The Rehabilitation Aide reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine (NM), adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
A non-licensed employee who is specifically trained under the direction of a rehabilitation therapist to complete designated routine tasks related to the operation of therapy services including but not limited to transportation activities, supportive activities as well as assisting physical therapists and assistants, occupational therapists, and assistants, and speech-language pathologists in both inpatient and outpatient evaluations and treatments.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain a neat/tidy appearance in all areas of the department, returning equipment/supplies to designated areas
- Regularly sanitize and maintain rehabilitation equipment, mat tables, gym, and assistive devices according to hospital safety and infection control standards
- Evaluate and distribute linen supplies, changing linens on treatment tables according to procedures
- Maintain applicable medical and non-medical supplies in all treatment areas.
- Monitor the volume of oxygen in the O2 tanks daily and communicate the need for oxygen tank replacements as needed
- Perform defibrillator checks daily per the standards explained in the procedures section of the manual
- Sweep soiled utility and equipment rooms at least twice weekly for therapy equipment across all patient care pavilions including Galter, Feinberg, Prentice, and Olson. Place clean equipment in Feinberg's 11th-floor equipment room or Prentice 14 gym.
- Maintain organization and complete regular inventory of equipment/supply levels in the equipment closets and satellite offices of the Rehab Services Department on a regular basis Equipment includes but is not limited to: DME, PRAFO, ADL supplies, orthosis supplies (as indicated on the checklist), theraband, tubigrip, FEES supplies, etc.
- Complete frequent “spot checks” of equipment par levels in the satellite gym and restock as necessary during downtime
- Assistance may include but is not limited to: prepping the splint and FEES cart, cleaning the splint and FEES cart, hands-on assist for the therapists, transporting the splint and FEES cart to wherever it’s needed, etc.
- Monitor DME inventory delivered by 3rd party vendor to ensure correct par is received and stocked
- Monitor accurate completion of the DME equipment forms, attach face sheet and prepare for 3rd party vendor weekly pick up
- Manage DME discrepancies with the 3rd party vendor. Go to all the service line offices weekly to pick up the DME equipment forms
- Assist the Manager, Resource Coordinators, and Education Coordinators with any copies needed from the Rapid Copy Center
- Assist in department communication processes; e.g. answer telephones, transit messages from nursing service to therapist, communication between therapists, etc.
- Set up chairs in the rehab gym including but not limited to training classes, in-services, and meetings to support the department
- Assist the therapist with delivery, set-up, and clean-up of the treatment area (i.e. patient room, rehab gym, splint set up) for patient care delivery, training classes, in-services, meetings
- Participate in environmental and regulatory departmental efforts to maintain a safe work environment. Alert the manager or director to any environmental issues that need to be addressed
- Provide appropriate direction to any volunteer in the Rehabilitation Services Department.
- Provide assistance and teach safe patient handling techniques to NM staff and students
- Perform other related duties as assigned
- Perform direct patient care in the:
- Mobility of patients as described by the physician, under the supervision of a physical therapist and occupational therapist
- Dressing and toileting of patients as necessary
- Assist in and/or perform patient transfers and lifts through the use of proper body mechanics, according to standard techniques
- Assist the therapist in evaluations/treatments as requested at the bedside and/ or the rehabilitation gym (i.e.: exercises, mat activities, orthosis fabrication, modality preparation, and group therapy)
- Maintain individual schedules to establish clear availability/unavailability for therapists to schedule for patient care assistance (direct patient care assistance or equipment delivery)
- Assist in vending appropriate DME, adaptive equipment/devices, and supplies as directed by the physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech pathologist.
- Report treatment activities, patient progress, and/or any unusual/adverse response to treatment or any unusual incident to the therapist
AA/EOE
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