Physician Assistant / Geriatrics / Maine / Locum Tenens / Physician Assistant / Nurse Practitioner? Palliative Care

Position Summary :

The Palliative Care Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is an integral member of the interdisciplinary palliative care team delivering goal-concordant care to residents in long-term care and skilled nursing facility settings. This role emphasizes high-quality communication, symptom management, and alignment of medical treatment with patient and family values. The APP will work under the guidance of a board-certified palliative care physician and in collaboration with the patient?s broader care team, including primary medical providers, nursing, social work, therapy, and facility leadership.

Key Responsibilities :

• Palliative Patient Care :
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of residents with serious illness, including symptom burden, functional status, and psychosocial needs.
• Initiate and adjust management plans for pain, dyspnea, delirium, constipation, nausea, anxiety, depression, and other distressing symptoms in collaboration with the palliative care physician.
• Monitor and adjust pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic symptom interventions with attention to safety, efficacy, and comfort.
• Goals of Care and Advance Care Planning :
• Engage residents and families in compassionate, culturally sensitive discussions around goals of care, code status, and advance directives.
• Document advance care planning conversations in accordance with facility and regulatory guidelines.
• Collaborate with the primary team to align care plans with resident and family wishes, ensuring clarity of intent and communication.
• Transitions and End-of-Life Planning :
• Assist in identifying residents appropriate for hospice referral and facilitate timely transitions when indicated.
• Support end-of-life care planning, including symptom anticipation, family support, and hospice coordination.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration :
• Participate in weekly or bi-weekly interdisciplinary palliative care rounds.
• Communicate with the attending primary care provider and broader medical team to ensure coordination and continuity of care.
• Collaborate closely with social workers, chaplains, and nursing teams to address psychosocial, spiritual, and caregiver needs.
• Education and Support :
• Provide bedside education to residents, families, and staff on disease progression, treatment expectations, and comfort-focused care strategies.
• Serve as a resource for facility staff to enhance understanding of palliative principles and symptom management protocols.
• Documentation and Billing :
• Document patient visits, care plans, and communications in the medical record within 24 hours of encounter.
• Submit billing documentation consistent with regulatory requirements and palliative care coding standards.
• Quality and Compliance :
• Contribute to palliative care quality improvement initiatives, including symptom tracking, family satisfaction, and facility-specific outcome measures.
• Adhere to evidence-based guidelines and facility protocols related to palliative and end-of-life care.
• Professional Development :
• Maintain active licensure and pursue ongoing education in palliative and geriatric care.
• Attend case conferences, journal clubs, and in-service trainings as directed by the palliative care medical director.

Position Details :

Position is based in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, requiring direct patient and family interaction.

APP will work four days per week, with on-site responsibilities during daytime hours and participation in rotating call schedules as assigned.

Call will be remote, limited to covering urgent needs related to palliative care cases.

Requirements :

Ability to conduct in-room evaluations, attend care plan meetings, and engage in bedside family conferences.

Physical stamina to support active movement throughout large facility campuses.

Capacity to respond with emotional resilience to residents and families experiencing serious illness and grief.

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $135,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year

Benefits :

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Vision insurance

Work Location : In person