Certified Medication Aide- Hobby Unit

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)•Waco, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Correctional Managed Care addresses the healthcare needs of underserved patient populations within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. The Certified Medication Aide performs technical patient-care duties and contributes to patients’ general healthcare, including assistance with hygiene, grooming, rest, activity, nourishment, and medication distribution. The aide supports professional staff in maintaining a safe therapeutic environment in a medical facility located within a prison, jail, or juvenile detention center. The role includes collecting and documenting patient data, assisting with personal care and mobility, supporting patient safety, screening incoming patients, and distributing and documenting medications in accordance with applicable Texas medication aide standards. The aide also maintains medication-room security and supplies, enters medication compliance into the pharmacy system, protects patient privacy, and participates in continuing education. Shift work is required, and the employee may be assigned to multiple facilities or required to work standby, extended, or alternate shifts when necessary. The work may involve noise, odors, cramped spaces, fumes, exposure to occupational hazards, and moderate to extreme physical effort, including lifting over 50 pounds. Security clearance and pre-employment drug testing are required. Salary is commensurate with relevant work experience.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Current Texas Certified Medication Aide permit.
Security clearance is required.
Pre-employment drug testing is required.
Ability to meet the position’s physical, sensory, attention, and communication demands, including lifting heavy and awkward loads over 50 pounds.
Ability to work under stress and cope emotionally with complex or changing activities.

Responsibilities

Collect, report, and document vital signs, height and weight, intake and output, pulse oximetry, and specimens.
Perform and report Point of Care Testing.
Assist with patient activities and care as assigned by the charge nurse or designee and indicated by the patient’s plan of care.
Provide personal hygiene and related care, including bathing, oral suctioning, superficial wound care, assistance with chronic wound care and skin care, elimination and incontinence care, urinary catheter care, assistance with or administration of specified cleansing treatments, and ostomy care.
Assist with feeding, ambulation, positioning, and turning, and care for patients with altered mobility.
Support patient safety based on age and condition, including assistance with restraints and specific safety precautions; collect, report, and document data about patient needs, emergencies, and usual behavior; and care for patients in a correctional environment.
Interview incoming patients at receiving facilities, complete receiving and screening forms, alert clinical providers to health problems needing immediate attention, record newly received patients, maintain statistical logs, and perform duties related to psychiatric referrals and screening.
Help maintain a safe and comfortable facility environment; obtain, store, and maintain pharmacy and nursing medications and supplies.
Distribute and document medications for patients in general population and administrative segregation from filled prescriptions, following Title 40, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 95, and the Licensing Standards for Medication Aides Handbook.
Ensure drug-room security, replace facility working drug stocks, and maintain the drug room and pharmaceutical equipment.
Enter medication compliance information into the pharmacy computer system.
Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality of information and records.
Practice basic cost containment and utilization management for patient care and facility operations.
Prioritize and organize work to complete assignments within required timeframes.
Promote positive interpersonal relationships among coworkers and Security.
Participate in orientation and continuing education, obtaining 40 annual continuing education/in-service hours to meet ACA standards.
Follow department internal controls and reporting structures and perform related duties as required.