Patient Care Associate

Patient Care Associate-Rehab-Full Time Day 7am-3:15pm-MSM

As an integral part of the clinical care team, the Patient Care Associate is responsible for patient care and support activities promoting patient focused care within the Specialty Service. The Patient Care Associate supports the registered nurse in patient care activities, such as: assisting patient with activities of daily living, collecting specimens and performing procedures; maintaining a safe, clean environment; and other duties as needed.

Responsibilities

A. Clinical/Technical/Service

• Demonstrates the ability to perform clinical/technical/service/administrative tasks
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care, based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in assigned area.
• Performs and records patient's vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respirations. Documents intake and output and other data as assigned
• Obtains patient's rating on pain scales as a fifth vital sign in all areas except Pediatrics
• Performs clinical procedures, such as specimen collection including blood glucose, venipuncture, EKG, application of compression devices, post-mortem care, and maintenance of skin integrity.
• Sets up for selected procedures and assists RN's accordingly.
• Assists patient with activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing and/or toileting. Orients Patients to clinical environment. Assists patient with ambulation and all levels of mobilization.
• Assists with dietary functions, including delivering and collecting patient trays at bedside, passing menus to patients and assisting them with menu completion, mixing nutritional supplements, reporting variation in eating patterns to RN/Dietitian, and maintaining accurate and timely systems for transmission of patient dietary orders and changes
• Maintains a safe, clean and functional environment, including ensuring for the comfortable Movement of the patient. Assists the patient in room maintenance, such as bed-stripping and trash removed, when necessary
• Performs on-to-one observation or close observation status of patients, e.g. safety, elopement risk, or suicide prevention.
• Maintains "isolation status" for patients under direction of an RN and according to set procedures
• Performs scheduled hourly care checks/ rounding on patients with emphasis on caring for toileting needs, comfort, and positioning and pain awareness. Notifies RN if rounding has not been completed.
• Utilizes Vocera system/Mount Sinai phone according to sign in/sign out protocol where activated.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including generating reports
• Is open and responsive to the diverse backgrounds and experience of other people and promotes an environment that is sensitive to cultural diversity.
• Respects and values each patient's unique, individual needs, beliefs, and diversity and incorporates these into delivery of care.
• Greets visitors and answers telephones promptly and courteously. Escorts visitors to appropriate area, when necessary. Provides information as appropriate.
• Answers Patient Call System and refers calls to appropriate staff.
• Maintains a safe, clean and functional environment, including removing trash and bringing physical plant and equipment problems to the attention of the managers.
• Transports patients to stretchers or wheelchairs, as required
• Delivers and collects trays and bedside, delivers flowers to patients.
• Strips units/cubicles
• Performs emergency clean-up
• Performs emergency transport
• Performs discharge bed making
• Transport specimens.
• Updates communication board/discharge log
• Assembles medical records
• Updates Admission/Transfer/Discharge System/Processes
• Maintains supplies and care of equipment.

B. Organizational/Managerial

• Participates in the department's performance improvement activities.
• Maintains patient/employee confidentiality in the management of information.
• Observes the Health Care System's compliance policies.

C. Educational/Professional Development

• Participates in the development of other staff members.
• Meets regulatory, licensure and annual health assessment requirements.
• Identifies learning strengths and needs
• Utilizes learning resources.

D. Communication/Relationships

• Demonstrates a professional, courteous, and respectful attitude in dealing with patients, families and significant others.
• Displays courtesy, tact and patience during interactions with all members of the hospital staff and extended community.

Qualifications

High School Diploma (graduate or equivalent). Certificate of completion of a medical assistant/patient care assistant program/equivalent with skills in venipuncture and EKG.

• Interpersonal skills to communicate and collaborate effectively with other members of the Specialty Service.
• Documentation of Medical Assistant/Patient Care Associate training
• Three to nine months of healthcare experience preferred.
• Ability to set priorities, problem solve, use proper judgement in difficult situations and be flexible
• Sufficient oral and writing skills in the English language in order to communicate effectively.
• Physical stamina and manual dexterity to perform a variety of tasks and skills in the area of assignment
• American Heart Association Heartsaver or BLS Certification

Required Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite