Patient Care Associate - MAH Emergency Department (Rotating Schedule)

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

We're seeking a dedicated Patient Care Associate to join our Emergency Department team at Mount Auburn Hospital. This position is 36 hours per week, consisting of three 12-hour shifts with a rotating schedule that includes both day and overnight coverage. In this fast-paced emergency setting, the Patient Care Associate plays a vital role in supporting patient care and collaborating with the clinical team to deliver a safe, compassionate, and high-quality patient experience that meets individual needs across all patient settings.

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to):

• Acts as a resource to patients, families, and visitors upon entering the unit. Exhibits professional behavior while providing superior customer service to all who require information or assistance.
• Assists in coordinating patient communication by answering call lights (as defined by unit) and relaying timely and accurate information to nursing staff.
• Exhibits strong communication skills with professional telephone manners. Takes accurate messages and delivers the message in a timely fashion.
• Functions as a liaison between the patient care unit and all support services throughout the hospital.
• Maintains the flow of medical record information, ensuring all pertinent information is filed correctly and promptly.
• Maintains established stock levels of clerical supplies.
• Participates in the orientation of new staff.
• Responds to staffing needs of the healthcare team by cross-training and floating to other units as needed.
• Print proxy list daily and update proxy information to the current chart if applicable.
• Performs unit-specific tasks as identified on the unit checklist. Follow discharge procedures according to the checklist. Print required documents and sign off on completed paperwork.
• Follow appropriate downtime procedures. Locate and supply all downtime forms to staff as required.
• Attends the annual Safety Education Fair.
• Demonstrates the skills and judgment necessary to provide direct care to patients under the direct supervision of licensed personnel.
• Maintains current knowledge/certification.
• Demonstrates the skills and judgment necessary to provide non-direct patient care/support services to staff under the direction of licensed personnel.
• Follows the hospital exposure control plans/bloodborne and airborne pathogens.
• Assumes all other duties and responsibilities as necessary including one-to-one close observation of patients as needed.
• Assisting with patient admissions to the PACU and preparing the recovery room.
• Taking patients' vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, and temperature.
• Assisting with patient positioning and comfort measures, ensuring proper alignment and support.
• Ambulating patients and assisting with ADL's including toileting, dressing, and feeding.
• Assisting the nurse in conducting post-operative assessments, including monitoring incision sites and dressing changes.
• Providing support to patients and their families during the recovery process.
• Assisting with patient transfers to other units or discharge from the PACU.
• Maintaining a clean and safe environment in the PACU, including restocking supplies and equipment.
• Collaborating with the nursing team to ensure efficient and effective patient care.
• Adhering to all hospital policies and procedures, as well as regulatory guidelines related to patient care and safety in the PACU.
• Nurse's aides in the PACU must have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment. They should also have a compassionate demeanor and the ability to provide patient-centered care during the critical recovery period after surgery.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Previous clerical experience (preferably in a healthcare setting). Medical terminology is preferred.
• Ability to read and write at level 8, as documented on "Invest," the hospital's Employee Learning Laboratory software.  
• An ability to set appropriate priorities and organize workflow.
• An ability to concentrate and pay attention to detail during frequent interruptions.
• Strong interpersonal skills are necessary to interface with support and professional staff and patients.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Consistently promote a culture of Wellbeing, Empathy, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Equity as outlined in the organization's WE CARE values.
• Demonstrated commitment and actions to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
• Busy, heavily trafficked patient-care environment.
• Normal hospital environment.
• Exposure to infectious diseases, chemicals, and other toxic agents.
• Ability to walk and stand for up to 90% of work time, and to push and pull heavy work objects (including patients), and lift 50 lbs. Fine motor control for limited periods to perform patient treatments.
• On transfer of a patient from one unit to another, the unit coordinator will print clinical flow sheets from the sending unit and place them in the chart for the receiving unit to see.
• Notify RN of any written orders that are received.
• Maintain accurate charts and file all paperwork appropriately during each shift. Complete all paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Ensure that there is an ample amount of progress notes in the chart for clinicians to write progress notes on.
• Observe and report the patient’s status and needs
• Answer call lights and attends/report patient's needs
• Obtains weights, vital signs, intake/output, and reports results Performs phlebotomy, EKG, and glucometer.
• Collects and labels specimens according to policy.
• Assists patients with ADLs Assists with admissions, transfers, and discharges.
• Completes patient treatments as directed.
• Rounding every 2 hours on patients with documentation
• Attends hospital-sponsored training programs as required
• Attends annual Safety Education
• Performs glucometer competency (yearly)
• Assists with maintaining a safe, clean and orderly environment
• Operates all equipment and safely performs all procedures/care.
• Demonstrates proper body mechanics

ABOUT US

Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) places great value on being a diverse and inclusive community. BILH and the Department of {insert hiring department} are dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients in the communities that we serve. We believe in equal access to quality care, as well as employment and advancement opportunities encompassing the full spectrum or human diversity: race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other forms of group and individual identity and expression that make us better able to provide innovative and cutting-edge healthcare and research.

Pay Range:

$20.00 - $26.92

The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law.  Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled