Summary

The Advanced Heart Failure Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant provides comprehensive clinical care across outpatient, transitional, and inpatient settings within the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation Program at Texas Heart Institute / Baylor College of Medicine. The APP independently evaluates and manages patients with advanced heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and complex cardiology conditions at the Baylor McNair Clinic and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center Heart Failure Clinic, with periodic inpatient support for acutely decompensated patients. Responsibilities include medication management, hemodynamic optimization, diuresis protocols, transitional care management, and remote patient monitoring. The APP partners closely with AHF attending physicians to support clinical management, patient communication, and care coordination, and contributes to program development, quality improvement, and clinical trial enrollment within the Advanced Heart Failure Program. The APP will work with the AHF attending staff to establish an independent practice.

Job Duties

Independent Outpatient Cardiology Evaluations - Baylor McNair Clinic

• Independently evaluate cardiology patients presenting for scheduled follow-up visits at the Baylor McNair Clinic.
• Assess clinical status, review diagnostic data, adjust medication regimens, and generate clinical documentation consistent with independent NP practice.
• Coordinate with attending cardiologists for escalation or referral as clinically indicated.

Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center Heart Failure Clinic

• Provide clinical support in the Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center (BSLMC) Heart Failure Clinic, with primary focus on follow-up patients.
• Collaborate with AHF attendings and the BSLMC APP team to ensure care continuity, transition-of-care management, and adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy.
• Participate in clinic operations, including scheduling support, patient education, and documentation within the EMR.
• In coordination with the BSLMC APP team, independently evaluate advanced heart failure, cardiology and pulmonary hypertension patients.
• Perform remote patient monitoring and assist with the development of a Transitional Care Management program for patients who have been recently discharged from the hospital.

Inpatient Heart Failure Support

• Provide periodic inpatient HF support to assist with acute decompensated heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and complex cardiology patients.
• Conduct comprehensive inpatient evaluation and management of advanced heart failure patients in collaboration with attending physicians.
• Perform history and physical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic studies, and formulate individualized treatment plans.
• Manage hemodynamic optimization, diuresis protocols, and device-related care for patients with temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS)
• Serve as a clinical resource for nursing staff and house staff on HF-related clinical questions and protocol adherence.

Support for Advanced Heart Failure Attendings

• Assist AHF attending physicians with patient follow-up, including response to MyChart messages, nursing triage inquiries, and longitudinal disease management.
• Perform pre-operative cardiac clearance evaluations for HF patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, including risk stratification and optimization recommendations.
• Manage clinical inbox tasks and ensure timely result review and patient communication on behalf of the AHF attending team.

Heart Failure Program Development

• Collaborate with AHF attending physicians and the BSLMC NP team to support the ongoing development, expansion, and quality improvement of heart failure programs.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of clinical pathways, HF protocols, and care coordination workflows.
• Participate in quality metrics review and process improvement initiatives aligned with HF program goals.
• Assist with the identification of patients into heart failure clinic trials that complement the clinical programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher from an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program.
• Current licensure as an NP or PA in the State of Texas (or eligibility to obtain prior to start).
• National board certification (AANP, ANCC, or NCCPA).
• DEA registration or eligibility.
• 2+ years of clinical experience in cardiology, heart failure, or a related acute care setting preferred; candidates with strong acute care/critical care backgrounds and interest in subspecialty training will be considered.
• Experience with EMR documentation (Epic preferred).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.