Patient Care Associate, High Risk Antepartum

About the Role

The Patient Care Associate functions as a caregiver for a specific patient population to achieve desired outcomes. This position focuses on expanding knowledge and skills and provides effective direct and indirect care as part of the interdisciplinary team to a variety of complex patients. Under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse, promotes patient satisfaction, comfort, and safety. Assists with a variety of patient, unit, and environment-related tasks. Participates in patient safety initiatives. This role also serves as Unit Services Representative for this patient population.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide patient care, based on physical, psychosocial, education, safety, and related criteria that is appropriate to the age of the patients served in assigned service.
• Provide effective and safe patient outcomes through practice, judgment, and critical actions.
• Provide ongoing communication with patients, Nurses, and other members of the health care team regarding patient status and care rendered.
• Take self-directed or self-motivated initiative to ensure patient satisfaction.
• Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration of our patient's plan of care from admission to discharge to ensure safe transitioning and continuum of care.
• Participate in Unit and Departmental Quality and Safety initiatives and activities.
• Welcome patients and check for proper identification bracelets.
• Prepare patients for assessment/admission, physical examination, and procedures.
• Take vital signs under the direction of the RN and document electronically according to the Medical Center policy, reporting abnormal results immediately to the RN.
• Perform and document glucose finger stick/heel stick and collect other specimens including stool, urine, and sputum when 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.
• Provide a safe patient environment by answering call lights/phone calls from patients promptly and communicating with the RN immediately for any changes in patient condition.
• Identify delivering parent/significant other and infant accurately.
• Obtain and document patient weight, height/length, and head circumference as appropriate to the patient population.
• Assist with preparation as necessary assuring the patient is assisted with meals or fed as needed.
• Download Glucometer and TcB information per established policies.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to 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 any non-clinical questions, concerns, and/or personal needs (e.g., belongings, delays, support departments, etc.).
• Provide clerical support in completing Advance Directives including documentation, informing the physician, and collaborating with The Office of Patient Experience.
• Create awareness of patient satisfaction in the unit by managing public displays with this information, e.g., communication boards.
• Orient families to the unit and room and review welcome information and what to expect including instructions for the television, the telephone, meal ordering, visiting policy, parking, discharge options, and other non-clinical needs.
• Act as a service recovery champion by handling, and routing inquiries/issues to appropriate individuals. Proactively seek out issues and address them.
• Assure the environment is in appropriate condition and free of safety concerns. Report safety concerns to the manager or designee.
• Initiate help desk tickets to resolve any IT and equipment issues as they occur.
• Monitor inventory, order supplies, and equipment, and procure all items as needed using established channels.
• Perform A/D/T functions and patient charge entries that include make bed assignments and/or moves in EPIC and input patient charges (billing) for unit-specific procedures in Epic.
• Initiate, and maintain patient medical records by established policies.
• Identify the needs of the patient population served and assist the professional nurse to modify and deliver care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing, and/or 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 of the department 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.