Lead Patient Care Technician - 3 South

Full-Time Lead Patient Care Technician - 3 South

Schedule: Rotating days/nights, with weekend and holiday requirements.

About 3 South: Observation/Short Stay Acute Care Unit

3 South is a 23-bed adult medical-surgical observation unit that provides care for patients requiring short-term hospitalization following emergency department evaluation, medical procedures, or unsuccessful outpatient treatment. The unit focuses on patient stabilization, ongoing assessment, and care coordination to determine the most appropriate next step in the patient's care journey, whether discharge home or admission for continued treatment.

As a member of the 3 South team, you will care for a diverse patient population in a fast-paced environment that emphasizes clinical excellence, teamwork, compassionate care, and positive patient outcomes. This unit offers the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills while supporting patients through important transitions in their care.

Lead Patient Care Technician

The Lead Patient Care Technician serves as a clinical and operational leader within the department, supporting both patient care excellence and staff development. In addition to performing the responsibilities of a Senior Patient Care Technician, the Lead Patient Care Technician participates in recruitment and onboarding activities, assists with staff scheduling, serves on unit-based committees, and supports UPMC Experience initiatives, including AIDET coaching, leadership rounding, and 90-day employee check-ins.

This role provides direct patient care and supports departmental operations in accordance with established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Working under the direction of nursing and medical staff, the Lead Patient Care Technician helps ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care while serving as a resource and role model for team members.

Responsibilities include routine patient care activities such as obtaining vital signs, blood glucose monitoring, intake and output documentation, specimen collection, weight measurement, Foley catheter care and removal, restraint application and removal, point-of-care testing, bladder scanning, IV catheter removal, simple dressing changes, 12-lead EKGs, and completion of Ticket to Ride documentation.

Based on departmental needs and competency validation, the Lead Patient Care Technician may also perform advanced duties, including basic arrhythmia monitoring, complex wound care, and NG tube clamping and removal.

The ideal candidate demonstrates strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with a commitment to fostering a positive patient experience, supporting team engagement, and promoting quality outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Constructively receives feedback and direction.
• Identifies and communicates learning needs to the unit director.
• Takes action to improve knowledge, skills and performance.
• Requests assistance in planning and prioritizing activities as needed.
• Participates in self-review as requested by the unit director.
• Assures equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department.
• Establishes appropriate and effective communication with other departments.
• Establishes professional and respectful interpersonal relationships.
• Contributes to the universal unit activities including, but not limited to, responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays and transporting patients.
• Models the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team.
• Models understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence and impairment in the health professions.
• Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to patients and colleagues.
• Performs the UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities (blood glucose, weights, vital signs, I&O, specimen collections and Foley care) AND the following hospital identified tasks: phlebotomy, simple dressing, Foley catheter removal, point of care testing, bladder scan, straight catheter, IV catheter removal and ticket to ride. May perform based on department operational need: complex wound care, 12 lead EKG, and NG tubes clamping and removal.
• Provides patient care including assisting with patient procedures and activities of daily living.
• Assists with physical, respiratory and cardiopulmonary therapies.
• Provides feedback to the RN regarding patient care and reports changes in patient status.
• Provides instruction to patients and their families under the direction of the RN.
• May apply, monitor and remove patient restraints as per physician or hospital protocol.
• Strictly adheres to all policies and procedures relative to patient care and hospital related information.
• Complies with safety policies and procedures including standard precautions. Documents in the medical record according to established procedures.
• Performs assigned work in a timely and productive manner.
• Completes department clerical functions as needed.
• Supports UPMC Experience Initiatives (AIDET coaching, rounding, 90-day check-ins, etc.)
• Suggests and supports changes within the department.
• Assumes responsibility for assignment and views problems as challenges.
• Demonstrates awareness of behavior on the efficient functioning of the department.
• Shadows potential new staff as needed.
• Supports department and facility-based projects and quality initiatives.
• Actively participates in the on-boarding and precepting of new staff.
• Participates on department and facility-based committees.
• Actively participates in the scheduling process for the other support staff.
• Performs the UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities (blood glucose, weights, vital signs, I&O, specimen collections and Foley care) AND performs simple dressings, bladder scan, assists with HAC & PSI prevention, specimen collections, precepting, simple IV catheter removal, placement and removal of restraints, dressing change, and Foley catheter removal, and ticket to ride.
• May perform based on department operational need: basic arrhythmia, complex wound care, 12 lead EKG, and NG tubes clamping and removal.
• Provides patient care including assisting with patient procedures and activities of daily living.
• Assists with physical, respiratory and cardiopulmonary therapies.
• Provides feedback to the RN regarding patient care and reports changes in patient status.
• Provides instruction to patients and their families under the direction of the RN.
• May apply, monitor and remove patient restraints as per physician or hospital protocol.
• Strictly adheres to all policies and procedures relative to patientcare and hospital related information.
• Complies with safety policies and procedures including standard precautions.
• Documents in the medical record according to established procedures.
• Performs assigned work in a timely and productive manner.
• Completes department clerical functions as needed.
• Models the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team.
• Models understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence and impairment in the health professions.
• Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to patients and colleagues.
• Supports UPMC Experience Initiatives (AIDET coaching, rounding, 90-day check-ins, etc.)
• *Performs in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
• *Performs other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3 years of healthcare experience required
• Successful completion of PCT, Senior training (if not already complete at time of hire)Successful completion of basic information system training.
• Microcomputer experience preferred.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic or currently enrolled in an EMT or Paramedic program preferred.
• Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.
• May, in the course of their duties, be in rooms where medications are stored or may transport medications when they transport patients.
• Transportation of medication is limited from one department to another.
• Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• ACLS preferred
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resus