Patient Care Assistant, Emergency Room- Per Diem

UMass Memorial Health•Southbridge, MA

About The Position

Under the direction of an appropriate licensed clinician and in accordance with unit-specific standards, the Patient Care Assistant provides care to meet patients’ personal needs and comfort and assists the healthcare team. The role serves patients, nurses, physicians, and other colleagues as part of the patient care team. The Patient Care Tech III (PCT III) designation applies to staff performing specified specialty duties, including work in the Emergency Department and other listed clinical areas or functions. The position includes communicating patient observations and changes to the RN; observing high-risk patients; supporting a safe environment and de-escalation; assisting with daily living activities and patient mobility; recording vital signs and measurements; performing EKGs, point-of-care tests, and bladder scans; collecting specimens; and assisting with treatments and procedures. Other duties include monitoring intake and output, handling unit communications, replenishing supplies, and maintaining equipment. The specific specialty duties depend on the assigned unit or function. This is a per-diem position with varied scheduled hours and a mixed shift. The position is based indoors in a patient care environment and involves substantial standing and walking, frequent bending, and potentially pushing heavy equipment. The role may require lifting up to 50 pounds.

Requirements

High school education or GED.
Current Basic Life Support certification.
Demonstrated competency attainment at the PCT II level, or one year of acute-care or hospital experience, or one year of EMT/Paramedic experience.
Ability to read, write, and communicate clearly and concisely in English.
Medical terminology knowledge.
Computer skills.
Strong interpersonal skills to gather information, build collaborative working relationships, and provide exceptional patient service.
Proven problem-solving ability for routine situations and willingness to seek assistance when further direction is needed.
Ability to remain calm under stress or in emergency situations.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including lifting up to 50 pounds and standing and walking for most of the work time.

Responsibilities

Communicate clearly and promptly to the RN about patient observations and changes, including changes in skin condition, vital signs, or mental status.
Provide constant observation of high-risk patients as assigned by the Resource Nurse or designee.
Help maintain a safe environment, use de-escalation interventions, and participate in restraints in accordance with training and direction when de-escalation is unsuccessful.
Assist patients with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, ambulation, meals, and nourishment.
Move, lift, position, and transport patients using appropriate safety techniques and body mechanics.
Perform patient safety checks, use fall-prevention strategies or devices as directed, and follow restraint-policy standards when caring for restrained patients.
Take and record vital signs and measure and record patients’ height and weight.
Perform EKGs, point-of-care tests, and bladder scans according to hospital standards; collect, label, and prepare specimens for transport to the laboratory.
Perform phlebotomy in designated locations.
Respond sensitively to patients’ needs, provide information, and build positive rapport and relationships.
Perform unit-specific procedures, such as changing telemetry batteries, checking equipment, cleaning equipment between patients, and storing supplies properly.
Assist an RN or Licensed Independent Practitioner with treatments and procedures by preparing patients, obtaining and setting up equipment and supplies, using sterile technique when indicated, positioning and supporting patients, and cleaning up afterward.
Observe, measure, and record oral food and fluid intake; set up full-strength tube-feeding solutions and refill bags as directed; empty and record approved output; and perform ostomy care for established ostomate patients as directed.
Answer telephone calls, take and relay messages, and use intra-department communication systems such as pagers and intercoms.
Replenish patient and unit supplies and equipment.
Keep current with hospital and unit changes by reviewing communication materials and reading and responding to UMMHC emails regularly.
When assigned unit secretary duties, assist with admissions, transfers, and discharges at least five shifts (40 hours) every six months; maintain logs and records, organize patient-care charts, and enter or retrieve information in electronic medical record systems.
When assigned remote video monitoring duties, continuously observe multiple patients using the remote video monitoring system.
Comply with departmental policies, procedures, and objectives; attend required or directed meetings and educational events; and use quality improvement in daily operations.
Comply with health and safety requirements, demonstrate respect and professionalism, maintain reliable attendance, and perform other similar duties as required or directed.