Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to Serve Unhoused Patients

Medical Provider Opportunity At The Way Station

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:

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.

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 (hrsa.gov)), 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 (hrsa.gov))

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

Requirements:

• 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 women's 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 90,000 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 View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. For news on our organization & future job postings, please follow us on LinkedIn at

If you feel this job posting is missing any required compensation or benefit information, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. 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