Patient Care Asst Novice Oncology Acute Care

At Houston Methodist the Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Novice position is Patient Care Technician (PCT) graduate or an internal internship and is an entry level position in which incumbents should document where applicable care administered diagnostic measurements treatments and procedures and demonstrate the ability to continuously progress in basic knowledge and skills necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated tasks for age-specific diverse patient population. This position receives coaching from preceptors Registered Nurses (RN) and management and performs delegated patient care tasks under the supervision of the RN. The PCA Novice position responds to the call light system and records data established by policy and procedure and reports observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse. This position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions. The PCA Novice position practices Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist ICARE values.

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

• Provide 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.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET Managing Up Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees experiential journeys to ensure strong communication ease of access to information and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organizations vision fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment with the interprofessional care team. Participates in teamwork by responding positively to requests for assistance. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort as a whole and facilitates problem resolution.

• Seeks guidance from interprofessional health care team when needed and applies feedback to improve patient outcomes. Follows channels of communication for effective problem solving.

• Applies expected behaviors and actions with team members which contribute to improvement of department score for employee engagement i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follows the patient and family-centered care standards and provides direct patient care under the direction of a registered nurse. Responds to the call light system contacting nursing personnel as appropriate and follows through with meeting patient needs.

• Assists with maintaining cleaning and stocking of equipment and supplies as established on assigned unit. May serve as an in-house courier which may include retrieving blood hand delivering labs tele boxes etc.

• Applies expected behaviors and actions which contributes to department score for patient satisfaction through peer-to-peer accountability i.e. bedside shift handoff/report.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• 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.

• Provides care to patients assigned within unit-specific defined limits. Documents where applicable care administered diagnostic measurements treatments and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures keeping the safety of the patient in mind.

• Applies expected behaviors and actions to improve quality and safety scores through peer-to-peer accountability.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Applies expected behaviors and actions which contributes to meeting department financial targets.

• Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks minimizing incidental overtime assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs on knowledge base skill level and decision-making as necessary especially in areas of question from preceptor and assigned licensed personnel and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

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

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED verification of homeschool equivalency partial or full completion of post-secondary education etc.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Must be one of the following:
• graduate of the Patient Care Tech (PCT) program
• internal employee participating in the Houston Methodist PCA immersion program/ internship
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through an approved credentialing certification agency

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) within 1 month

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job determined through on-going skills competency assessments and performance evaluations

• Sufficient 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

• Ability 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

• Performs basic patient care activities of daily living (ADLs) within unit specific defined limits and job scope such as assistance with patient elimination hygiene comfort safety nutrition and progress activity

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) Yes

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster Severe Weather Events etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist The Woodlands opened in 2017 as the eighth hospital in the Houston Methodist system. This 187-bed 470000-square-foot full-service acute care hospital offers many of the same services as our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Also on the $380 million hospital campus located at the intersection of I-45 and TX 242 is a medical office building which opened in 2016. Medical Office Building 1 includes a breast care center cancer center & infusion center orthopedics & sports medicine rehabilitation services wellness services and an outpatient laboratory in addition to multi-specialty physician practices. A second medical office building and 785-car parking garage opened in 2018.