CDOC Mid-Level Provider/(Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assist) ) - Gender Affirming Care - (Denver)

Gender Affirming Care Provider

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and build greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.

In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans. Correctional Officers I-IV qualify as "Safety Officers" and are eligible for increased PERA benefits;
• Medical and dental health plans;
• Short and long term disability coverage;
• Paid life insurance;
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;
• Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more.

This position provides initial assessment, diagnosis and hormone treatment for gender affirming care during the first year, and for patients who need additional consultation or have more than typical maintenance of hormone prescription needs. This position is responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Perform physical examinations and obtain detailed histories on assigned patients;
• Assess and provide gender affirming treatment for the initiation of hormones and the first 12 months of maintenance,
• Follow-up hormone treatment on a case by case basis, post-operative assessment and care, and referrals to outside providers for surgery requests.
• Prescribe medications from the CDOC formulary using applicable CDOC guidelines and policies;
• Conduct sick call, emergency treatment or chronic care clinic as assigned;
• Make rounds in an infirmary or skilled nursing care setting;
• Diagnose and treat medical conditions and disorders within scope of practice;
• Order laboratory tests and other diagnostic testing pertinent to the gender affirming care of offenders;
• Perform minor medical procedures such as suturing lacerations, incision and drainage of abscesses, excision of cysts, application of splints and casts, and removal of toenails;
• Provide emergency medical coverage to offenders including performing basic life support and lifesaving procedures for emergencies such as cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, massive hemorrhage or similar emergencies or life support measures;
• May be required to assess dental and mental health emergencies and refer appropriately;
• Provide coordination of gender affirming treatment referrals including but not limited to: receiving referrals for hormone treatment, receiving referrals for gender affirming procedures.
• Facilitate review of gender affirming treatment referrals by the Gender Dysphoria Treatment Committee.
• Provide consultation regarding gender affirming care to facility providers upon request, and refer to appropriate specialists, as needed.
• Will chair Gender Dysphoria Treatment Committee, and be an active participant in placement reviews for transgender offenders, and participate in other committees as assigned.
• Perform offender health record reviews;
• Review laboratory, x-ray and EKG results and intervene as medically indicated;
• Perform venipuncture and other related laboratory tests;
• Follow the CDOC clinical services standards and procedures, protocols, guidelines, or policies pertaining to medical practice and treatment as specified by Clinical Services administration;
• May provide initial emergency medical treatment for facility staff;
• Travel to other correctional facilities to assist during a staffing crisis;
• Communicate with outside providers and internal peers to ensure continuity of care;
• Collaborate with other health care professionals, clinical services staff regarding offender health issues/policies, transfers, classifications and medical legal concerns;
• Stays up to date on national trends and standards of care related to gender affirming treatment
• Participate in various decision making committees to resolve system issues;
• Assist in developing policies, protocols, standards or guidelines;
• Identify and update "medical holds" and housing and work restrictions electronically;
• Provide formal and informal medical training for co-workers, offender classes, and Training Academy presentations;
• Provide offender education during appointments;
• Participate in developing educational materials for offenders or health care professionals;
• May be required to participate in restraining an offender primarily for medical reasons.
• This position may be required to work shifts and provide on-call and call back duties such as weekends, evening and night shifts, and holidays;
• May perform clinical research related to specific operations;

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicant must possess current, valid licensure as an Advanced Practice Nurse / Nurse Practitioner from the Colorado Board of Nursing or valid licensure as a Physician Assistant from the Colorado Medical Board.

Special Qualifications:

• APN speciality must be in General Family Practice (FNP), or Adult Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP)
• PA specialty must be in Family Medicine and General Practice
• Applicant must be willing and able to obtain full prescriptive authority (RXN) as issued by the State of Colorado (DORA) and the DEA, within six (6) months of hire.
• Applicant must have six (6) months of Gender Affirming Care experience, which may include, but not limited to, diagnosing and prescribing hormones. Experience must be thoroughly detailed in the "Work Experience" section of application.

Required Competencies:

• Self-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations;
• Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure and observant throughout their shift;
• Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction.
• Ability to provide direct patient care to offenders;
• Ability to maintain professionalism in a complex environment;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders;

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience providing clinical treatment in a correctional environment;
2. Experience providing medical care in an infirmary or skilled nursing center;
3. Experience providing emergency medical coverage performing basic life support and life-saving measures;
4. Experience providing medical care in a correctional environment;
5. Experience managing chronic medical conditions as an APN / NP.