Patient Care Assistant/Unit Administrative Assitant

Work Shift: EVENING

Work Week: Three 12 hours shifts with rotating weekends and holidays 

07/2019
JOB SUMMARY
At Houston Methodist, the Patient Care Assistant/Unit Administrative Assistant (PCA/UAA) position performs key functions that support the interprofessional team in delivering high quality, cost-effective care.  The PCA/UAA demonstrates basic knowledge and skills necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated nursing assistant level tasks for assigned patient populations, assisting in the delivery of patient care and services under the supervision of a licensed nurse. The PCA/UAA position performs basic patient care activities of daily living (ADL's) within unit-specific defined limits and job scope, such as assistance with patient elimination, hygiene, comfort, safety, nutrition, and progress activity and maintains competency requirements for computer medical terminology and other job-related functions, while practicing Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist ICARE values: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence..

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS
oProvide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
-INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
-COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
-ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
-RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
-EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate. 
oFocuses on patient/customer safety
oDelivers personalized service using HM Service Standards
oProvides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)
oIntentionally rounds with patients/customers to ensure their needs are being met
oInvolves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.

PEOPLE - 25%
1.Answers incoming telephone calls for the unit and transfers as appropriate.  Facilitates and supports effective throughput with timely communication.  Greets patients and visitors to the unit, assisting with directions, information and guidance. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort as a whole and facilitates problem resolution and responds positively to requests for assistance.    (EF)
2.Interacts with peers, staff and physicians in a supportive and respectful manner. Encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear and professional. Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information in a clear and timely manner. (EF)
3.Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for turnover/retention/employee satisfaction on unit-based scorecard, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.  (EF)

SERVICE - 25%
1.Follows the patient and family-centered care standards and provides direct patient care under the direction of a registered nurse. Documents, where applicable, care administered, diagnostic measurements, treatments and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures and cultural diversity and inclusion principles. Responds to the nurse call system, contacts nursing personnel as appropriate, and follows through with meeting patient needs. (EF)
2.Pull/print daily reports per unit standard, which may include daily shift report, charge nurse reports, handoff reports and/or My Daily Care Plan.  Assists with calls to physicians and their office, bed management, transfer services or other floors, coordinating with Operations Administrator as needed.  Organizes the unit work flow, paperwork as needed, pro-actively problem-solves, anticipating needs, and managing multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision.. (EF)
3.Coordinates the requests to Facilities Management/Maintenance and Biomed regarding department needs or broken equipment. Rounds through the unit, per unit expectations, to check for environmental or equipment needs, and other assistance that may be needed. Serves as an in-house courier which may include retrieving blood, hand delivering labs, tele boxes, etc.  (EF)
4.Contributes towards improving department scores for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability, i.e. bedside shift handoff/report.  (EF)

QUALITY/SAFETY - 35%
1.Reports observations, conditions and problems of patients to licensed personnel to achieve desired patient outcomes.  Provides for the privacy of patients and families, keeping the safety of the patient in mind. (EF)
2.Provides appropriate hand-off at change of shift at patient bedside to communicate and collaborate, promoting patient-centered care.  (EF)
3.Conducts hourly rounding to ensure patient needs are met (four P¿s). Monitors and addresses noise level of unit to improve or impact patient satisfaction.  Responds to patient calls promptly.  Reports near misses and collaborates with the interprofessional health care team to improve patient safety.  (EF)
4.Contributes towards improving quality and safety scores on the unit-based scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability.  Supports initiatives to prevent conditions such as pressure injuries, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections.  (EF)

FINANCE - 10%
1.Assists with patient and staffing needs (floats) across the service line or hospital within the scope of their role or validated competencies. (EF)
2.Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies.  Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime. Utilizes time efficiently and helps other team members. (EF)

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 5%
1.Identifies and assumes responsibility of own learning needs, consults with healthcare team experts and seeks continuing education opportunities to meet those needs. Completes and updates the individual development plan (IDP) on an on-going basis.  Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management.  (EF)
2.Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities. Follows up on action items as necessary to ensure completion of assignments. (EF)

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
oHigh School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)  

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
oEighteen months of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Patient Care Assistant (PCA) experience
oOne year of secretarial/office, college/vocational training or six months of internal cross-training within Houston Methodist
oPrior health care experience and/or medical terminology preferred

CERTIFICATIOINS, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED
oAmerican Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)
oFor Skilled Nursing Facility(SNF)/Rehab departments only - Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
oDemonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
oSufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
oAbility to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles.
oPerforms basic patient care activities of daily living (ADL¿s) within unit specific defined limits and job scope, such as assistance with patient elimination, hygiene, comfort, safety, nutrition, and progress activity.
oCompletes required continuous training and education, including department specific requirements
oAbility to operate and troubleshoot equipment (fax, PC, printers, telephones, etc.)
oProficient computer application skills

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Work Attire             Yes/No
Uniform                      Yes
Scrubs                        Yes
Business professionalNo
Other (dept. approved)    Yes

On-Call*                                   No (for Non-Exempt or Exempt jobs)
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (i.e. Disaster, Severe Weather Event, etc.) regardless of selection above.
            
Travel**        
May require travel within        No
Houston Metropolitan area

May require travel outside     No
of Houston Metropolitan area

**Travel specifications may vary by department.

Please note any other special considerations to this job: __________________________

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of  race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.

Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, located 35 miles southeast of Houston, is the area's only full-service hospital offering specialized medical care for patients at every stage in life. This 392 licensed bed hospital with 18 operating rooms, and over 1,400 employees, brings Medical Center excellence and quality care close to East Harris and surrounding counties.