following areas:

• Prescriptive Authority in the State of Colorado
• Adolescent health care
• Assessing, diagnosing, and treatment of acute and chronic illness
• Documentation in an electronic medical record
• Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Full Background. CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults - Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
• Must be able to obtain a Colorado Advanced Practicing Nurse or Physician Assistant license within 1 year after hire date.
• Shift Work : 24/7 facility, may require evenings and weekend coverage
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver’s License
• Be a minimum of 21 years of age.
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas
• The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At the DYS, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

ABOUT US:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services(CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STAFF AND PROVIDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THEREFORE, WE ENCOURAGE RESPONSES FROM PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION:

Deliver health care to detained, pre-trial, and committed youth. Primary care is provided by licensed independent practitioners/Mid Level Providers with responsibility for a continuum of health care from initial assessment through development and maintenance of health care including physical, psychiatric, and dental maintenance.
Clinical Management: Functions as the facility responsible health authority (RHA). Ensures health screens, health appraisals, histories and physicals, and SOAP notes reflect accurate assessments and appropriate treatments and referrals. Supervises the health screens, health appraisals, and physical exams of all youth admitted to the facility through observation and review of documentation by medical clinic staff. Ensures that communicable diseases are detected in a timely manner and appropriate action is taken to prevent their spread within the facility. Reports to the CDC/State Health Department per requirements in applicable cases. Serves as the facilities’ lead decision maker during emergency medical situations. Approves and monitors effectiveness of plans and adjusts them as indicated. Responsible to oversee accuracy of pharmacy orders. Communicates pertinent and appropriate health information to facility staff, families, supervisors and administration to ensure ongoing optimal health care for all youth in the facility. Functions in the medical clinic as the first line resource for staff when evaluating case complexity. Determines the need for referrals to other physicians and/or specialists for medical, dental and specialty problems beyond the scope of the facility clinic in a fiscally minded manner. Main contact with the DYS Medical Director for consultation and collaboration on individual cases. Oversees the general function of the medical clinic to include determining staffing patterns, and assigning workload based on the ongoing needs of the facility. Budget oversight to include ordering and maintaining adequate medical clinic supplies. Responsible for coordinating all medical, dental, and mental health care with outside providers for the committed and detained youth. Point of contact for prior authorization for specialized medical care. Responsible to track all prior authorization requests to ensure accuracy and follow-through.
Participates or selects a candidate to represent medical on a number of committees that may include but is not limited to facility management team, medical leadership team, mental health team, special management program team, EHR, EAC, and safety committee. Participates as the primary point of contact with other clinics requesting consultation and/or assistance with coverage.
Serves as the lead medical liaison with the mental health team. Supervises and trains clinic staff on the evaluation of mental status and mental health conditions of youth. Oversees and assures appropriate mental health referrals and interventions are practiced by medical clinic staff. Consults and collaborates with supervisors, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and other mental health clinicians to determine the need for further evaluation or intervention. Initiates and/or assists in the facilitation of referrals for further mental health treatment and potential transfers. Participates in meetings with psychiatric team and DYS or contracted psychiatrists. Ensures coordination between clinic and contracted psychiatric services provided at the facility, to include acquisition of psychotropic medications as ordered.
Oversees and monitors the necessity, coordination and transportation of youth to specialty medical services off campus. Supervises the coordination of appointments for specialty care to include but not limited to optometry clinics and dental clinics and follow up on recommendations made by those providers. Collaborates directly with the DYS Medical Director and/or other providers to determine referrals to other specialty providers in the community and that necessary follow up is completed to ensures ongoing and continuing care of youth with special health care needs
Supervision of Staff: Provides ongoing supervision of the assessment and diagnostic skills of the medical clinic staff through regular observation of their practice and review of the documentation in electronic health record. Supervises clinic staff on proper documentation, to include but not limited to histories, exams, diagnoses, and treatment in the medical record. Completes and reviews staff documentation on daily medical documents pertinent to the medical department. Supervises clinic staff on safe and legal protocols to prepare and administer medication without error. Supervision of medical clinic staff to include hiring of new staff, disciplining or terminating employees as indicated, ongoing staff performance feedback, through coaching and mentoring, completion of PMAP’s, and accountability for timekeeping-through KRONOS system. Facilitates resolution of interpersonal conflicts, investigates and problem solves internal and external complaints and grievances from staff, youth, family, and other customers. Scheduling of clinic staff based on the needs of the clinic and the facility. Approves or denies individual leave. Orients and trains new staff to include students and interns. Point of contact for the local schools for RN, NP or PA students. Facilitates regular staff meetings.
Data and Reporting: Collects and reports monthly statistical data for required for Behavioral Health and Medical Services, and the KPI’s for the facility. Review policies and procedures on a regular basis and collaborates with facility administrators and supervisors in the writing and/or revising facility medical implementing procedures. Completes the medical logs pertinent to medical departme
Clinical Duties: Performs physical exams, orders appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic tests, interprets results, formulates treatment plans using established protocol, and documents thoroughly. Detects and prevents the spread of communicable infectious disease by interviewing youth through the completion of health appraisals, sick calls and the obtaining of complete histories. Participates in obtaining data for health program planning. Consults with the DYS Medical Director for necessary referrals to other physicians and specialists for medical, dental and specialty problems beyond the scope of the medical clinic. Consults with the DYS Medical Director regarding variance from established protocols or when protocols are unavailable. Provides health education and training to both youth and staff, regarding the health care needs of high risk adolescents in a secure correctional facility. Documents history, exam, diagnosis, treatment in medical record. Provides written guidelines for staff including emergency care. Communicates information to staff, supervisors and administration. This includes Food Service for medical diet and food allergy purposes and the school or other units as appropriate. Evaluates mental status, mental health conditions of youth through interview and observation. Use established protocol for prescribing medication and treatment for diagnosed illness. Prepares and administers medication without error. Diagnoses medical problems including emergency medical situations by performing physical exams, obtaining lab tests, ordering diagnostic tests, interpreting results, formulating treatment plans, including education. Initiates and monitors effectiveness of plans and adjusting them as indicating. Communicates information to the appropriate DYS personnel