Rehabilitation Aide

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC); Sitka (AK); On-site; USD 34,440 - 37,002; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement benefits

Paid parental leave

Disability insurance

Job summary

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) in Sitka seeks a Rehabilitation Aide to provide support for rehabilitation services. Responsibilities include assisting patients with therapy routines, maintaining clinic cleanliness, and performing administrative tasks. The ideal candidate should have strong communication skills, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrate excellent customer service. Qualifications include a High School Diploma, CPR certification, and proficiency in software like Microsoft Office. Join SEARHC and enjoy generous benefits including health insurance and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Two years’ experience with direct patient care preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers and multiple software interfaces.
• CPR certified or must obtain within three months of hiring.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with transfers, gait, and exercise routines.
• Maintain confidentiality following SEARHC policy and HIPAA regulations.
• Execute activities prescribed by Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist.
• Perform administrative tasks and clinic operations.

Skills

Customer service skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

CPR certification

Basic Life Support certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

RPMS

Job description

Pay Range: $25.00 - $26.86. This position is based in settings where both Rehabilitation Aide (RA) and Activities Aide (AA) roles exist. The RA/AA provides a broad array of duties within an activity program that meets physical, mental, psychosocial needs and interests of residents. The employee performs in a professional manner, respects confidentiality, and follows the seven Standards for Service Excellence outlined in the SEARHC Human Resources Manual. When functioning as an RA this employee supports rehabilitation services providers in their care of SEARHC patients by facilitating patient flow within the department. Responsibilities include ensuring the clinic space and individual treatment rooms are clean and well stocked, assisting providers with transitioning patients in the clinic, and assisting as directed with therapeutic exercise and other modality treatments. Responsibilities may also include assisting the office staff as directed by answering telephones, scheduling appointments, completing patient registration, and checking patients in. Rehabilitation Services is a core service provided by SEARHC.

This employee is required to multi‑task while demonstrating excellent customer service skills. The position requires efficiency, accuracy, concentration, and the ability to manage interruptions and competing demands. The job can involve working in a small space, at a demanding pace, with a variety of people and, sometimes, difficult personalities and situations. Good judgement, tact and interpersonal skills are necessary to maintain positive working relationships between patients and co‑workers.

This job involves potential risks that the aide must work to avoid to the extent possible. Exposure to infectious organisms is possible; use of precautions and appropriate protective equipment is necessary. Latex may be present in the workplace.

The RA/AA works to understand residents’ needs and uses resources within the department to facilitate the scheduling process, assuring both resident care and department efficiency. This employee remains current in software interfaces. The RA/AA models professional customer service to both residents and providers and ensures a positive working environment. This position significantly impacts delivery of care, outcomes of health, function and well‑being, customer satisfaction and reimbursement for services.

Working at SEARHC is a fulfilling career. The organization offers generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, vision benefits, life insurance and long‑ and short‑term disability.

Physical Activity Requirements

• Employee is required to use a transfer/gait belt or obtain the assistance of another employee when assisting residents or lifting and carrying objects more than 25 lbs.

Access to Personal Health Information

• Required access to personal health information on an as‑needed basis.

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• Designated positions may require applicants to obtain the required Commercial Driver’s License and endorsement within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.

Equipment Used

• Employee may be required to operate an automobile and various equipment associated with recreational programming.

Environment

• Indoors and outdoors.

Other Considerations And Requirements

• The aide will complete and successfully pass competencies established by each discipline in Rehabilitation Services (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology) to be able to see residents independently with minimal supervision.
• This position requires an individual with strong communication skills and the ability to work without direct supervision at times. The aide must be well organized, efficient with their time, and able to coordinate many activities. The employee may be requested to perform other duties or tasks that are not listed but are within the competence and training of the individual. The employer reserves the right to modify this job description based upon the consortium’s needs.

Key Essential Functions And Accountabilities Of The Job

• Reports directly to the Rehabilitation Services Manager/Director, with oversight and additional guidance and supervision from the Occupational Therapist or Activities Director. The employee is required to be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Interacts, communicates, and collaborates with team members to maximize group effectiveness.
• Maintains confidentiality following SEARHC policy and HIPAA regulations.
• As directed by a therapist, assists patients in transfers, gait, and exercise routines. May administer some therapy modalities or supervise patients during exercise consistent with training, experience, and the patient’s plan of care. Care may take place in multiple areas including the Rehabilitation Services gym, hallways, and various locations within the clinic.
• Assists providers with administrative tasks and clinic operations as appropriate. Utilizes the hospital computer system to obtain patient information, keeps abreast of hospital directives, and participates in the timely and efficient flow of information. Provides summary of results, statistics, and metrics as required by management. Attends hospital training for currency in software mechanisms and interface. Keeps current with knowledge of the position and participates as a learner or teacher in clinical education, in‑services, etc.
• Performs office functions including, but not limited to, receiving and directing calls on a multiple‑line telephone system, providing assistance to callers and in‑clinic patients/clients, and completing registration and scheduling functions.
• Maintains cleanliness of the clinic on regularly scheduled intervals outlined by infection control policies and as needed.
• Performs inventory control of all stocked items including disposables, office supplies and clinic supplies. May be responsible for ordering supplies stocked in the warehouse and from local vendors. Will be responsible for notifying providers of inventory levels for clinical supplies.
• Assists providers in therapy case management as appropriate.
• Treats all calls/callers in a professional manner while maintaining confidentiality.
• Receives, sends, and prioritizes calls, faxes, requests from patients, incoming information, referring physicians, and/or clinic staff and schedules appropriate appointments in the scheduling system.
• Responsible for the execution of activities as prescribed or suggested by Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and/or Speech Language Pathologist to meet residents’ specific needs, to include large group, small group, and individual participation.
• Maintains documentation as required by State and Federal regulations. This documentation may include the patient’s physical condition, interventions, and reactions to care.
• Assures personnel and staff compliance with all State and Federal regulations including blood‑borne pathogens, infection control, use of hazardous material, and fire safety.
• Assures personnel and staff compliance with Residents’ Rights.
• Composes monthly contributions, including the monthly Activities calendar, passes out newsletter, and posts daily contributions on menu board and date board.
• May be asked to escort resident(s) to hospital and community activities or appointments by ambulation with gait belt and appropriate assistive devices as needed and/or by hospital or community transportation (i.e., Senior Van, Community Ride bus, SEARHC vehicle).
• May administer some therapy modalities (e.g., ice or heat) or supervise residents during exercise consistent with training, experience, and the patient’s plan of care. Care may take place in multiple areas including the Rehabilitation Services gym, hallways, and various locations within the hospital assisting therapists.
• The job may require repetitive or heavy lifting, greater than 50 pounds, with physically demanding movements and positions; practice of good body mechanics and good judgment is necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Details

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required

• CPR certified or must obtain within three months of hiring/employment
• Basic Life Support within 45 days of hire
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire and every three years
• High Risk Competency required within 3 months of hire and every year

Experience Required

• Demonstrated proficiency with computers and multiple software interfaces such as Microsoft Office, RPMS, etc.
• Two years’ experience with direct patient care preferred.

Knowledge of

• Working understanding of human nature and cultural diversity.
• Considerable knowledge of hospital‑based systems, processes and technological tools used for scheduling, ordering, billing, coordination of care, and documentation.
• Working understanding of human physical performance sufficient to supervise routine exercise/activity within limits of safety and report concerns or findings appropriately.

Skills In

• Customer service skills.
• Skills in expressing self clearly and effectively in spoken and written communication, such as patient greetings, phone etiquette, progress notes, training with providers and assisting care for residents.
• Networking with other coworkers to remain current in recent trends of customer service throughout the consortium.
• Skill to safely set up, monitor, and assist in patient care including transfers, gait, modalities (e.g., paraffin wax, hot/cold packs), exercise equipment and exercise routines.
• Skills utilizing information technology. Proficiency with computers including multiple software applications and interface with multiple programs. Uses new technologies such as laptops, tablets, and imaging devices.

Ability to

• Communicate effectively with residents, families, community members and non‑Rehabilitation Services Department service professionals, persons of any level of understanding including the ability to translate common Rehabilitation Services Department services into simple oral language.
• Have the physical ability to assist in resident care while keeping residents and self safe, allowing the aide to work effectively with residents as directed by the therapist(s).
• Exercise sound judgment in all aspects of employment such as resident care, workplace safety and employee relations.

Physical Demands

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear and frequently required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must lift and/or move 50 lbs.

Position Information

Work Shift: OT 8/40