Patient Care Associate, High Risk Antepartum

About the Role

The Patient Care Associate functions as a caregiver for a specific patient population, focusing on expanding knowledge and skills to provide effective direct and indirect care within an interdisciplinary team. This role promotes patient satisfaction, comfort, and safety under the supervision of a registered nurse. The position also serves as a Unit Services Representative, acting as a welcome ambassador and providing clerical support.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide patient care based on physical, psychosocial, education, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patients served.
• Ensure effective and safe patient outcomes through practice, judgment, and critical actions.
• Communicate ongoing patient status and care rendered with patients, Nurses, and other healthcare team members.
• Take initiative to ensure patient satisfaction.
• Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration for the patient's plan of care from admission to discharge.
• Participate in Unit and Departmental Quality and Safety initiatives and activities.
• Welcome patients and verify identification.
• Prepare patients for assessment/admission, physical examination, and procedures.
• Take vital signs under the direction of the RN and document electronically, reporting abnormal results immediately.
• Perform and document glucose finger stick/heel stick and collect specimens (stool, urine, sputum) as directed by the RN.
• Observe and document patient intake and output.
• Provide hygiene and comfort care to patients including bathing, toileting/diapering, feeding, and bed making.
• Ensure a safe patient environment by responding promptly to call lights/phone calls and communicating any patient condition changes to the RN.
• Accurately identify delivering parent/significant other and infant.
• Obtain and document patient weight, height/length, and head circumference as appropriate.
• Assist with patient meals as needed.
• Download Glucometer and TcB information per established policies.
• Provide age-appropriate care to patients and families.
• Recognize and respond to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction.
• Maintain BLS certification and initiate interventions in emergent situations.
• Assist with patient transport to and from the unit/department as needed.
• Act as a patient sitter when needed.
• Assist patients and families with non-clinical questions, concerns, and personal needs.
• Provide clerical support for completing Advance Directives, including documentation, physician notification, and collaboration with The Office of Patient Experience.
• Manage public displays of patient satisfaction information within the unit.
• Orient families to the unit and room, reviewing welcome information and expectations.
• Act as a service recovery champion by handling and routing inquiries/issues.
• Ensure the environment is safe and report safety concerns.
• Initiate help desk tickets for IT and equipment issues.
• Monitor inventory, order supplies, and procure necessary items.
• Perform A/D/T functions and patient charge entries in EPIC, including bed assignments and unit-specific procedure charges.
• Initiate and maintain patient medical records per established policies.
• Identify patient population needs and assist the professional nurse in modifying and delivering care specific to those needs (e.g., age, culture, language, hearing, visually impaired).
• Communicate with patients and primary caregivers at their level of understanding.
• Adhere to HMH organizational standards, competencies, and standards of behavior.
• Perform other appropriate duties or projects as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Completion of one of the following:
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Patient Care Technician program (PCT)
• Fundamentals of Nursing program from an accredited school of nursing
• HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program
• Equivalent patient-facing healthcare experience.
• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering position.

Qualifications

• Experienced in checking EKG, vital signs, and blood sugar (preferred).