Nurse Practitioner Flex

firsthand supports individuals living with SMI (serious mental illness). Our holistic approach includes a team of peer recovery specialists, benefits specialists and clinicians, which focuses on meeting each individual where they are and walking with them side by side as a trusted guide, partner, and first call on their journey to wellness.
firsthand's team members use their lived experience to build trust with these individuals and support them in obtaining socio-economic assistance and in reconnecting to primary and behavioral care. Support like this creates substantial savings for managed care organizations (Medicaid providers) and taxpayers by decreasing inappropriate healthcare utilization. This enables us to build solutions that scale and, as a result, change the way our society supports those most impacted by SMI.
We are cultivating a team of deeply passionate problem-solvers to tackle significant and complex healthcare challenges with us. This is more than a job—it's a calling. Every day, you will engage in work that resonates with purpose, gain wisdom from motivated colleagues, and thrive in an environment that celebrates continuous learning, creativity, and fun.

At firsthand, our Nurse Practitioners are referred to as Health Guides (HGs). Our HGs are dedicated and compassionate advocates leading the individuals we serve on a journey towards wellbeing and recovery.
In each of firsthand’s markets, a Health Guide (licensed Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) leads the medical aspects of team-based care for individuals with serious mental illness that firsthand serves. The Health Guide (HG) is responsible for whole person assessment and management of our vulnerable population, collaborating closely with external primary care and behavioral health providers, as well as an internal team of firsthand Guides (peers) and Community Resources Guides (social workers). 
The HG Flex is a licensed NP who augments the market-specific HGs when they experience periods of high demand, through a combination of travel and telehealth. The HG Flex supports our growing markets (FL, OH, MI, TN, VA, WA… and growing!). This position requires flexibility, travel of 25% and the ability to easily build relationships and collaborate with diverse care teams in multiple markets.

As a HG Flex, you will make significant impact by:

• Assessing both behavioral and physical health conditions with a thorough history and physical examination
• Verifying previously diagnosed conditions and capturing conditions not yet diagnosed based on review of medical records,  evidence-based practice, clinical judgment and diagnostic studies. ,
• Completing timely and high quality urgent care visits 
• Overseeing transitions of care by conducting post-hospital discharge visits to ensure a stabilizing plan is in place to avoid unnecessary rehospitalizations.
• Conducting visits in the in the office, virtually, in the field, or in an individual’s home when needed
• Ensuring continuity of care,  referring  to community primary and behavioral health providers and specialists based on assessed needs
• Supporting individuals in developing and exercising self management skills and person-centered care around their individual goals and preferences via motivational interviewing and holistic care planning
• Organizing clinical information in a manner that supports appropriate clinical documentation criteria for successful disability applications (if appropriate)
• Collaborating with a team of clinical documentation specialists, certified coders, and medical assistants

As a HG Flex, you will lead the medical component of the team-based care provided by firsthand, including:

• Training and advising roles like Health Guide Associates (Medical Assistants), and firsthand Guides (Peer Recovery Specialists) on behavioral, clinical, and social health priorities
• Supporting care coordination
• Leading care and disease management and identifying actionable care gaps 
• Communicating and coordinating with individuals’ care providers, primarily at CMHCs, FQHCs, and hospitals 
• Providing direct patient care when unscheduled care needs cannot be met by existing community providers

As a HG Flex, you will collaborate with other team members to provide integrated care:

• Assist firsthand Guides with engagement and recovery support
• Work with the firsthand Care Team  and the Community Resources Guide in supporting individuals’, SDOH needs and with medical eligibility assessments for disability applications

HG Flexes have:

• Motivation & Productivity: Intrinsic drive to excel in visit productivity and deliver top-tier performance.
• Empathy & Compassion: Approachability, active listening, and excellent interp