Patient Care Assocaite

Patient Care Associate

The Patient Care Associate (PCA) is responsible for performing a variety of direct and non-direct patient care duties, including routine patient care duties as well as clerical, supply, and messenger responsibilities. The PCA performs other patient care related duties and unit duties as needed and may function as a patient care observer to monitor for patient safety in situations where 1 : 1 observation is required. Telemetry / Critical Care Unit Specific : Responsible for successfully completing arrhythmia course and maintaining competency in telemetry monitoring. This position is part of the 1199SEIU Bargaining Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. This position reports to the Nurse Manager and operates within established organizational and departmental policies and procedures. Must be able to effectively interact appropriately to an individual's intellectual level and physical ability.

Essential Functions :

• Perform patient care related duties and clinical functions as assigned or requested.
• Communicate with nursing staff in an effective and timely manner around issues related to patient care and patient condition.
• Complete documentation data on the patients medical records as care is provided, condition changes and as clinical needs, supervisor indicates.
• Ensure that patient rooms are stocked, equipped, and cleaned appropriately, as needs indicate and as patient volumes change.
• Participate in quality improvement processes and systems to assure targeted outcomes, exceptional service delivery and efficiency.
• Demonstrate cooperative, collaborative, participative behavior with peers in the performance of work, goals, quality improvement efforts and patient care delivery.
• Participate in the orientation of new personnel as requested.
• Assist in emergency situations as directed.
• Make trips to other hospital departments for patient and unit supplies (i.e. equipment, blood, storeroom, etc.) and deliver specimens, etc.
• Delivers meal trays to patients using safe tray passing techniques.
• Receive incoming communications and take appropriate action to relay information to the necessary person(s).
• Receive and direct Medical Staff, personnel, patients and visitors.
• Inform next shift Unit Secretary, Shift Charge Nurse, or Nurse Manager of problems needing attention.
• Notify Case Management of the need for consultation at the request of physician or nurse.
• Notify consulting physician, physicians office, or answering service of need for consultation as ordered by attending physician.
• Contact religious personnel on behalf of patient as directed by nursing staff, patient or patients family.
• Operate paging system efficiently.
• Perform non-clinical clerical duties related to the admission, hospitalization, discharge, transfer, death and leave of absence of patients.
• File forms in individual patients medical record.
• Copy medical records as ordered for patient transfer to another facility.
• Send patients medical record to Medical Records after charting is completed, the chart is checked and patient is discharged.
• Prepare appropriate paperwork for patient needs : i.e. surgical packets / Universal Protocol / EMTALA / Medical Necessity form / Discharge / Admission.
• Ensure that appropriate stock items and equipment are available to the unit (this is in conjunction with the Unit Aide if that particular unit has a Unit Aide).
• Greet new patients with friendly professionalism and escort patient to room and notify appropriate nurse when needed.
• Greet and direct visitors.
• Issue correct information to patients and families.
• Respect the dignity and confidentiality of the patient and family.
• Function in role of Patient Care Observer as requested.
• Remain in constant attendance with assigned high risk patient until relieved by shift charge nurse.
• Maintain safety for patients with suicidal ideation.
• Immediately notify nursing staff of any unusual circumstances or obtain assistance with any restrained patient who needs attention or assistance.
• Immediately report any changes in patients condition to the patients nurse.
• May perform non-clinical tasks as directed by the patients nurse.
• Maintain established hospital and departmental policies and procedures, objectives, confidentiality, quality improvement program, compliance, safety, infection control and environmental standards.
• Stay abreast of current trends in field of expertise.
• Maintain flexibility and remain responsive to unit and overall nursing department needs as they relate to patients and work assignments.
• Meet annual competency and retraining requirements.
• Attend meetings as required.
• Perform other functions / duties as requested.

Qualifications

Qualifications, PCA, Certified (Salary Grade C25)

Qualifications, PCA, Non-Certified (Salary Grade C24)

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Remote Type

Onsite

Work Location