Advanced Practice Provider (FNP or PA) – MOUD & Substance Use Disorder Care

Nature of Position:

High Country Community Health is seeking a full-time Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Physician Assistant (PA) to provide comprehensive care with a dedicated focus on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and outreach to individuals living with

substance use disorders. This provider will deliver care in both traditional clinic settings and nontraditional, community-based environments. The role is ideal for a clinician committed to harm reduction, equity-focused care, and serving patients with complex medical, psychiatric, and social needs.

Reports to: Chief Medical Officer

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Care

• Provide comprehensive primary care services within an FQHC setting
• Initiate and manage MOUD (e.g., buprenorphine-based treatment)
• Conduct assessment and management of substance use disorders, including co-occurring mental illness
• Deliver low-barrier, patient-centered care using harm reduction principles
• Coordinate care with behavioral health providers, case managers, and peer support specialists
• Address chronic medical conditions common among patients with SUD (Hep C, HIV prevention/PrEP, wound care, chronic pain, etc.)

Outreach & Community-Based Services

• Provide outreach services to individuals with SUD in community settings
• Collaborate with community partners, shelters, recovery programs, and harm reduction organizations
• Participate in innovative models of care delivery (mobile services, street outreach, bridge clinics, etc.)
• Build trusting relationships with patients who may be disengaged from traditional healthcare

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with interdisciplinary teams including primary care, psychiatry, behavioral health, and care management
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to SUD and MOUD
• Contribute to program development and expansion of SUD services in Burke County

Qualifications:

Required

• Licensed or eligible for licensure as an FNP or PA in North Carolina
• DEA registration (or ability to obtain)
• Willingness to obtain training and competency in MOUD provision
• Commitment to trauma-informed, patient-centered care

Strongly Preferred

• Experience providing MOUD
• Familiarity with harm reduction principles
• Experience working with: Individuals experiencing homelessness, patients with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders, and justice-involved populations
• Comfort working in nontraditional clinical environments
• Experience in FQHC or safety-net settings

Ideal Candidate

• Approaches patients with empathy, humility, and cultural sensitivity
• Is adaptable and comfortable working outside traditional care models
• Understands addiction as a chronic medical condition
• Demonstrates resilience and flexibility
• Thrives in team-based, mission-driven environments

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• NHSC loan repayment eligible site
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• CME allowance and paid professional development time
• Generous paid time off

Why Morganton?

Morganton, located in Burke County in Western North Carolina, offers access to the Blue Ridge

Mountains, vibrant community life, and a strong sense of purpose serving rural Appalachia. This

position offers the opportunity to meaningfully impact the opioid crisis in a region deeply

affected by substance use disorder while working within a supportive, innovative healthcare

system.