Emergency Dept Technician

Lexington Medical Center•West Columbia, SC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Emergency Dept Technician performs patient care and related services to meet the personal needs and comfort of patients in the assigned Emergency Department. The role also performs clerical and order-entry functions, stocks supplies, maintains patient rooms, and serves as a liaison among nursing staff, physicians, hospital personnel, patients, and visitors. The technician works under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse, performs clerical functions that support timely and effective patient care, and adapts to changes in duties as needed. After completing specialized training, the technician performs a range of clinical tasks, including oxygen therapy and monitoring, vital-sign measurement, specimen collection, EKG acquisition, catheterization, assisting with sutures and orthopedic procedures, patient transport, and direct observation. The position also provides unit-secretary coverage as needed, supports patient flow and communication, prepares and cleans rooms, assists with activities of daily living, and helps maintain a safe, orderly, and well-stocked department. The schedule is full-time, AM shift, 0645–1915. A $2,500 sign-on bonus is listed.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of patient-care experience in an acute-care setting. The posting states that one year of experience may be substituted for candidates who are Certified Nursing Assistants, have EMT certification, or have completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course.
Basic Life Support certification and Crisis Prevention Institute Training are required within 90 days of hire.
Basic computer skills.
Knowledge and effective use of medical terminology.
Working knowledge of computer systems to provide patient-centered care, including order entry and chart documentation.

Responsibilities

Perform assigned patient-care tasks under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse, and perform clerical functions that support timely, efficient patient care.
After specialized training, place patients on oxygen therapy and pulse oximetry as directed; place patients on cardiac monitors and obtain Lead II strips for the chart.
Take and record vital signs, including pulse oximetry and monitor readings; weigh patients and report unusual or abnormal findings to the designated RN.
Collect blood specimens by phlebotomy venipuncture and deliver specimens to the laboratory as directed.
Set up sterile trays and assist physicians with suture repair; apply orthopedic splints and appliances and assist with casting and other orthopedic interventions as directed.
Provide crutch-walking instruction and demonstrations; set up water-seal drainage for chest tubes; obtain accurate 12-lead EKG tracings and deliver them to the physician.
Insert Foley catheters and provide Foley care; perform straight intermittent urinary catheterization as directed.
Serve as a Mayday team member by performing CPR and obtaining supplies, blood products, and equipment during codes.
Transport monitored and unmonitored patients within the department and throughout the hospital as directed.
Provide direct one-to-one observation for patients under Immediate Treatment Certification.
Perform unit-secretary functions when needed, including answering phone calls and the nurse-call system, making rounds as directed, maintaining and correcting patient-chart information, scheduling procedures and appointments, requesting medical-record copies when indicated, arranging transportation, and monitoring bed assignments and delays.
Facilitate patient flow within the zone and notify the Clinical Coordinator of ready rooms or process delays.
Troubleshoot delays in obtaining specimens and reports/results; independently inform the nurse when STAT or abnormal results become available.
Clean and prepare rooms after discharge and update the EPIC tracker.
Round on zone patients, keep patients and families informed, and ensure patients have a call light within reach.
Assist with admission procedures, orient patients to the environment, and direct or assist patients with undressing for examinations.
Recognize safety needs and take appropriate action to prevent injury.
Assist patients with personal hygiene; empty and clean bedpans, urinals, and bedside commodes; and record output as directed.
Change linens, make stretchers, organize patient environments, and provide other personalized services within scope of practice.
Pick up and return meal trays and feed patients who need assistance.
Assist with ambulation, positioning, turning, transfers to stretchers and wheelchairs, and transport or escort to tests, treatments, transfers, or discharge.
Change sterile and unsterile dressings as directed and maintain oxygen tanks.
Provide postmortem care and transport patients to the morgue.
Assist nurses and physicians with treatments and examinations; place ordered supplies, specialty trays, or carts in rooms; and prepare rooms or equipment for patients.
Maintain clean and soiled utility rooms and ensure designated instruments are returned to the Sterile Processing Department.
Mark QA check sheets and check and refill ED specialty carts and boxes.
Anticipate discharges, admissions, and transfers and obtain wheelchairs or other equipment in preparation.
Report changes in patient condition and other observations relevant to patient needs to the RN.
Participate in performance-improvement and patient-safety initiatives; attend at least 50% of staff and/or process-improvement meetings and obtain information from missed meetings, such as by reviewing minutes.
Assist with unfinished work from the previous shift, contribute to orderly shift change, and report off to the relief ED Technician.
Assist with orientation and training of new employees as requested.
Use and account for supplies and equipment conservatively and appropriately; demonstrate knowledge of supplies available to the ED.
Help maintain a safe and clean environment in accordance with infection-control policies, procedures, and documentation requirements; report malfunctioning or unsafe equipment.
Document pertinent information in the appropriate medical-record section in a timely, legible, complete, and concise manner.
Ensure hazardous waste and hazardous-waste pharmaceuticals are discarded, stored, and managed with compatible waste streams in properly labeled and closed containers before offsite disposal; complete initial RCRA training within six months of hire and annual training thereafter.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

$2,500 sign-on bonus.
Medical, dental, and life insurance benefits beginning on day one.
Health-care and dependent-care flexible spending accounts.
403(b) match plan enrollment beginning on day one; Lexington Health matches dollar for dollar up to 6%.
Employer-paid life insurance equal to one times salary.
Optional supplemental life insurance with low-cost premiums, up to three times salary.
Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage for full-time employees after 90 days of eligible employment.
Adoption assistance.
Tuition reimbursement.
Student loan forgiveness.