Job Description

Job Summary/Overall Objectives

The Patient Safety Associate provides a safe environment for a patient who requires supervision, companionship and/or diversion. The Patient Safety Associate may also assist with other clinical and non-clinical routine tasks, including observation documentation, to ensure the effective delivery of services to patients and other customers of Independence Health System. The Patient Safety Associate may be required to travel between sites as needed.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs duties for an irrational patient as directed by the nurse responsible for the care of the patient.
• Always sits in patient’s room with an unobstructed view of the patient.
• Provides fluids.
• Assists with meal tray.
• Assists with basic grooming (combing hair) and ambulation in patient room. Will not assist with shaving, showers, bathing, and incontinence care.
• Provides socialization, games, cards, TV, reading.
• Provides for and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
• Discourages and deters removal/dislodgement of treatment devices/medical apparatus (IVs, feeding tubes, dressings, etc.).
• Discourages and deters falls, climbing out of bed or injury to self.
• Accompany patients to testing in other areas of the hospital.
• Provides a safe environment for a patient who requires supervision, companionship and/or diversion.
• Provides constant observation and documents observations on safety report sheet. Constant observation is defined as: continuous visual watch of a patient.
• Delivers equipment/supplies to nursing units.
• Delivers dietary trays.
• Provides support to waiting families/visitors in waiting rooms, hold areas and emergency departments.
• Provide friendly patient visitation services.
• Declutter patient rooms.
• Ensure patient belongings are within reach.
• Perform quick perimeter checks of patient rooms and identify areas of concern; report to appropriate staff to be addressed.
• May visit with patients identified by nurse manager on unit who would like or benefit from a social interaction
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Must be 18 years of age
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Previous experience in a patient care setting.
• Good observation and interpersonal skills.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

X

Extreme Cold

x

Heights

x

Confined Spaces

x

Extreme Noise(>85dB)

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle

x

Operates Heavy Equipment

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

Rotates All Shifts

x

8 Hours Shifts

x

10-12 Hours Shifts

x

On-Call

x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hr/wk)

x

Travel Between Sites

X

Direct Patient Care

X

Respirator Protective Equipment

X

Eye Protection

X

Head Protection (hard hat)

X

Hearing Protection

x

X

Hand Protection

Feet, Toe Protection

X

x

Body Protection

X

Latex Exposure

X

Solvent Exposure

X

Paint (direct use) Exposure

X

Dust (sanding) Exposure

X

Ethylene Oxide Exposure

X

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

X

Blood/Body Fluid Exposure

X

Chemicals (direct use) Exposure

X

Mist Exposure

X

Wax Stripper (direct use)

X

Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure

X

Ionizing Radiation Exposure

X

Laser Exposure

x

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Bending (Stooping)

X

Sitting

X

Walking

X

Climbing Stairs

X

Climbing Ladders

X

Standing

X

Kneeling

X

Squatting (Crouching)

X

Twisting/Turning

X

Keyboard/Computer Operation

x

Gross Grasp

X

Fine Finger Manipulation

X

Hand/Arm Coordination

x

Pushing/Pulling(lbs. of force)

X

Carry

X

Transfer/Push/Pull Patients

x

Seeing Near w/Acuity

x

Feeling (Sensation)

X

Color Vision

X

Hearing Clearly

X

Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead

X

Reaching Above Shoulder Level

X

Reaching Forward

x

Lifting Floor to Knuckle

X

Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle

X

Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder

X

Lifting Shoulder to Overhead

X

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.