Clinic Operations Mid-Level Provider / Nurse Practitioner - Denver

Department Information

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Description of Job

Purpose of this Position:
Deliver health care to detained, pre-trial, and committed youth. Primary care is provided by licensed independent practitioners/Mid Level Providers with responsibility for a continuum of health care from initial assessment through development and maintenance of health care including physical, psychiatric, and dental maintenance.

• Provide clinical and operational leadership across multiple facilities within the Division. This role ensures consistent clinical practice standards and supports the effective implementation of medical and care protocols to promote safe, high-quality patient care across all assigned programs. A core responsibility of the position is integrating clinical quality initiatives into daily operations. The Clinical Operations Lead translates clinical expectations into practical workflows, ensuring policies, procedures, and evidence-based practices are consistently followed. This includes ensuring that health screenings, health appraisals, histories and physicals, and SOAP notes reflect accurate assessments, appropriate treatments, and timely referrals.
• Work in collaboration with the Medical Lead, to supervise the completion of health screenings, appraisals, and physical examinations for all youth admitted to the facility through direct observation and review of medical documentation completed by clinic staff. Ensure communicable diseases are identified promptly and that appropriate interventions are implemented to prevent transmission within the facility, including required reporting to the CDC and State Health Department in accordance with applicable regulations. Mange complex cases and consults, which comprises. This position provides guidance on high-acuity medical, dental, and specialty cases, serving as the first-line clinical resource for staff evaluating case complexity. This includes determining the need for specialist referrals, collaborating with the DYS Medical Operations Coordinator and Director of Medical Operations on challenging cases, and ensuring that all youth receive timely, appropriate, and evidence-based care.
• Serve as a key liaison between Medical Leads, the DYS Medical Operations Coordinator, and the Director of Medical Operations. Through clear communication and collaboration, the role supports alignment between clinical care delivery and operational oversight. Pertinent health information is communicated to facility staff, families, supervisors, and administration to ensure continuity of care, regulatory readiness, and optimal health outcomes for all youth.

• This position provides ongoing supervision of medical clinic staff's assessment and diagnostic skills, in collaboration with the Medical Lead as needed. This includes regular observation of clinical practice and review of documentation in the electronic health record to ensure accuracy and compliance with established standards. This position supervises proper documentation practices, including histories, exams, diagnoses, and treatment plans, and reviews daily medical documents pertinent to the department. The role ensures safe and legally compliant medication administration by monitoring staff adherence to preparation and administration protocols. This position facilitates resolution of interpersonal conflicts, investigates complaints, and problem-solves internal and external issues raised by staff, youth, families, or other stakeholders. Responsibilities also include supporting Medical Lead with scheduling clinic staff to meet the operational needs of the clinic and facility. The position oversees the orientation and training of new staff, including students and interns, and serves as the point of contact for local educational programs for Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant students. Regular staff meetings are facilitated to maintain communication, reinforce best practices, and support team cohesion.

• Collects and reports monthly statistical data for required for Behavioral Health and Medical Services, and the critical incidents related to medical for the facility. Review policies and procedures on a regular basis and collaborates with facility administrators and supervisors in the writing and/or revising facility medical implementing procedures. Completes the medical logs pertinent to medical department.

• This position directs and monitors quality assurance and clinical compliance initiatives across medical clinics to ensure adherence to DYS standards, regulatory requirements, and accreditation guidelines. Responsibilities include reviewing clinical documentation such as medication administration records, medication packaging, incident reports, pharmacy invoices, and Electronic Health Record (EHR) entries to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established protocols. The position responds to annual audits by identifying deficiencies and developing and implementing corrective action plans to maintain compliance
• The role supervises clinical staff to ensure adherence to treatment protocols, monitors documentation quality through audits of health screenings, appraisals, medical histories, physical examinations, and SOAP notes, and evaluates care plans for effectiveness, recommending adjustments to support continuous quality improvement across assigned facilities. The position collaborates regularly with the Medical Operations Coordinator and Medical Authority to plan, recommend, and implement operational and clinical improvements.

• Performing physical exams, ordering appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic tests, interpreting results, formulating treatment plans using established protocol, and documenting thoroughly. Detects and prevents the spread of communicable infectious disease by interviewing youth through the completion of health assessments, sick calls and the obtaining of a complete history. Participate in obtaining data for health program planning. Consulting the DYS Medical Director for necessary referrals to other physicians and specialists for medical, dental and specialty problems beyond the scope of the agency clinic. Consult with the DYS Medical Director regarding variance from established protocols or when protocols are unavailable. Provide health education and training to both juveniles and staff, regarding the health care needs of high risk adolescents in a secure correctional facility. Documents history, exam, diagnosis, treatment in medical records. Provides written guidelines for staff including emergency care. Communicates information to staff, supervisors and administration. This includes Food Service for allergy or other medical purposes. Evaluate mental status, mental health conditions of youth through interview and observation. Use established protocol for prescribing medication and treatment for diagnosed illness. Prepare and administer medication without error. Diagnose medical problems including emergency medical situations by performing physical exams, obtaining lab tests, ordering diagnostic tests, interpreting results, formulating treatment plans, including education. Initiating and monitoring effectiveness of plans and adjusting them as indicated. Communicates information to the appropriate DYS personnel.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:

• Current, valid licensure as an Advanced Practice Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing; or current, valid licensure as a Physician Assistant from the Colorado Medical Board

• And Prescriptive authority - "RXN status" (Per DORA).

Substitutions:

• None

Preferred Qualifications: The successful candidate will have two or more years experience in the following areas:

• Adolescent health care
• Assessing, diagnosing, and treatment of acute and chronic illness
• Documentation in an electronic medical record
• Relevant years of State service experience

Highly Desireable Competencies:

• Knowledge to detect and prevent the spread of communicable infectious disease
• Knowledge to diagnose medical problems including emergency medical situations by performing physical exams, obtaining lab tests, ordering diagnostic tests, interpreting results, formulating treatment plans of the basic principles of supervision,
• Knowledge to use established protocols for prescribing medication and treating diagnosed illnesses,
• Knowledge to evaluate the mental status, and the mental health, conditions of youth through interview and observation,
• Knowledge of Oral and Written Communication Skills,
• Ability to resolve conflict,
• Knowledge and ability of Interpersonal Skills,
• Knowledge and experience clinically supervising medical staff.

Conditions of Employment:

• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• Full Background. CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check, (MVR check required) - may be required to drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License
• Current, valid licensure as an Advanced Practice Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing; or current, valid licensure as a Physician Assistant from the Colorado Medical Board with prescriptive authority (RXN status per DORA)
• Shift Work : 24/7 facility, may require evenings and weekend coverage
• Travel. May require floating to other DYS facilities to help with coverage, travel to meetings and training
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
• The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At the DYS, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority. The results of the Diana Screen will be provided to the Division of Youth Services and may be used as part of the Division's decision on whether a candidate is selected.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

  • Disclose that information on the application.

  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

• Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

• A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

• You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

• After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

• Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.

• If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

• Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

• 
  You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form here (Download PDF reader).
• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:
  • By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or
  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

• At (303) 866-3300, or

• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• • Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.