Patient Care Assistant- Orthopedics

Overview

Under the direction of the nurse leader, provides assistance with clerical, non-clinical tasks. These tasks can include, but are not limited to, ensuring that the clinical areas are well-supplied and stocked, and the patient care area is clean and ready for patients. This position requires the ability to work in a fast paced, detailed environment with an emphasis on team work and prioritizing responsibilities. This individual may have direct access to drug products and secure medication areas (not to include controlled substance locations) in order to manage the storage, handling, and disposal of medications consistent with the Medication Storage and Handling Policy

Responsibilities

• Acts as front line representative of the patient care area.
• Performs various tasks to ensure the patient care area is well supplied including ordering and obtaining supplies, re-stocking supplies and monitoring for outdates
• Maintains a clean and safe environment by caring for, and cleaning equipment, maintaining cleanliness of patient/clinic rooms, work areas, and keeping hallways clear of clutter
• Performs low-level disinfection, and is aware of infection prevention principles
• Perform quality checks of point of care testing machines
• Checks emergency stations daily and if appropriate, checks and records medication refrigerator temperatures
• Escorts patient throughout building as needed; assisting with wheelchairs as needed
• Answers telephone calls and assists in the overall functioning of the department
• Prepare patient forms with demographic information
• Delivers specimens to the laboratory and runs errands to other departments
• Participates in continuous regulatory readiness activities and employs safety standards such as repeat back, SBAR, and huddle attendance
• Participates in medication conveyance per Medication Storage and handling policy
• Performs other duties as required or assigned
• Additional Key responsibilities for clinic/outpatient settings:
• Greets patients and assist with the rooming of patients
• Prepares patient, room and equipment for procedures and exams
• Assists patients in completing questionnaires
• Maintains chart information that is up-to-date, organized, and in compliance with Health Information Services (HIS) requirements
• Additional Key responsibilities for inpatient settings
• Participates in admission process for patients including room set up after EVS clean to ensure room is ready for the next patient
• Greets patient upon arrival and completes standard admission tasks
• Participates in assisting the patient with readiness for discharge, gathering patient belongings, including items from pharmacy or the safe, assist patient with getting dressed
• Completes room strip down after discharge
• Returns medications to pharmacy return bin from medication cart
• Completes hourly rounding on all assigned patients for patient experience to include safety checks per unit standards utilizing a rounding script/checklist
• Delivers meal trays and set patients up to eat
• Sets patients up and assists patients with the completion of personal care and provides clean hospital gown and changes linens
• Performs patient sitting for patients requiring 1:1 observation after successful completion of required learning activities
• Assists with lifting, positioning, and dressing of patients
• Answers call lights and directs patient needs to appropriate resources
• Stocks equipment from central locations to nurse server as needed

Qualifications

• High school diploma (or GED) strongly preferred.
• The ability to function in a fast paced work environment with excellent organizational, customer service, and prioritization skills required.
• The ability to work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team to provide high quality care to patients

Required Licensure/Certifications

• BLS within 30 days