ALS TECHNICIAN - PACU

Independence Health System; Latrobe (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Health System seeks an ALS Tech/Paramedic to provide direct and indirect patient care under the supervision of a professional nurse in a hospital setting. Responsibilities include performing triage, monitoring cardiac rhythm, administering basic procedures, and coordinating with EMS for seamless patient transitions from pre-hospital to in-hospital care.

The role emphasizes Lean process improvements and a commitment to quality care.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma or better.
• Paramedic or better.
• BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
• PALS
• WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVEN

Responsibilities

• Transports patients who require cardiac monitoring.
• Monitors patient cardiac rhythm and reports any changes to responsible care giver promptly.
• Performs central monitoring of telemetry patients and documents rhythm strips.
• Monitors patency of peripheral intravenous sites and reports complications.
• Transports stable patients with drug infusions (nitroglycerin, cardizem, heparin, amiodarone).
• Recognizes and reports changes requiring Rapid Response or Code Blue activation.
• Performs post cardiac catheterization groin checks and documents findings.

Skills

Oral/Written communication

Independent thinking

Sound judgment

Education

HS Diploma or better

Paramedic or better

Job description

The ALS Tech provides direct and indirect patient care, including diagnostic studies, under the direction of the professional nurse.
Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one’s own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to Excela’s missions, vision and values.
1. Regular, consistent, on-site, and timely attendance.
2. Demonstrates clinical assessment skills by active participation in plan of patient care.
a. Completes and documents direct patient care without supervision as it relates, but not limited to vital signs, intake and output, point of care testing, specimen collection, weights, venipunctures and specified procedures.
b. Collaborates routinely with the nurse and physician regarding patient care needs.
c. Brings issues that could affect quality of care to the attention of the Clinical Nurse Coordinator or other management staff.
d. Routinely and accurately performs basic triage functions documenting appropriate findings on the triage form.
e. Serves as a role model to new staff.
f. Assists others in completing triage functions.
3. Participates in an individualized plan of care complying with established guidelines and standards that identify problems, establish priorities and indicate measurable outcomes as measured by chart review and colleague feedback.
a. Demonstrates skills to assist others in active participation in an individualized plan of care.
b. Complies with established guidelines and standards that identify problems, establish priorities and indicate measurable outcomes including patient and patient family involvement, as measured by chart review and colleague feedback.
c. Anticipates the special personal needs of any patient in the department as the need is identified.
d. Demonstrates leadership (coaching) and mentoring skills to assist others to develop an interdisciplinary plan of care and assist others with the identification of patient needs.
e. Assists with clerical and transport duties of stable patients to appropriate nursing units, ancillary departments and other activities to facilitate patient care.
f. Takes independent action to provide smooth, continuous care of the Emergency Department patient.
4. Consistently and as appropriate, implements physician orders, directive from the nurse or departmental guidelines promptly, accurately and with knowledge of the purpose of each order.
a. Verifies prior to implementation the appropriateness of orders or guidelines.
b. Functions as a unit resource/preceptor/patient advocate to other staff members and assists others in implementing necessary orders or guidelines.
c. Independently, within scope, provides treatment such as IV initiation, venipuncture, foley insertion, suctioning, and application of splints. Watches cardiac monitors and interprets rhythm strips and documents interpretation of rhythm. Notifies nursing staff for abnormal findings.
d. Functions as a unit resource (preceptor or coach) to other staff members and assists other staff members in maintenance of the highest standard of care.
5. Actively participates in departmental operations.
a. Participates in department operations as evidenced by utilization of voice and email to remain current on operational issues.
b. Acts as a coach or mentor by updating colleagues on operational issues.
c. Develops plans for management's review to improve operational efficiencies.
d. Ensures that the department is in an operational state of readiness.
e. Routinely ensures that restocking and checking of supplies and equipment is completed each shift, ensures proper functioning of equipment, verifies all patient care equipment is present, clean and properly functioning.
f. Intervenes and corrects deficiencies when discrepancy is apparent.
6. Participates in formal quality improvement initiatives, education of new staff and other areas of improvement within the department.
a. Routinely engages in activities that lead to department improvement such as volunteering and precepting new staff members.
b. Demonstrates coaching (mentoring and customer feedback) and leadership in improving first impressions by positive attitude, team spirit, active participation, keeping the environment safe, clean, orderly, and quiet and promotion of a professional appearance.
7. Serves as a department liaison for EMS, both air and ground.
a. Assures that patients transition from pre-hospital care to the in-hospital setting by assuring proper transfer and monitoring of the patient to the ER treatment area occur.
b. EMS equipment is properly taken care of including logging in, retrieval and cleaning. Routinely asks services if they are in need of restocking and assists with such.
“Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to peform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart (see attached chart).”
1. Transports patients who require cardiac monitoring.
a. Monitors patient cardiac rhythm and reports any changes in condition, symptoms to responsible care giver promptly.
2. Performs central monitoring of telemetry patients. Interprets rhythm strips and documents according to policy requirements (Cardiac Monitoring Standard of Care Protocol for Patient Management)
3. Monitors patency of peripheral intravenous sites.
a. Reports any infusion site complications to the responsible care giver promptly.
4. Transports stable patients with drug infusions of medications such as nitroglycerin, cardizem, heparin or amiodarone.
a. Reports any side effects, complications, reportable conditions or acute changes in patient condition immediately to the responsible care giver.
5. Recognizes and reports any changes in patient condition that requires activation of Rapid Response Team.
a. Initiates basic resuscitative measures, as appropriate, until the Rapid Response Team arrives.
6. Recognizes and reports any changes in patient condition that requires activation of Code Blue.
a. Initiates basic resuscitative measures, as appropriate until the Code Team arrives.
7. Performs post cardiac catheterization groin checks as assigned.
a. Reports and documents all findings to appropriate care giver.

Qualifications

Skills

Required

ORAL/WRITTEN COMMUNICATIO

Expert

INDEPENDENT THINKING

Expert

SOUND JUDGMENT

Expert

Education

Required

HS Diploma or better.

Paramedic or better.

Licenses & Certifications

Required

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

PALS

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVEN

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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