Patient Safety Companion

Akron Children's; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Akron Children's is seeking a Patient Safety Companion to provide continuous 1:1 observation and, where needed, telemonitoring for patient safety. The role requires staying in view of patients, using two‑way audio in virtual settings, and promptly alerting bedside staff when intervention is needed.

Responsibilities include de‑escalation, timely documentation in EPIC, and adherence to safety policies. Onsite for the Resource Pool, schedule includes nights with weekend/holiday rotation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; BLS certification required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience preferred.
• Experience with EPIC or similar EMR is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide continuous, one-on-one observation to ensure patient safety.
• Maintain alertness and professional presence while staying in patient sight.
• Use de-escalation techniques to reduce agitation.
• Promptly communicate changes to nursing staff.
• Document observations and interventions in the EMR (EPIC) in a timely manner.
• Support unit workflow and patient needs.
• Follow safety policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Medical terminology

Healthcare experiencia

EPIC/EMR experience

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

BLS certification

Tools

EPIC

Job description

Summary

The Patient Safety Companion provides continuous observation of assigned patients to promote a safe environment and help prevent. The role may be assigned to provide in‑person 1:1 observation and/or virtual (remote) observation using a telemonitoring system. In the virtual setting, the companion provides real‑time observation of multiple patients, uses two‑way audio to verbally redirect as appropriate, and promptly alerts bedside clinical staff when immediate intervention is needed.

Work Schedule and Status

Full Time (36 hours per week)
7:00pm to 7:30am
Includes weekend and holiday rotation
Onsite for Resource Pool
FTE: 0.9
Status: Onsite

Responsibilities

• Provide continuous, one‑on‑one observation of assigned patients to ensure safety and prevent harm.
• Maintain constant alertness and a calm, professional presence while remaining within required line‑of‑sight of the patient. In the virtual environment, use two‑way audio to verbally redirect patients away from unsafe behaviors as the first response when appropriate.
• Utilize approved, evidence‑based verbal de‑escalation techniques to reduce agitation or unsafe behaviors.
• Promptly communicate and elevate any changes in patient condition, behavior, or safety concerns to licensed nursing staff.
• Maintain a safe patient environment by proactively identifying safety risks and addressing hazards in accordance with assigned observation responsibilities.
• Accurately document patient observations, behaviors, and interventions in the electronic health record (e.g., EPIC) in a timely manner.
• Prioritize and complete assigned tasks efficiently while supporting unit workflow and patient needs.
• Follow all organizational policies, safety protocols and procedures related to patient observation and safety.
• Other duties as assigned.

Technical Expertise

• Knowledge of and experience in medical terminology preferred.
• Experience working in a healthcare environment is preferred.
• Experience working with an electronic medical record (i.e., EPIC) or similar software is preferred.

Education And Experience

• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Certification: Basic Life Support (BLS) training from the American Heart Association is required.
• Years of relevant experience: Minimum one (1) year of experience is preferred.
• Years of supervisory experience: None.