Overview

UnityPoint Clinic is actively recruiting for a Palliative Care Advanced Practitioner to join our team in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Choose a career that matters at UnityPoint Health. At UnityPoint Health, we believe that our patient-centered vision and physician-driven philosophy, along with our one team approach, ensures every patient knows just how much they matter to this world. Commitment to our team has earned us recognition as a Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare 2022 by Becker’s Healthcare and among America’s Best Employers By State in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Come be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve. At UnityPoint Health, you matter.

UnityPoint Clinic is a physician-led, nonprofit health care organization offering comprehensive services in primary care, walk-in care and specialty care. The clinical teams at the area’s clinics are improving outcomes, lowering the number of hospital readmissions and reducing avoidable costs associated with treating chronic conditions. The UnityPoint Clinic team is known for excellence and quality patient care putting patients at the center of their care to provide the best level of health and well-being.

UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids serves a seven-county area surrounding Cedar Rapids. St. Luke’s Hospital is the only hospital in Cedar Rapids designated as a Top 50 Heart Hospital six times, has been named a top 50 Hospital in the Nation by Healthgrades, named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by IBM Watson Health eight times and also has been honored six times as Becker’s Hospital Review ‘100 Great Hospitals in America’. St. Luke’s is also a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence.

Established Palliative Care program with a robust multidisciplinary team serving patients since 2025.

Full time position; 8am-4:30pm; Can be here longer depending on consults. Office is closed on the recognized holidays with provider on call. Assumes on-call duties as required for Palliative Care providers on a routine basis; Call is typically 1 week a month. Begins at 1630 during the weekdays and goes until 0800 the following day. Sat / Sun is a 24-hour shift.

Luke’s C.A.R.E delivery model (Continuity, Accountability, Relationship-based, Evidence-based) reflects a commitment to compassionate, competent care delivered by the interdisciplinary team. Care is provided through a therapeutic relationship with the patient and family. A spirit of inquiry is encouraged and supported.

Evidence-driven protocols are utilized to assure reliable and consistent care.

Fully integrated system with clinics and hospitals on EPIC EMR to improve care coordination.

Responsibilities

• Respond to requests for Palliative Care consults in a timely manner.
• Performs patient care functions as required.
• Provide services related to palliative care and end-of-life care.
• Visits patients/families at their place of residence, hospital, or clinic.
• Coordinates and communicates patient care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary healthcare team to ensure comprehensive patient centered care.
• Performs assessment process to include patient history, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual assessment. Uses laboratory, pharmacological, diagnostic tests, patient/family perceptions and physical assessment data in formulating plan of care.
• Facilitates patient/family conferences.
• Facilitates ethical discussions related to care decisions, as requested.
• Orders, performs, and interpret laboratory and imaging tests as appropriate in palliative and end-of-life care.
• Prescribes medications including controlled substances to the extent delegated and licensed.
• Orders treatments and durable medical equipment as indicated.
• Assumes responsibility for developing a plan of care that is mutually established with the patient/family, attending physician and multidisciplinary team, with realistic patient-focused outcomes as the goals of the plan of care. Integrates multidisciplinary approach to maintain comfort, support human functions and responses, and maintain an environment conducive to wellbeing. Provides health teaching and counseling. Effectively delegates tasks and responsibilities to other health care team members and assumes responsibility for follow-up and collaboration.
• Implements the plan of care by using advanced practice nursing interventions according to current protocols of practice in Palliative Care, hospital protocol and procedures and selected competencies approved for the division.
• Partners with other patient care team members to achieve patient’s progress towards outcomes identified.
• Participates in the development of the Palliative Care interdisciplinary plan of care and attends interdisciplinary team meetings weekly.
• Provides support, counseling and information to patients and families dealing with end-of-life issues or with issues related to life-threatening or serious and complex illness.
• Implements measures to promote a safe environment for the patient/family.
• Prepares and maintains accurate and timely patient records, charts, and documents to support sound medical practice and reimbursement for services provided.
• Initiates reimbursement for services rendered.
• Complies with applicable laws and regulations with respect to collaborative agreements.
• Successfully completes the orientation and annual hospital and program specific competencies.
• Provides inpatient and ambulatory Palliative Care Service coverage as requested.
• Patient-focused, friendly and willing to collaborate in a team environment.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Maintain flexibility with scheduling of hours and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Preferred Advanced Certification in Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN).
• Preferred Two years current clinical experience in palliative care, hospice or chronic disease management preferred.
• Nurse Practitioner.
• Board Certified.
• Licensed driver in the State of Iowa with automobile insurance in accordance with state and/or organizational requirements; Must maintain a vehicle in good working order.
• Hold an unrestricted practitioner license in the state of Iowa.
• Hold current and unrestricted state and federal authority to prescribe and administer medications as necessary or appropriate to the Advanced Practitioners field of practice.
• Eligible to work in the United States.

We offer

Salary based position. Attractive incentive package. A competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what stage of life you are in. Generous time off and CME allowance, malpractice insurance, retirement contributions and more. Dedicated provider resources to positively impact providers work-life balance. Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, including a free third-party service for loan restructuring and consolidation. A commitment to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Support and development opportunities that are a crucial part of delivering a remarkable employment experience. A culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what’s right for the people we serve.

Community Details

Cedar Rapids is vibrant, unique and industrious, one of Iowa’s centers of excellence for arts and culture and an economic hub of the state’s Eastern region. As the second-largest city in the state, “The City of Five Seasons” offers its residents a wide variety of amenities, attractions and career opportunities on par with its nearby, out-of-state counterparts (Chicago, St. Louis and Minneapolis) without the high cost of living, hustle and bustle. Learn more about Cedar Rapids and why it offers one of the best places to live, work and play in the Midwest.