Patient Care Associate

Site: Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Inc.
Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.
With energy and purpose, Cooley Dickinson Health Care, a member of the Mass General Brigham system, is advancing health care in western Massachusetts, and has been since 1886. Our network employs more than 2,00 medical professionals and support staff, at our main Hospital campus in Northampton and additional locations in twelve towns throughout the Pioneer Valley. Cooley Dickinson's VNA & Hospital is also a vital part of our network, providing home-based services through-out Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Job Summary
32 hours - Evenings
The Patient Care Associate (PCA) is responsible for performing a variety of direct and non-direct patient care duties, including routine patient care duties as well as clerical, supply, and messenger responsibilities. The PCA performs other patient care related duties and unit duties as needed and may function as a patient care observer to monitor for patient safety in situations where 1:1 observation is required.
Telemetry/Critical Care Unit Specific: Responsible for successfully completing arrhythmia course and maintaining competency in telemetry monitoring.
This position is part of the 1199SEIU Bargaining Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
This position reports to the Nurse Manager and operates within established organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
Must be able to effectively interact appropriately to an individual's intellectual level and physical ability.
1Infants1Pediatric1Adolescent1Adult1Geriatric
Does this position require Patient Care?
Yes
Essential Functions
-Perform patient care related duties and clinical functions as assigned or requested. These include, but are not limited to, perform and document point of care, perform and document vital signs, perform EKG's, perform skin, bathing and performing other sanitary needs of patients, transferring and assisting with ambulation of patients, feeding patients, etc. Assist RN's and physicians with other exams and treatments as required. Record I & O.
-Communicate with nursing staff in an effective and timely manner around issues related to patient care and patient condition.
-Complete documentation data on the patient's medical records as care is provided, condition changes and as clinical needs, supervisor indicates.
-Ensure that patient rooms are stocked, equipped, and cleaned appropriately, as needs indicate and as patient volumes change.
-Utilize equipment properly considering its' maintenance, safety and availability. Report equipment malfunctions and needs to Maintenance or Bio Med Engineering as appropriate.
-Participate in quality improvement processes and systems to assure targeted outcomes, exceptional service delivery and efficiency.
-Demonstrate cooperative, collaborative, participative behavior with peers in the performance of work, goals, quality improvement efforts and patient care delivery.
-Participate in the orientation of new personnel as requested.
-Assist in emergency situations as directed.
-Make trips to other hospital departments for patient and unit supplies (i.e. equipment, blood, storeroom, etc.) and deliver specimens, etc.
-Delivers meal trays to patients using safe tray passing techniques (verify with RN if NPO, patient going for a test, patient with swallowing issues, etc)
-Receive incoming communications and take appropriate action to relay information to the necessary person(s).
-Receive and direct Medical Staff, personnel, patients and visitors.
-Inform next shift Unit Secretary, Shift Charge Nurse, or Nurse Manager of problems needing attention.
-Notify Case Management of the need for consultation at the request of physician or nurse.
-Notify consulting physician, physician's office, or answering service of need for consultation as ordered by attending physician.
-Contact religious personnel on behalf of patient as directed by nursing staff, patient or patient's family.
-Operate paging system efficiently.
-Perform non-clinical clerical duties related to the admission, hospitalization, discharge,