DIRECT CARE ASSISTANT II

Howard County Health Department; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Howard County Health Department is seeking a Direct Care Assistant II to support the Tuberculosis Control Program with direct patient care, venipuncture, and directly observed therapy. The role includes home visits and assisting in nursing tasks.

This on-site position is essential for emergencies and involves clinical, administrative, and support duties. CNA certification, phlebotomy experience, and EMR proficiency are preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Two years of patient care experience in treatment facilities or community programs.
• CNA certification or ability to obtain.
• Phlebotomy training or experience.
• CPR and Basic Life Support certification.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and EMR systems.

Responsibilities

• Performs direct patient care including vital signs, phlebotomy, and DOTs.
• Assists RNs in home visits and patient education.
• Maintains records, coordinates with labs, and supports TB program operations.
• Provides administrative support and coordinates referrals and transportation.

Skills

Phlebotomy

CNA

CPR/BLS

EMR systems

MS Office

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Teams

OneDrive/SharePoint

EMR (CureMD)

Job description

The main responsibilities of this Direct Care Assistant II position are to assist in the provision of the Tuberculosis Control Program services including direct patient care including performing venipuncture for obtaining blood specimens, performing directly observed therapy, conducting home visits, as well as performing duties to support the operations of the program. This position is considered essential for emergencies.

This position is NOT eligible for telework.

POSITION DUTIES

40% Direct Clinical Duties

• Performs direct patient care such as monitoring clients' vital signs, height and weight, pulse oximeter readings, obtaining specimens/phlebotomy for laboratory testing, assisting in physical examinations, and performing vision screenings.
• Prepares blood specimen, including using the centrifuge and incubator; packages labs for the Quest box or the courier maintaining temperature requirements.
• Follows OSHA standards and prescribed procedures for cleanliness, sterility and aseptic technique.
• Performs DOTs (Directly Observed Therapy) and/or reviews VDOTs (Video Directly Observed Therapy).
• Sets up Scene accounts for active TB cases and is a resource for trouble shooting
• Conducts home visits for blood work, sputum pick up/drop off, and DOTs as needed. Assists RNs in home visits as needed.
• Reinforces patient education provided by the RNs, using language interpretation as needed. Adapts reinforcement of patient teaching to clinic, home, or community and to the level of understanding of the patient.
• Initiates the use of proper personal protective equipment and isolation measures as needed per protocol for specific client plan of care.

30% Clinical Support Duties

• Completes laboratory requisitions, labels specimens, contacts the courier as needed, requests Quest pick up as needed, enters lab orders into CureMD and Lab Web Portal as directed.
• Organizes B waiver referrals including contacting, scheduling, keeping spreadsheet current, providing radiology referrals, collecting specimens, communicating with the providers, and completing the B waiver worksheet and submitting it to the State.
• Documents and maintains required records, reports, and individual health records on clients as directed, keeps clinicians, registered nurses and other designated personnel informed.
• Responds to contacts from medical community, labs, and general public on TB related issues.
• Provides community resources and follows referral procedures
• Assists in identifying need for targeted population screening for TB contact investigations and supports health department response to meet public health need.
• Inventories clinic laboratory supplies and TB medications monthly and orders supplies/medications as directed by the TB Program Supervisor.
• Prepares clinic rooms and lab by restocking supplies
• Cleans lab room after patient care
• Assists RNs by completing delegated tasks as needed.
• Attends in-service training programs in order to maintain nursing competencies and keeps current with nursing practices, procedures and policies for CNAs.

20% Administrative Support Duties

• Provides administrative support for the TB program
• Receives and screens departmental telephone calls serving as point of contact for the TB program. Communicates appropriate information to the healthcare providers and clients. Transfers calls to appropriate staff and departments as needed.
• Receives mail and distributes to appropriate staff. Organizes mail for courier pick-up, directs laboratory pick-up couriers for HCHD/MDH transport.
• Monitors SR Fax and TB program email for any TB related correspondence and distributes to appropriate staff.
• Initiates calls to arrange transport services for TB patients to providers for follow up on lab or radiology reports, and to perform appointment verification.
• Organizes program meetings as directed utilizing Zoom, MS Teams, and Cisco Web-ex, and in-person to include room reservation. Records minutes for meetings as directed.
• Assists in collection and compilation of data needed for TB monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports and Health Stats, as directed.
• Processes, organizes, and verifies labs/reports and other data received daily to appropriate personnel for interpretation of data to be used for daily data analysis.
• Organizes and compiles data for distribution to the TB RNs per the direction of the TB supervisor.
• Schedules and/or reschedules appointments in CureMD, calls patients for appointment reminders, and documents calls in CureMD.
• Schedules and/or reschedules language interpretation for non-English speaking clients.
• Provides back up to the TB RNs on as needed basis, i.e. placing phone calls, completing/faxing report forms, letters, charts, tables, etc.
• Assists TB supervisor and RNs with Gift Card program as directed.
• Enters HIV testing information into Cognito
• Maintains records and submits MRC volunteer hours to the MRC coordinator monthly.
• Represents the HCHD at meetings and events as requested.
• Participates in case study/program presentations as requested.
• Accepts responsibilities for special projects as assigned by internal/external programs.

5% Standard Nursing Duties

• Participates in HCHD Nurse Trainings as required including but not limited to: the orientation of new staff, cross training of other HCHD staff and nursing students as assigned.
• Participates in community outreach and education events including career fairs.
• Participates in specimen collection, packing, and/or shipping and transport, including after hours, if needed.
• Is prepared to provide other nursing functions for HCHD as needed, including but are not limited to outbreak investigations, TB contact studies, and phlebotomy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of experience in work assisting in the care, treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation of patients and/or clients that are aged, physically ill, have behavioral health diagnoses, or have intellectual or developmental disabilities in treatment facilities or community based programs.

Notes:

1. Applicants may substitute additional experience in patient or client direct care on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Hospital Corpsman classifications or Health Care Specialist and Medical Services specialty codes in the health related field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The desired candidate should possess the following:

• Possession of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification or meet the requirements to obtain this certification.
• Experience in phlebotomy or possession of a phlebotomy training certificate.
• Possession of a current CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Experience/proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel), Microsoft Teams, OneDrive/SharePoint, and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current certificate as a Nursing Assistant from the Maryland State Board of Nursing OR within sixty days from the date of hire and prior to performing delegated nursing tasks, must have successfully completed a Board of Nursing approved Nursing Assistant training program and received certification as a Nursing Assistant from the Board of Nursing.

2. Employees in this classification located in facilities that provide long term care for the aged may be required to possess or obtain a Geriatric Aide certificate.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

4. Some employees in this classification may be required to operate vans which require a specific motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

5. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete training in and maintain current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Employees in this classification must have successfully completed a direct care training course or examination approved by the hiring facility prior to permanent appointment to positions.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the facility with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.