Patient Care Assistant| Emergency Department Observation

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Assistant (PCA) will work in the Emergency Department Observation Unit (Austen 1). This specialized unit is designed for efficient, ongoing medical treatment, assessment, and reassessment of patients before a decision can be made to either discharge or admit. Austen 1 is a 19-bed care area dedicated to the care of emergency room patients who require more care but are expected to be discharged within 24 hours. The PCA works under the direction of licensed personnel, assisting patients with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They also assist with taking patients' temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.

Requirements

Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Strong patient/customer service skills.
Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
Proficient computer skills to work efficiently with electronic medical records.

Nice To Haves

High School Diploma or Equivalent preferred
Basic Life Support [BLS Certification] - preferred
Certified Medical Assistant [National Certification] - preferred
Emergency Medical Technician - Basic [Massachusetts] - Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services preferred
Nursing Assistant - Massachusetts Board of Nursing preferred
Experience working in patient care/elder care 0-1 years preferred

Responsibilities

Performs vital signs, weights/heights, intakes, and outputs with accuracy and within established time frame and/or as requested.
Completes all documentation in the medical record as required.
Interacts with patients and their families effectively.
Helps patients with a number of basic hygiene tasks. This may include bathing and dressing patients, helping them use the toilet if needed, and feeding them.
Assist with helping patients turn and reposition themselves in bed as needed and help them move between the bed and a wheelchair if they use one.
Listens to any health concerns patients may have and report those concerns to the nurses.