Within a Department of Corrections facility, provides direct medical care to inmates, including examinations, diagnosis, prescription and treatment within the scope of applicable licensure, of a wide variety of illnesses and physical/mental abnormalities.

Incumbents in this class differ from the corrections Health Care Specialist 1 by the level of accountability and/or the type of review required by the sponsoring physician under RCW 18.17A, et seq. 

Incumbents differ from the Registered Nurse series in that the Corrections Health Care Specialists diagnose and carry out a treatment or case management plan to include referral to other health care professionals, patient education, or prescribing medicine prophylaxis.

Subject to the supervision of an authorized physician, examines patients and diagnoses their illnesses; recommends and administers routine medical treatment; refers difficult and complex cases to the supervising physician and assists in further examination, diagnosis and treatment of such cases; 

Orders and interprets laboratory examinations, analyses and x-rays; writes prescriptions; makes rounds of wards and reports on condition and progress of patients; 

Assists in instructing and supervising nurses, technicians and personnel assigned for special training; attends and participates in clinics and staff conferences on surgical, medical and mental conditions of various patients and their diagnosis and treatment; 

Prepares case histories, reports and related correspondence; 

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of:  methods and principles of general medicine; methods of diagnosing and treating more common medical and/or mental disorders; hospital organization and procedures; social work and rehabilitation therapies. 

Ability to:  examine, diagnose and recommend treatment of physical diseases and deficiencies; interpret laboratory analyses and x-rays; prepare comprehensive case histories.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Graduation from a Physician’s Assistant Training program approved by the Washington State Board of Medical Examiners and Certification as a Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician’s Assistant will be required. 

Note (1):  Applicants must include evidence of completion of the above training program and certification at time of application. 

Note (2):  Individuals appointed after certification must be sponsored by a licensed physician representing the state of Washington and be registered or granted interim approval as a Physician Assistant by the Washington State Board of Medical Examiners prior to performing duties as a Physician Assistant. Permanent appointment will be contingent upon registration by the Washington State Board of Medical Examiners within 90 days following appointment. 

OR 

2.         Must possess a valid Washington State license to practice as a Registered Nurse, AND, current certification from an approved national certification program (American Nurses Association) verifying completion of an advanced formal education program in the area of specialty, AND, possession of a current designation as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner in the state of Washington.

OR

Recent graduates of the formal education program who are awaiting the results of the licensing examination must have a Washington State issued temporary permit. Failure to obtain a license shall result in immediate termination from the position by the appointing authority. 

Selective certification will be allowed for training and experience in the nursing specialty (i.e., family practice, adult health care, geriatrics, woman’s health care)  needed for a specific position within this class. 

Note:  For certain specialized positions, an ARNP with prescriptive authority may be required.