PATIENT SAFETY ASSOCIATE

Patient Safety Associate

The Patient Safety Associate provides a safe environment for a patient who is requiring supervision, companionship and/or diversion. The Patient Safety Associate may also assist with other clinical and non-clinical routine tasks, including observation documentation, to ensure the effective delivery of services to patients and other customers of Excela Health. The Patient Safety Associate may be required to travel between sites as needed.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs duties for an irrational patient as directed by the nurse responsible for the care of the patient.
• Sits in patient's room with an unobstructed view of the patient at all times.
• Provides fluids.
• Assists with meal tray.
• Assists with basic grooming (combing hair) and ambulation in patient room. Will not assist with shaving, showers, bathing, and incontinence care.
• Provides socialization, games, cards, TV, reading.
• Discourages and deters removal/dislodgement of treatment devices/medical apparatus (IVs, feeding tubes, dressings, etc.).
• Discourages and deters falls, climbing out of bed or injury to self.
• Accompanies patient to testing in other areas of the hospital.
• Provides constant observation and documents observations on safety report sheet. Constant observation is defined as: continuous visual watch of a patient, within-arm's length while patient is awake, at all time, requiring a dedicated staff member in attendance at all times.
• Delivers equipment/supplies to nursing units.
• Delivers dietary trays.
• Provides support to waiting families/visitors in waiting rooms, hold areas and emergency departments.
• Declutter patient rooms.
• Ensure patient belongings are within reach.
• Perform quick perimeter checks of patient rooms and identify areas of concern; report to appropriate staff to be addressed.
• May visit with patients identified by nurse manager on unit who would like or benefit from a social interaction
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in a patient care setting.
• Good observation and interpersonal skills.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between Excela Health locations.

LEAN

• Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one's own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to Excela's missions, vision and values.

AAP/EEO

• Excela Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Excela Health to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Excela Health will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines