Certified Medication Aide (CMA) - Garza Unit

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

75d•Onsite

About The Position

Correctional Managed Care works to address 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 supports patients’ general health needs, including cleanliness, grooming, rest, activity, nourishment, and medication distribution. The aide assists 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 information, assisting with patient care and safety, distributing and documenting medications in accordance with applicable Texas medication-aide standards, and maintaining medication supplies and drug-room security. The position requires shift work and may involve assignment to more than one facility. Security clearance and pre-employment drug testing are required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Current Texas Certified Medication Aide permit.
Security clearance is required.
Pre-employment drug testing is required.
Able to meet the physical demands of the role, including moderate to extreme physical effort and lifting heavy, awkward items weighing over 50 pounds.
Adequate vision, hearing, speech, and sense of touch to perform tasks and communicate accurately.
Able 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 according to the patient’s plan of care.
Provide personal hygiene and related care, including bathing, oral suctioning, superficial wound care, assistance with chronic wound care, skin care, elimination, incontinence care, urinary-catheter care, specified cleansing procedures, and ostomy care.
Assist with feeding, ambulation, positioning, and turning; care for patients with altered mobility.
Support patient safety based on age and condition, including assistance with restraints and patient-specific precautions, documenting patient needs, emergencies, and usual behavior, and providing care in a correctional environment.
Interview incoming patients, complete receiving and screening forms, notify clinical professionals about patients needing immediate attention, record newly received patients, maintain statistical logs, and perform duties for 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 patient medications in general population and administrative segregation from filled prescriptions, following Title 40, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 95, “Licensing Standards for Medication Aides Handbook.”
Maintain 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 required assignments within specified timeframes.
Promote positive interpersonal relationships among co-workers and Security.
Participate in orientation and continuing education; obtain 40 hours of annual continuing education or in-service hours to meet ACA standards.
Follow departmental internal controls and reporting structures and perform related duties as required.