Responsible for providing primary healthcare to patients and families, focusing on health maintenance, disease prevention, patient education and counseling. Works under direct supervision of a physician following established guidelines as required and within established scope of practice. Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas: - As SVH team members, we hold each other and ourselves accountable to our Standards of Excellence in everything we do. - Demonstrates the ability to perform physical exams on all patients, neonate through the geriatric population. - Obtains and documents patient's medical history. Identifies health risk factors. - Demonstrates the ability to diagnose and treat common acute illnesses. - Demonstrates the ability to diagnose and treat chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. - Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors. - Orders and interprets diagnostic tests, i.e., laboratory work, x-rays, EKG. - Provides well child care; women's healthcare, prenatal care, family planning. - Demonstrates the ability to prescribe medications (see individual state laws) and non-pharmacological therapies based on the patient's diagnoses, health history and age. - Encourages positive health behaviors for the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease. This is done through education and counseling. - Always applies standardized care guidelines in clinical practice. - Provides patient and/or family with health education, counseling and referrals to other healthcare professionals and community resources when appropriate. - Assesses and documents patient and/or family psychosocial issues. - Treats patients and families with respect and dignity. - Collaborates with physicians and other members of the health team to plan optimal care for the patient. - Works with the patient and family to formulate a patient treatment and education plan. - Provides follow-up care, determines effectiveness of the treatment plan, reassesses and changes the plan as needed. - Documentation meets all standards and policies. Documentation includes all findings, interventions and results. - Maintains patient confidentiality at all times. - Functions as a patient advocate. - Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations. - Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (OQI) activities. - Stays current with medical advancements, new technology, new drugs through continuing education classes, society meetings, professional journals etc. - Follows the five medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors. - Attends all departmental, organizational and medical staff committee meetings as appropriate. - Assists with development and implementation of specific policies and procedures.