Melissa Payne

Serve as Primary Medical Provider for frail patients in a skilled nursing facility including diagnosing, treating and ordering appropriate labs/test and interpreting data to treat patients with goal of reduced hospitalizations by providing care in the SNF. Collaborate with other specialties and make referrals to other specialties when needed. Participate with staff education. Provide patient education.

• Conducted thorough patient assessments to inform treatment plans and improve care quality.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive patient management and continuity of care.
• Educated patients on health maintenance, disease prevention, and medication adherence to promote better health outcomes.
• Utilized electronic health record systems for accurate documentation and streamlined patient information access.

Provide supportive medical care and symptom management for patients with life limiting illness. Goals of care and advanced care plan discussions. Disease progression education. Collaborate with other specialist. Refer to Hospice when appropriate.

• Monitor patient progressive diseases , adjusted treatment plans as needed, and communicated changes effectively with healthcare team.

Worked for a Medicare Advantage Plan treating patients in a Skilled Nursing Facility to identify and treat illnesses in early stages to attempt to prevent hospitalizations/rehospitalizations. Ensured all recommended health screenings were done per guidelines.

• Monitored patient progress, adjusted treatment plans as needed, and communicated changes effectively with healthcare team.
• Discussed care plans with patients and explained test results and proper use of medications.
• Educated patients on disease prevention and management strategies, promoting healthier lifestyles.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to optimize patient care and streamline processes.
• Implemented individualized patient care plans to address assessment findings.
• Managed complex cases involving multiple co-morbidities through diligent monitoring of disease progression and proactive intervention strategies.
• Assessed and diagnosed patients, determining appropriate treatment plans in a timely manner.
• Advocated for patients to ensure they received necessary resources and support from healthcare providers and insurance companies alike.
• Provided elderly patients with preventative health measures including vaccinations, screenings, medication adjustments according to age-related needs.
• Advocated for patient rights and privacy, ensuring all team members adhered to strict confidentiality protocols.

Hospice F2F visits and acute NP visits to address symptoms and treat. Provided end of life education and advanced care planning.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient care and outcomes.
• Performed comprehensive physical examinations and documented patient histories to gather information and identify health issues.
• Implement evidence-based practices to improve quality of care and safety standards.
• Prescribed and managed pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments to treat underlying causes and relieve symptoms.
• Provided medical services and care to patients with chronic and acute conditions.
• Worked with families, caregivers and patients to determine best options for treatment, diagnosis, and prevention.
• Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient cases and treatment plans.
• Assessed patients to determine individual needs and develop care plans in coordination with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

Provided Advanced Practice Nursing to medically frail dual Medicare/Medicaid patient population by performing in home assessments including simple labs and tests in order to make recommendations for medical care to patients medical team to optimized health in patients in high risk communities.

• Provided support during diagnostic procedures, ensuring patient comfort and adherence to safety protocols throughout process.
• Prevented complications by identifying early warning signs of potential issues through careful examination and history-taking techniques.
• Developed strong relationships with local specialists to facilitate seamless referral processes when advanced care was required for patients'' wellbeing.
• Performed patient physicals and compared and contrasted results with established mredical records to provide proper recommendations to patient and their medical team
• Educated and guided patients on disease prevention and healthy lifestyle habits to prevent Type-2 diabetes and other complications.
• Liaised with healthcare teams to determine best course of action for patients.
• Utilized electronic health record systems for accurate documentation and streamlined patient information access.
• Educated patients on disease prevention and management strategies, promoting healthier lifestyles.

Provided advanced practice nursing with adult patients in a subacute post hospitalization rehab center including assessments, medical management including diagnosis , treatment, participation in multidisciplinary team care meetings including discharge planning to transition back to the community with proper support. Patient population was varied and complex including but not limited to management of critically ill patients with diagnosis of CHF, cancer, diabetes, CVA's, and post trauma.

• Monitored and evaluated patient progress, adjusting care plans as needed to achieve desired results.
• Educated patients on treatment options, medical needs, and non-medical options for treatments and therapy.
• Conducted comprehensive patient assessments to diagnose and develop treatment plans, improving patient outcomes.
• Streamlined patient discharge procedures, ensuring patients received timely and comprehensive post-care instructions.
• Enhanced patient education on disease management and prevention, leading to noticeable decrease in readmission rates.
• Coordinated care with other healthcare professionals, promoting optimal patient outcomes.

Provided advance practice nursing skills to adult and geriatric patients in skilled nursing facilities including assessment, diagnosis and treatment, advanced care planning and utilization of EMR systems

• Coordinated with physicians, specialists, and other medical staff to develop treatment plans for chronic conditions.
• Mentored nursing staff to enhance their clinical knowledge, skills, and confidence in practice.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction through effective communication and compassionate care.
• Prescribed medications or treatments based on patient medical assessments.
• Assessed patient needs, clearly communicating diagnosis and treatment plans to patients and families.

Provided Advanced Practice Nursing with ENT patients ranging in age from infant to geriatric. Diagnosed and treated patients with medical disorders in ENT/Surgical Center. Procedures included but not limited to intial interpretation of in office sinus CT scans, microscopic debridement of cerumen impactions and microscopic removal of foreign objects, injections, insertion and removal of nasal packing and nasopharyngeal endoscopic procedures.

• Appropriately diagnosed and treated variety of diseases and injuries through careful questioning and assessment of patient symptoms.
• Provided comprehensive healthcare services for diverse populations, addressing acute and chronic conditions.
• Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
• Prescribed and managed pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments to treat underlying causes and relieve symptoms.
• Provided medical services and care to patients with chronic and acute conditions.

Provided Advance Practice Nursing with cardiology population adult to geriatric. In office follow ups, rounding on hospitalized patients and supervising chemical and exercise stress tests.

Along with another NP developed the Georgia Heart Center NP program and subsequently supervised/hired additional NP's as program grew. In this role I worked with cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeons in performing preop H&P's, ordering appropriate tests, Supervised and performed initial readings of chemical and physical stress tests. Directed nursing staff in administration of appropriate medications, follow up management and discharge planning for postop cardiac patients as well as participated in management meetings and continuing developement of protocols for Georgia Heart Center NP's and in position of Lead GHC NP provided orientation for new NP's