Patient Care Technician

Patient Care Technician

The Patient Care Technician, including all hospital units and departments and the Float/Flex Pool Patient Care Technician, under the supervision of the charge nurse, clinical manager, and/or director, is responsible for assisting in patient care, documentation and supply management. Patient Care Technicians keep the unit supplied, clean, and organized. Additionally, the Patient Care Technician may function in an office assistant role and answer the telephone, answer questions within their capabilities the patient or their support individuals may have, and perform data entry and data collection.

The Patient Care Technician in the discharge unit is for assisting discharged patients, coordinating discharge logistics and assisting patients in utilizing resources and accessing health related services.

The Patient Care Technician in the Labor Delivery and Post Partum Breastfeeding Center does not provide direct patient care.

The Patient Care Technician follows all policies and procedures of Northern Arizona Healthcare. They perform or assist with procedures that fall within the scope of practice of a Patient Care Technician, and work closely with all members of the interdisciplinary team. The Patient Care Technician may be caring for infants, children, adolescents, adults and geriatrics populations.

The Float/Flex Pool Patient Care Technician may be asked to work on any unit in the hospital that is in need of a Patient Care Technician, change departments during a shift or be asked to work as a Patient Safety Attendant based on need whereupon the Patient Care Technician duties will cease if assigned to sit 1:1 with a patient; and must complete the same required documentation as a PSA. Call will be required for the Float/Flex Pool Patient Care Technician.

This position's location is on site only.

Responsibilities

Patient Care
* Maintains department cleanliness including following procedures for clean up after treatments.
* Assists with transfer of patient with restrictions in weight bearing or impairment of motor status.
* Assists with patient transfers to or from wheelchairs as needed.
* Assists patients with donning/doffing compression garments as needed.
* Observes patient for skin integrity and report any problem areas to supervising clinicians.
* May assist with removal of catheters and IVs and also assist with phlebotomy within scope of practice.
* Prioritizes and problem solves to meet changes in patient status/condition.
* Collaborates with physicians and other health care professionals to ensure staffing patterns meet appropriate skill necessary for quality patient care.
* Quickly and accurately assesses patient care needs.
* Serves as a resource, assists other staff in caring for patients, assists physician with order entry into EMR as needed.
* Assists with dressing removal as assigned by supervising clinician.
* Assists patients with activities of daily living such as toileting as needed.
* Assists patients with mobility under the direction of supervising clinician including but not limited to therapeutic exercises.
* Follows guidelines for safety with regard to isolation precautions and all policies/procedures dealing with blood borne pathogens.

Discharge Patient Care Technician
* Assists patients in and out of vehicles as needed.
* Supports and reinforces discharge instructions.
* Collaborates with interdisciplinary team and community agencies.
* Uses the EMR for documentation and communication purposes.
* Assists with securing DME as necessary.

Labor Delivery Post Partum Breastfeeding Center
* Breastpump rental program bookkeeping (ie invoices for payment), run payment for breastpump rental, invoice monthly or quarterly pumps that are rented, track billing of rental and maintain copies of rental contracts and End of Month billing, log of receipts to accounting.
* Contact patients regarding breastpump rental and billing and manage Breastpump rental system.
* Ereq order supplies breastfeeding center and nursery.
* Liaison with Breastpump supplies and Breastpump company.
* Clean and restock breastpumps to breastfeeding center.
* Telephone triage with families regarding breastfeeding.
* Maintain department cleanliness.
* Assists in transporting equipment and supplies.

Administrative
* Answers, evaluates and prioritizes incoming administrative line telephone calls, communicates effectively with callers obtaining complete and accurate information to determine the need(s) of the caller.
* Assists in orientation and training of new Patient Care Technician staff.
* Works to ensure best practice among colleagues.
* Maintains unit documents.
* Maintains charts and copies charts as requested.
* Assists charge nurse with clerical duties.
* Documents objective patient data and the care they provide. Documents reporting of abnormal findings to supervising clinician.

Education
* Demonstrates understanding of the Unit's Standards of Care and Practice and Administrative Policies as well as being able to locate Policy and Procedures manual on the assigned unit.
* Focuses on personal development areas, engaging in professional/collegial interactions with peers and students.
* Demonstrates and utilizes the guidelines of care and practice via the nursing process, and in accordance with Arizona State Board of Nursing Laws and Regulations, being able to perform at a fully competent level.

Compliance/Safety
* Responsible for reporting any safety-related incident in a timely fashion through the Midas/RDE tool; attends all safety-related training programs; performs work in a safe manner; monitors work environment for possible safety issues and ensures others are also performing work in a safe manner.
* Stays current and complies with state and federal regulations/statutes and company policies that impact the employee's area of responsibility.
* If required for the position, ensures all certifications and/or licenses are up-to-date and valid prior to expiration dates.
* Completes all company mandatory modules and required job-specific training in the specified time frame.

Qualifications

Education
High School Diploma or GED- Required

Certification & Licensures
Current, unrestricted CNA or LNA license in the State of Arizona- Required
Basic Life Support (BLS)- Required

Fingerprint Clearance: If employee does not have an Arizona LNA license:
- Fingerprint Clearance Card application number - Required upon hire
- Fingerprint Clearance Care - Required within 90 days from date of hire

Employee will obtain and maintain appropriate clinical competencies for the roles assigned by their departmental leader.

Experience
For Discharge Patient Care Technician:
- Demonstrates ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary team and community agencies with patient care and care management.
- Demonstrates ability to utilize the EMR for documentation and communication purposes.
- Possesses and demonstrates knowledge of available community resources.
- Demonstrates an understanding of post-discharge resource planning.

Healthcare is a rapidly changing environment and technology is integrated into almost all aspects of patient care. Computers and other electronic devices are utilized across the organization and throughout each department. Colleagues must have an understanding of computers, and competence in using computers and basic software programs.