Patient Care Technician - Specialist

UPMC•Pittsburgh, PA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

UPMC Mercy is seeking a full-time Patient Care Technician Specialist to work at the Mercy Pavilion. The position follows a Monday through Friday schedule with variable start times and no weekends, holidays, or on-call shifts. Phlebotomy and IV skills are preferred. The Patient Care Technician Specialist assists nurses and other healthcare providers with clinical and personal care needs to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. Duties include monitoring vital signs, helping patients with activities of daily living, collecting specimens, performing phlebotomy and IV-related procedures, and maintaining a clean and safe patient environment. In addition to core patient care technician competencies, the specialist must achieve and maintain competency in at least one additional advanced skill based on department needs: basic arrhythmia, complex wound care, 12-lead EKG, or NG tube clamping and removal.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet one of these experience and qualification pathways: (a) 2 years of general healthcare experience and meet the requirements of the Patient Care Technician - Senior title; (b) 1 year of general healthcare experience and enrollment in a PT/OT/PA program with at least one clinical rotation completed; or (c) 1 year of general healthcare experience and a completed bachelor’s degree in a health sciences field.
Complete an annual professional contribution to be determined after hire.
Successfully complete the patient care technician specialist class.
Successfully complete eRecord training.
CPR required based on AHA standards, including both a didactic and skills demonstration component, within 30 days of hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Act 34 clearance.
May be required to successfully complete the appropriate UPMC cardiac rhythm course as determined by organizational guidelines and unit-based clinical operations.

Nice To Haves

Phlebotomy and IV skills.
Nursing student who has completed one clinical rotation.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic qualification, or current enrollment in an EMT or Paramedic program.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).

Responsibilities

Provide compassionate, patient-centered care while demonstrating cultural awareness, workplace safety, and professionalism.
Perform core patient care duties, including bathing, feeding, toileting, ambulating, transporting, turning, and repositioning patients.
Obtain vital signs, weights, intake and output, blood glucose, and other point-of-care tests; collect patient specimens.
Apply and reapply telemetry monitors and assist with HAC and PSI prevention measures, including TEDs and SCDs.
Perform simple dressing changes, bladder scans, restraint placement and removal, and specimen collection.
Perform advanced competencies, including IV insertion and removal, Foley catheter insertion and removal, straight catheterization, and phlebotomy.
Achieve and maintain competency in at least one additional advanced skill based on department needs: basic arrhythmia, complex wound care, 12-lead EKG, or NG tube clamping and removal.
Provide instruction to patients and families under the direction of the RN.
Respond to call lights and telephones, assist with meal trays, transport patients, and support other unit activities as needed.
Transport cardiac-monitored patients within the hospital and complete department clerical functions as needed.
Document patient care in the medical record according to established procedures.
Report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department and support a safe patient care environment.
Participate in department projects and quality initiatives; communicate learning or support needs to leadership.
Enter areas where medications are stored or transport medications with patients between departments when required.