Patient Care Technician

UPMC•York, PA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician provides patient care by assisting with procedures and activities of daily living, supporting physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies, and reporting changes in patient status to the RN. The role performs UPMC nursing core assistant responsibilities and additional patient-care tasks, with advanced skills determined by departmental operational needs. The technician supports patient and workplace safety, communicates effectively with the healthcare team, documents care in the medical record, and contributes to unit activities and quality initiatives. Access to medications is limited to distributing medication to the nurse. The position requires a high school diploma or GED, qualifying healthcare experience or training, successful completion of the UPMC patient care technician class, and eRecord training. CPR meeting AHA standards is required within 30 days of hire. Additional clearances are required. EMT or Paramedic credentials or enrollment in a related program are preferred, as is ACLS.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet one of the stated qualification pathways: one year of general healthcare experience; six months as a UPMC Nursing Assistant/CNA with PCT competency achieved within 120 days of hire, transfer, or promotion if the candidate has less than one year of experience; enrollment in a PT, OT, PA, or related healthcare training program with at least one clinical rotation completed; or a bachelor's degree in a health sciences field.
Successful completion of the UPMC patient care technician class.
Successful completion of eRecord training.
CPR based on AHA standards, including didactic training and skills demonstration, within 30 days of hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting clearance with renewal.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance with renewal.
Ability to perform the patient-care and nursing assistant tasks described for the role.

Nice To Haves

EMT or Paramedic certification, or current enrollment in an EMT or Paramedic program.
ACLS certification.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with procedures and activities of daily living, including bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning, and repositioning.
Assist with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies.
Report changes in patient status to the RN and provide feedback regarding patient care.
Perform nursing core assistant responsibilities, including blood glucose testing, weights, vital signs, intake and output, specimen collection, and Foley care.
Perform required department-identified tasks, which may include phlebotomy, 12-lead EKGs, simple dressings, Foley catheter removal, point-of-care testing, bladder scans, straight catheterization, and IV catheter removal.
Perform assigned patient-care tasks such as telemetry monitor application or reapplication, patient-safety and hospital-acquired-condition indicators, restraint placement and removal, and intra-hospital transportation using ticket-to-ride procedures.
Report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department and communicate effectively with other departments and healthcare team members.
Contribute to universal unit activities, including responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
Provide instruction to patients and families under the direction of the RN; apply, monitor, and remove restraints when permitted by physician or hospital protocol.
Follow patient-care, hospital-information, and safety policies, including standard precautions.
Document in the medical record according to established procedures and complete clerical functions as needed.
Perform assigned work in a timely and productive manner and support department projects and quality initiatives.
Identify learning needs, seek assistance with planning and prioritizing activities, receive feedback constructively, and take steps to improve knowledge, skills, and performance.
Maintain professional and respectful working relationships, demonstrate accountability and commitment, and support safety for patients and coworkers.
Achieve and maintain competency in, or perform as operationally needed, one or more advanced skills such as phlebotomy or venipuncture, peripheral IV removal, indwelling Foley catheter removal, basic arrhythmia skills, 12-lead EKG, or NG tube clamping and removal.