Emergency Dept Technician

Lexington Medical Center•West Columbia, SC

About The Position

The Emergency Dept Technician performs patient-care tasks and related services in the assigned Emergency Department to meet patients’ personal needs and support their comfort. Under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse, the technician also performs clerical and order-entry functions, stocks supplies, maintains patient rooms, and helps coordinate communication among nursing staff, physicians, hospital personnel, patients, and visitors. The position requires flexibility to accept changes in duties as needed. After completing specialized training, the technician performs a range of delegated clinical tasks, including monitoring patients, collecting specimens, assisting with procedures, catheterization, transporting patients, and providing one-to-one observation when directed. The technician also supports unit-secretary functions, patient flow, room turnover, documentation, safety, infection control, and shift transitions. The role is full-time on the PM shift, 1845–0715.

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 a Certified Nursing Assistant, 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 and 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 and effective care.
After specialized training, place patients on oxygen therapy, pulse oximetry, and cardiac monitoring; obtain Lead II strips; take and record vital signs and weights; and report abnormal findings to the designated RN.
Collect blood specimens by venipuncture and deliver specimens to the laboratory as directed; troubleshoot specimen delays and report STAT or abnormal results to the nurse.
Set up sterile trays and assist physicians with suture repair, casting, and other directed orthopedic interventions; apply orthopedic splints and appliances and provide crutch-walking instruction and demonstration.
Set up water-seal drainage for chest tubes; obtain 12-lead EKG tracings and deliver them to the physician; insert Foley catheters and provide catheter care; and perform straight intermittent urinary catheterization as directed.
Serve as a Mayday team member, 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, including transport for tests, treatments, transfers, and discharges.
Provide direct one-to-one observation for patients under Immediate Treatment Certification.
Perform Unit Secretary functions as needed, including answering phone calls and the nurse-call system, making directed patient rounds, checking charts and records, scheduling procedures and appointments, requesting medical-record copies when indicated, arranging transportation, and monitoring bed assignments and admission delays.
Facilitate patient flow within the assigned zone and notify the Clinical Coordinator of ready rooms or process delays.
Clean and prepare rooms after discharge and update the EPIC tracker; prepare rooms and equipment and place ordered supplies, specialty trays, or carts in rooms.
Round on patients and keep patients and families informed; assist with admission procedures and orient patients to their environment, ensuring call lights are within reach.
Direct or assist patients with undressing for examinations and recognize and address safety needs to prevent injury.
Assist with hygiene and personal care, clean and empty bedpans, urinals, and bedside commodes, and record output as directed.
Change linens, make stretchers, organize patients’ environments, pick up and return meal trays, and feed patients who need assistance.
Assist patients with ambulation, positioning, turning, and transfers to stretchers and wheelchairs; escort or transport patients to other areas.
Change sterile and unsterile dressings as directed, maintain oxygen tanks, and provide post-mortem care and transport to the morgue.
Assist nurses and physicians with treatments and examinations; maintain clean and soiled utility rooms and return designated instruments to Sterile Processing.
Complete QA check sheets and check and refill ED specialty carts and boxes; anticipate patient discharges, admissions, and transfers and obtain wheelchairs or other equipment.
Report changes in patient condition and other relevant observations to the RN; document pertinent information accurately, legibly, completely, and promptly in the appropriate medical-record section.
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.
Support orderly shift changes by helping with unfinished work and reporting off to the relief ED Technician; assist with new-employee orientation and training as requested.
Use and account for supplies and equipment conservatively; help maintain a safe, clean environment in accordance with infection-control procedures and documentation requirements; report malfunctioning or unsafe equipment.
Demonstrate knowledge of supplies available to the ED and ensure hazardous waste and hazardous-waste pharmaceuticals are properly segregated, labeled, closed, stored, managed, and prepared for disposal.
Complete initial RCRA training within six months of hire and annual RCRA training thereafter; perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

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.
$2,500 sign-on bonus.