Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA) is a novel national public health organization comprised of a multidisciplinary team of population and public health experts with backgrounds in infectious disease, public health, emergency medicine, primary care, cardiology, pediatrics, psychiatry, community health work (CHW), nursing and advanced practice pharmacy. We work nearly exclusively with underrepresented communities, fundamentally addressing health-care disparities and the social determinants of health (SDoH) that have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing the following:

• People experiencing homelessness
• Indigenous communities
• Immigrant communities
• Rural communities
• BIPoC communities
• LGBTQIA+ communities
• Justice-impacted communities

The WEA team is diverse, inclusive, and nimble enough to assemble teams of healthcare professionals within days using our proven local staff recruitment models to address population health crises and communicable disease outbreaks. The WEA team’s partnership model is collaborative and allows hospitals, health jurisdictions, state/local government agencies to provide timely care using equity-based strategies for individuals and marginalized communities.

Elevate your career to new heights with an opportunity that transcends traditional healthcare boundaries!

Wellness Equity Alliance is actively seeking compassionate and driven individuals for several pivotal roles in our groundbreaking Street Medicine program. Street Medicine is an innovative and compassionate approach to healthcare, designed to meet individuals experiencing homelessness right where they are: on the streets, in shelters, or within underserved communities.  Working for WEA is more than a job; it's a calling to serve those who are most in need, directly in their environment.

Purpose of the position

WEA has launched a unique street medicine program featuring mental health, substance use disorder treatment, and infectious disease management (in addition to primary care) in Riverside County in and around the Palm Springs area. The most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness have likely been failed by institutions many times in their lives, and their mistrust of authorities, institutions, and individual care providers may represent an attempt at self- protection that, over time, becomes a barrier to accessing care and resources that could improve their lives.

As an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) with strong experience working with special populations, the position provides healthcare to the unsheltered homeless in the Palm Springs/Indio/Coachella Valley (where there are >1000 unhoused). This position will also provide care to youth and families living on the streets or locations not meant for habitation such as cars, vans, tents, and makeshifts. Role includes assisting individuals in adopting healthy behaviors, with the ultimate goal of improving health disparities, evaluating and examining patients, diagnosing conditions, and providing treatments for symptoms and conditions. 

The APP  is responsible for the mental and physical well-being of the community by advocating for health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, and education. The APP is a trusted member of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the APP  to serve as the first healthcare professional who defines evident or underlying health issues. As these positions represent some of the early roles to help build this program, the APP must have a considerable understanding of and direct experience working with communities, in a public health capacity. 

Key Responsibilities

• Perform initial patient screenings, patient history, physical examinations, and preventive health measures within prescribed guidelines in accordance with the California Association for Nurse Practitioners and American Association of Nurse Practitioners or the California Academy of Physician Assistants (California PA Practice Act)
• Update patient records and check records for accuracy at each patient appointment  
• Orders, interprets, and evaluates diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient’s clinical problems and health care needs  
• Complete safety assessments and evaluate the need for medical and/or psychiatric admission 
• Record physical findings and formulates plan and prognosis, based on patient’s condition  
• Review lab, reports daily  
• Follows appropriate screening assessments and understands how to connect findings with the appropriate treatment response or referral
• Determine the need for patient follow-up appointments and further treatment options  
• Deliver quality care while maintaining all company metrics pertaining to productivity  
• Serve as the resource patients need for ongoing care information, counseling and provide guidance for any patients with critical conditions  
• Discusses and coordinates with other internal health professionals to prepare a comprehensive patient care plan  
• Submits health care plan and goals of individual patients for periodic review and evaluation  
• Prescribes or recommends drugs or other forms of treatment such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures  
• Treat acute illnesses and injuries  
• Treat and manage chronic diseases 
• Cooperate with operational initiatives for improvement of the business  
• Provides supervision to lower level certified staff in accordance with the California Association for Nurse Practitioners  
• Supervise daily staff communication  
• Participate in special screening, training, and community outreach activities as determined  
• Participate in cooperative arrangements with other health providers in the area  
• Perform all other medically-related assigned duties

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Must possess an unexpired, unrestricted license to practice as an Advanced Practice Provider (NP or PA) in the State of California
• Possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Demonstrated history of experience successfully working with diverse cultural backgrounds, in a healthcare capacity
• Experience with medical Spanish is strongly preferred. Preference to cultural competence with LatinX communities
• Ability to work both independently and to collaborate with teams of individuals in diverse settings, using a solution-oriented approach
• Must possess active Basic Life Support (BLS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certifications

Preferred Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of primary care practices and street medicine procedures
• Demonstrated knowledge of infectious diseases treatment and prevention (e.g. HIV, STIs, viral hepatitis, COVID-19)
• Demonstrated knowledge and competence in the field of substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health as well as the appropriate treatment and prevention of such.
• Sufficient experience and technical skill required for minor ambulatory procedures
• Skilled in patient intake and triage procedures
• Demonstrated knowledge of local and regional community resources
• Demonstrated knowledge of public health programs
• Experience and interest working with historically marginalized communities, focusing on people experiencing homelessness.
• Demonstrated ability to provide appropriate guidance and positive bedside manner while utilizing a patient centered approach