Patient Care Assistant, Per Diem

JOB SUMMARY

The Patient Care Assistant-(PCA) cares for all patients, including behavioral health, following provider instructions and hospital procedures. Actively monitors patients’ physical and emotional well-being and reports to nursing/medical staff. Ensures a safe environment for patients and staff. Participates in rehabilitation and treatment programs and helps with personal hygiene and activities of daily living.

All patient care team members act to meet patient needs and learn new skills to achieve quality patient care and customer service. Team members promote a cooperative working relationship with each other, other staff, and the public by facilitating and enhancing communication, displaying honesty and respect, displaying sensitivity to age specific needs and cultural defenses, and expressing and accepting feedback in a professional manner. 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

None

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Identify the functions or tasks that employees in the job perform. The essential functions should state the purpose of the work and the results to be accomplished, rather than how the function is performed. Of the tasks listed, what percentage of time is devoted to each? The more time employees spend on a function, the more likely it is that the function is essential. Generally, include those functions that account for 10% or more of the work, i.e., key items that contribute significantly to the achievement of the job. The functions should add up to 100%.

LIVING PRIDE STANDARDS

Service Excellence

• Demonstrates service excellence by following the Everyday PRIDE Guide with the UCSF Medical Center standards and expectations for communication and behavior. These standards and expectations convey specific behavior associated with the Medical Center’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence, and provide guidance on how we communicate with patients, visitors, faculty, staff, and students, virtually everyone, every day and with every encounter. These standards include, but are not limited to: personal appearance, acknowledging and greeting all patients and families, introductions using AIDET, managing up, service recovery, managing delays and expectations, phone standards, electronic communication, team work, cultural sensitivity and competency.

• Uses effective communication skills with patients and staff; demonstrates proper telephone techniques and etiquette; acts as an escort to any patient or family member needing directions; shows sensitivity to differences of culture; demonstrates a positive and supportive manner in which patients / families/ colleagues perceive interactions as positive and supportive. Exhibits team work skills to positively acknowledge and recognize other colleagues, and uses personal experiences to model and teach Living PRIDE standards. 

• Exhibits tact and professionalism in difficult situations according to PRIDE Values and Practices

• Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and procedures related to Protected Health Information (PHI) or other sensitive and personal information.

• Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to safety and infection control policies and procedures.

• Assumes accountability for improving quality metrics associated with department/unit and meeting organizational/departmental targets. 

Work Environment

• Keeps working areas neat, orderly and clutter-free, including the hallways. Adheres to cleaning processes and puts things back where they belong. Removes and reports broken equipment and furniture.

• Picks up and disposes of any litter found throughout entire facility. 

• Posts flyers and posters in designated areas only; does not post on walls, doors or windows.

• Knows where the Environment of Care Manual is kept in department; corrects or reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate departments. 

• Protects the physical environment and equipment from damage and theft.

OTHER FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ability to work effectively within a team.
2. Ability to satisfactorily perform job duties as defined in the job description.
3. Willingness to be taught/learn new skills.
4. Ability to understand and communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
5. Ability to perform basic arithmetic computations (addition and subtraction).
6. Ability to organize and effectively set priorities
7. Knowledge of medical terminology appropriate to the responsibilities of the job is preferred. 

• Performs other duties as assigned.

POPULATIONS SERVED

Employees who routinely provide direct patient care require a statement concerning Populations Served Competencies. Typically, a statement such as “Demonstrated ability to provide appropriate care based on the needs of a specific individual, including the patient’s age.” is sufficient. Select from the following patient age categories.

Infant

Child  

Adolescent  

Adult  

MEDICATION ACCESS AND STORAGE 

The “Medication and Auxiliary Staff Competency” must be successfully completed for Level I, Level II or Level III staff PRIOR to performing duties requiring medication access (including access, transport, and/or stocking activities OR access to medication storage areas for cleaning).

Instructions: After employee successfully completes the level-appropriate competency, please check the corresponding box below. Obtain the employee’s and manager’s signatures to attest that the competency was completed and send the signed job description to HR for the employee’s personnel file. 

_____ Level 1  As a part of his/her daily activities, employees may have access to medication storage areas for cleaning only. These activities must be in compliance with the Medications and Auxiliary Staff competency for Level 1. 

_____ Level 2: As part of his/her daily activities, employee may access and transport medications. These activities must be in compliance with the Medications and Auxiliary Staff competency for Level 2

_____ Level 3: As part of his/her daily activities, employee may access, transport and stock medications. These activities must be in compliance with the Medications and Auxiliary Staff competency for Level 3.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· This position requires the ability to orient and work at all UCSF Medical Center locations.

· Experience successfully using de-escalation techniques

· Experience working with medically/mentally ill individuals

· Experience working with pediatric patients and their families

· Medical Assistant Certification, Certified Nursing Assistant Certification and/or post high school vocational/ specialized medical training certificate or in your first year of nursing school.

· Current American Health Association BLS.

· High school diploma or successful completion of GED.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Previous work experience with behaviorally challenged, mentally impaired, and/or eating disorder patients

· Previous work experience as a patient care assistant