Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to Serve Unhoused Patients

Compensation:

• Salary exempt
• The standard wage range for this role is $127754-$159702 per year
• It may be possible to earn more over time up to $191630 per year
• Eligible for Sign-On/Relocation Bonus (subject to payback clause)
• Incentive pay for working full time

Work Schedule:

• Monday-Friday
• Full-time working 5 days per week

Job Summary

Make a difference by serving our unhoused neighbors as the medical provider for The Way Station in downtown Bellingham WA!

Individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to become ill have greater hospitalization rates and die at a younger age than the general population. The Way Station provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness with a range of health and social services to assist in improving their health outcomes and aiding their transition to sustainable housing. This unique facility serves people in need of showers laundry restrooms medical and behavioral health care case management and other services provided by partner organizations including respite care.

As the sole medical provider this role works with a Medical Assistant seeing patients on a walk-in basis for a limited scope of services including wound care treating infections & illnesses and performing point of care testing. While The Way Station does not serve as a primary care home it provides a bridge to primary care and assists with connecting clients to a Primary Care Provider. The ideal candidate will have experience providing whole-person team-based care in an empathy-forward trauma-informed manner that acknowledges the barriers and inequities experienced by our unhoused patients.

Learn more about The Way Station:

• We Are

  
  

  Unity Care NW is a private non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Whatcom County area since 1982. With clinics located in Bellingham & Ferndale we offer comprehensive primary medical behavioral health and dental care as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages. Employing over 300 caring and compassionate employees our mission is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

  
  

  
  

  What We Value

  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Accountability
  • Collaboration
  • Innovation

  We have an inclusive culture and strive to demonstrate our Values in Action in all that we do. We value each individual on our team and aim to onboard a diverse workforce of the very best talent whose ambitions and values align with ours.
  
  

  
  

  What We Offer

  • A friendly and collaborative team environment
  • A competitive compensation package
  • A minimal & unique call schedule providing phone consultation to 3rd parties only-no patient call
  • A robust orientation followed by a gradual ramp-up period
  • Supports such as MA RN & EMR/IT staff; Ambient AI Scribe (DAX) and Dragon for charting; and access to MAVEN Project at whose services connect providers with specialists to whom they otherwise may not have access
  • Resources for patients such as integrated behavioral health psychiatry SUD treatment child & family counseling adult & pediatric dental services an on-site pharmacy a communicable disease program case managers insurance enrollment staff community health workers referrals specialists & more

  
  

  
  

  Loan Repayment Application Opportunities

  • Employment at UCNW counts towards eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness details can be viewed at Federal Student Aid.
  • Eligible providers may apply for loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC Loan Repayment Program NHSC ()) Washington Student Achievement Council (Washington Health Corps WSAC) &/or Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Apply to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Bureau of Health Workforce ())

  While employes at UCNW are eligible to apply for these loan repayment awards receipt is not guaranteed.

  
  

  
  

  Generous Benefits Including:

  • Medical dental & vision insurance
  • 401(K) retirement plan with employer match after 1 year of eligibility
  • 6 paid holidays
  • Paid Time Off (160 hours 1st year 208 hours 2nd year increasing at Year 5 & Year 10 thereafter)
  • Other paid leaves including: Bereavement Jury Duty & Bone Marrow & Organ Transplant
  • Life/AD&D insurance
  • Malpractice insurance through the Federal Torts Claims Act with tail coverage
  • Sabbatical Leave accrual
  • Reimbursement of state license DEA registration & board certification renewal fees
  • Continuing Education (days & funds)
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Self-funded Health Savings Account on Base Medical Insurance Plan
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Alternative Transportation Incentives
  • Healthy Living reimbursements
  • Optional insurances including Supplementary Life/AD&D Short Term and Long-Term Disability Critical Illness Accident Travel & Identity Theft Protection
  • Unique programs including Medical Hardship Payroll Loans Employee Referral Bonuses & Will preparation services

• Completion of an accredited Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program.
• Currently certified in Family Practice through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
• Licensed as a registered nurse and advanced registered nurse practitioner or as a physician assistant in the state of Washington and in good standing with the medical board (or eligible to obtain licensure)
• Active drug enforcement administration (DEA) registration with no restrictions (or eligible to obtain registration)
• Current basic life support (BLS) certification (we can provide upon hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Family Practice experience in an outpatient urgent care walk-in &/or emergency department setting
• Experience in a community health center or similar organization providing care to unhoused and underserved populations
• Experience working as an independent practitioner with patients who have complex co-morbidities including hypertension diabetes mental illness chronic pain and substance use disorder
• Experience with children and womens health
• Experience working with individuals from diverse cultures backgrounds and socio-economic levels treating them with sensitivity and respect
• Proficient with Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
• Proficient with Microsoft Outlook & Word HR/Payroll/Timesheet systems & learning management systems

Candidates who meet the requirements who have applicable experience or similar qualifications are encouraged to apply!

About Bellingham

Live in a community consistently rated as one of the most desirable in the USA! Nestled on Bellingham Bay at the foot of the Cascade Mountains just a short distance from Seattle Vancouver BC and the San Juan Islands Bellingham is home to over 90000 people and surrounded by several charming small towns. Enjoy all the area has to offer:

• Recreational & Outdoor Activities (Hiking Biking Skiing Snow Boarding Fishing Sailing Kayaking & Camping)
• Excellent Schools (University Community College Technical School & Outstanding K-12 Educational System)
• Small Town or City Living (Unique Shops Local Festivals Farmers Markets Berry Picking & Community Events)
• Cultural Activities (Theater Music Independent Films Museums Art Studios & Diverse Local Restaurants)

To Apply

Visit our Careers Page at or contact Vicki Curtis Provider Recruiter at or . For news on our organization & future job postings please follow us on LinkedIn at you feel this job posting is missing any required compensation or benefit information please contact Other questions can be addressed throughout the recruitment process for candidates selected to move forward.

Unity Care NW has an Employee Health Program for the safety of our patients and staff. The program requires all new employees to have up to date vaccines for influenza and strongly encourages up to date vaccines for COVID-19. More information about this program is provided throughout the recruitment process.