Virtual Ward Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Our General Acute Medicine and Frailty Virtual Ward is a new and innovative Service, that has an agreed admission criteria and works in partnership with supporting care services to deliver acute care in the patient’s own home. The aim of a virtual ward is to reduce length of acute hospital stay and/or avoid hospital admission; this leads to quicker recovery and reduces disruption to patients’, and their carers’ lives. This means we can proactively manage people living with frailty at home, and for those that have a sub-acute episode we can improve a patient’s experience and outcomes. In addition, this means we have more space in our hospitals for acutely unwell patients and reduces the pressure on urgent care.

Role Summary
The post holder will have both UHNM and MPFT responsibility to promote clinical excellence in the care of patients referred to or managed by the Virtual Ward by providing clinical advice and support to nursing staff and other health care professionals. They will provide expert professional and independent clinical care which enables the coordination of a multi professional seamless service for all patients referred through the CRIS and Virtual Ward service.
The role will include developing audit and research projects within their sphere/ area of practice, and participating in up-dating and implementing departmental policies, protocols and guidelines, in line with national guidance and contemporary evidence

This post is part of the Acute Care at Home service which is responsible for the Unscheduled Care Co ordination Centre (UCCC), Community Rapid Intervention Service (CRIS) and the Community Virtual Ward Service (CVWS)

Key Areas/Tasks
The ACP will provide an alternative medical workforce within a new service providing acute care to patients in their own home / place of residence. The ACP will work as an autonomous expert within the patient’s home environment providing acute assessment, Intervention and medical management plan for that patient.
A list of main tasks and duties are outlined below but are not exhaustive due to the evolving nature of this role and service.
Use highly developed clinical knowledge to independently assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatments and interventions for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis referred by external agencies in to the Virtual Ward Service
Undertake physical examination as indicated by the patient’s condition; autonomously analysing complex clinical signs and investigation results to consider differential diagnoses and diagnose conditions, initiating treatment as required.
Perform clinical procedures appropriate to the history and physical examination of the patient, including further invasive testing and treatments requiring highly developed skills and precision, including (but not limited to) catheterisation, cannulation, peripheral arterial blood gas sampling as relevant within the patient’s own home setting.
Request investigations such as blood, urine and other laboratory tests, electrocardiographs (ECGs), ultrasound scans, X-Rays and computed tomography (CT) scans in accordance with IR(ME)R regulations and as local policy allows.
Autonomously formulate appropriate management plans for patients, formulate clinical decisions and often complex treatment plans to manage acute illness and acute episodes of chronic illness including referral, admission or discharge.
Continuously revaluate findings and clinical response to treatment and establish an appropriate ongoing management plan accordingly.
Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent and emergency situations, including initiation and leadership of resuscitation.
Manage regularly clinical events involving patients often requiring unpredictable and high levels of physical effort according to the patient’s dependency and clinical need.
Prescribe and review medication (as an independent prescriber) for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to patient need and in accordance with best/evidence based practice and national and local protocols and within the role’s scope of practice and legal framework.
Integrate both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment in patient care/management plans.
Assess patients with mental health needs using local policy and guidelines and refer to appropriate services.
Communicate effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and others using appropriate communication styles. Anticipate barriers to communication and ensure patients and significant others are kept fully informed and consent to treatment.
Work in partnership with the existing senior multi-disciplinary teams, driving service development and change.
Manage conflicting views and liaise between groups where there may be conflict.
Highlight and address areas of witnessed poor practice and manage the situation appropriately.
Manage staff performance, training and supervision of trainee ACPs including annual appraisals