Environmental Associate

Yale New Haven Health•New Haven, CT

7h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Nurse Manager, and in cooperation with all the members of the patient care teams, performs a wide range of customer relations, environmental, patient care, and supply functions to fully support patient care activities on the assigned patient care division. The overriding responsibility is to integrate this role into the patient care model to ensure that the patient care team works for the good of the patient. Patient and family centered care (PFCC) at YNHH is demonstrated by working with patients and their families based on the 4 principles of PFCC: participation, dignity and respect, information sharing, and collaboration. This includes providing service excellence by creating a great "First Impression" by demonstrating exemplary customer service skills for all customer groups including patients, families/friends, physicians, staff and support department personnel. Adheres to the "I Am YNHH" service excellence pledge and promotes a positive work environment.

Requirements

Six months demonstrated customer service related work experience required.
Must successfully complete a training program provided by the Environmental Services Department and achieve competence in all duties.
Excellent Customer Service and communication skills.
Ability to read, write and perform basic math.
Ability to work independently.
Able to perform as part of the patient care team.

Responsibilities

Provides physical assistance to nursing staff performing patient care, escorts patients throughout the Hospital as needed, and demonstrates knowledge of patients' age-specific considerations.
Uses proper patient positioning techniques and equipment correctly while moving or transporting patients.
Assists clinical staff with lifting and supporting patients getting in and out of bed and positioning immobile patients, and restraining patients.
Responds to emergency situations by obtaining supplies and equipment as needed.
Transports patients safely, courteously, and in a timely manner to all testing areas and at discharge, and obtains all necessary medical information and equipment and supplies before leaving unit.
Transports deceased patients to the morgue.
Performs unit-specific tasks.
Performs housekeeping tasks to ensure the sanitary conditions of all areas.
Corrects observed discrepancies immediately (e.g. spills on the floor, trash cans overflowing).
Completes required housekeeping functions as scheduled and according to procedure.
Checks all dispensers (paper towels, toilet paper, soap) daily and refills as needed.
Uses correct mopping procedures and uses an adequate number of wet floor signs.
Adheres to 7-step cleaning procedure for furniture and walls and keeps ceiling and wall vents free of dust (high dusting).
Removes supplies from shelves, cabinets and drawers routinely; cleans the areas; and rotates the stock.
Returns all mops/rags/dusters at the end of the shift.
Maintains bathrooms in acceptable condition by properly cleaning all fixtures, walls, floors, sinks, and commodes.
Keeps all interior windows clear of smudges and tape marks.
Maintains a clean and orderly porter closet.
Ensures that all chemical containers are properly labeled and contain correct solutions.
On discharge, supplies admission kits and towels to bedside tables as necessary, and cleans mattresses and bed frames of dust, blood, food, and body secretions.
Ties all trash bags and puts them in appropriate containers or trash chutes.
Handles and disposes medical waste and sharps observing all required precautions.
Ensures that all trash receptacles are cleaned regularly.
Ensures that all trash and linen chute doors are closed and latched after each use.
Adheres to department recycling requirements by separating recyclable waste and transporting waste according to procedure, and "breaks down" corrugated boxes before disposing.
Relines linen hampers and trash cans with appropriate bags.
Performs minor repairs and coordinates more complicated work with Engineering to ensure the areas are maintained and hardware/equipment functions in manner consistent with patient and staff expectations.
Tightens handrails and door knobs as required.
Repairs small vinyl tears.
Performs light paint touch-up as specified.
Performs minor repairs on casework (counters, cabinets) and shelves; doors and door hinges; faucets; furniture; handrails; light bulbs and pull cords; rubber bases, vinyl walls, and wall surfaces; sink drains and toilets; and switch plates, and coordinates more complicated work with Engineering when needed.
Coordinates with Engineering to ensure that ballasts, ceiling tiles, and floors are in good repair, are neat and clean, and function properly or are replaced.
Coordinates with Engineering to ensure that painting jobs are completed.
Demonstrates proper use of all tools, including hand tools.
Replaces clock batteries and resets clocks with a minimum of down time.
Follows established standards to obtain patient supplies and maintain supply inventories.
Inventories, orders, and/or stocks pharmacy supplies, PDAD supplies, outside purchases, CSS supplies, and specialty items (e.g. orthopedic cart items, hypothermia units) as scheduled and as needed, and notifies supervisor of problems associated with obtaining supplies.
Reconciles ordered and received supplies and follows-up on discrepancies.
Obtains all necessary information (e.g. patient name and blood product) before leaving for the Blood Bank, and returns to the unit with the correct blood product within ten (10) minutes.
Meets established standards for maintenance and control of equipment and for cleanliness of general service areas.
Maintains par levels of patient equipment.
Inspects and cleans equipment daily, or as needed (eg infusion pumps, lifepacs, cardiac monitors).
Inspects refrigerators weekly, and cleans and defrosts them as necessary.
Obtains patient equipment as requested and adheres to central department equipment standards (eg for item cleanliness).
Demonstrates equipment functions to user staff as requested.
Monitors and ensures the return of unit equipment on loan or out for repair.
Attends and actively participates in ongoing training and retraining programs as required and as needed.