Patient Care Assistant - PCA

POSITION SUMMARY

The Patient Care Assistant will be an integral member of an expanding, multidisciplinary medical team dedicated to the compassionate care of vulnerable individuals seeking to decrease their use of drugs or alcohol. This position performs all duties relevant to providing direct care for individuals receiving withdrawal management services within the guidelines of Fora Health’s mission and policies & procedures, and will provide direct support to nurses as well as licensed independent providers.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Clinical Duties

• Assist nurses with care of patients withdrawing from drugs and alcohol, and may include nighttime shifts.
• Assist the medical provider with the triage, admission, and discharge process of patients from withdrawal management services.
• Assist the medical provider, patient and residential staff with the transition of withdrawal management patients to other programs.
• Tracks potential withdrawal management patients and ensures consistent, quick screening and documentation.
• Performs thorough searches of patients’ belongings and inventories belongings accurately.
• Provide direct care for all patients to include monitoring for behavioral needs/changes and medical symptoms.
• Collaborates and communicates issues/concerns with the treatment team on clinical and non-clinical issues.
• Follows standard milieu intervention guidelines, holding patients accountable to the program structure.
• Charting and record keeping as required by the policies and procedures.
• Assist medical provider and nurses with medication and the medical needs of patients.
• Monitoring urine drug screens.
• Enters patient over the counter medication as needed medication accurately and efficiently in accordance with the electronic medical record.
• Ensure patients have clean clothing and bedding.
• Provide patients with access to fluids, snacks and meals.
• Assist with inventory, routine maintenance and storage of medical supplies and equipment.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and to Fora policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Support compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners’ and outside providers’ patient confidentiality agreements, including privacy and security requirements for EMR access
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Counseling and Education

• Role model healthy styles of communication and behavior, by using non-violent communication, verbal de-escalation, and demonstrating appropriate physical and emotional boundaries. Maintain professional boundaries with the patients at all times.
• Facilitate patients’ engagement in the treatment and recovery process; utilizing motivational enhancement techniques and nonviolent communication.
• Focuses on skill building within the context of dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Provides information about drugs and alcohol, stages of change and relapse prevention.
• Understands the principles of harm reduction and trauma-informed care.
• Understands the basics of 12 step recovery, and Smart recovery.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Administrative Duties

• Reads all relevant emails and follows approved policies and procedures.
• All verbal, electronic or paper communication is completed in a professional, concise, objective and clinical manner.
• Documentation is completed in a timely, accurate manner.
• Completes filing tasks as assigned.
• Distributes paperwork and messages to the appropriate staff or patients.
• Maintains current inventory of forms at the detox station and make copies of forms as needed.
• Completes unusual incident reports as necessary.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Customer Service Duties

• Communicates with patients, referents, staff, and outside guests in a welcoming, respectful manner.
• Answers the phone, directs calls, and takes messages in a professional manner, adhering to Federal and State laws and agency policies and procedures regarding confidentiality.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend staff meetings and Fora trainings as scheduled.
• Works collaboratively with all team members to ensure high quality patient care.
• Participated in on-going supervision.
• Assists in training new medical technicians, as assigned.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• First Aid/CPR certification preferred
• One year caregiving experience preferred
• Experience working in the medical field preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Communicates information effectively in writing and verbally.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Displays initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Basic knowledge of substance-use disorders.
• Marked ability to demonstrate and utilize self-awareness.
• Intermediate understanding of mental health disorders and symptom presentation.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• For employees with a history of substance use disorder or identifying as a person in recovery, Fora Health requires certification of a minimum of two years’ continuous sobriety.
• Successful completion of pre-employment drug test
• Successful completion of Tuberculin test and/or evaluation with negative results or documented evidence of non-communicability
• DHS criminal background approval

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Sitting and standing for long periods of time
• Lifting up to 25 pounds
• Use of computer and working at a desk
• Position generally works in an indoor office environment with occasional travel between sites or to special events.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases which can encompass a variety of illnesses and infections, including COVID, tuberculosis, Hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV.
• Possible exposure to upset, angry, traumatized, disabled or emotionally disturbed adults, adolescents, and families.
• Potential exposure to potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals, personal protective equipment provided.
• Position may require some overtime, including evening and weekend work.  Adjustment of work schedule may be required.

HOURS AND PAY

This is a full-time, day shift position. Pay range is $18.70-22.88 per hour (depending upon experience). This position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime compensation.

LOCATION

This position is an on-site position at our SE Cherry Blossom location in Portland, Oregon. 

ABOUT FORA HEALTH

Looking for a meaningful career? At Fora Health, we employ a team of passionate, diverse and caring people who are committed to carrying out our mission to provide treatment, care and advocacy for all who are affected by substance use disorder. We are seeking dedicated individuals to join our experienced team of professionals in the fight to overcome the stigma of addiction and mental health. Come join one of Oregon’s largest and most reputable providers of substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health treatment for adults!

Fora Health is committed to providing a wide range of accessible, coordinated, and well-integrated services that benefit the community and support our clients to recover and to maintain recovery from addiction. To maintain an organizational culture which supports Fora's mission, each employee will, at a minimum:

1. Have knowledge of substance use disorders.
2. Recognize the importance of family, social networks, and community systems in the treatment and recovery process.
3. Respect the diversity and uniqueness of all people.
4. Recognize that a healthy work environment is maintained through the practice of mutual respect and healthy self-care.
5. Uphold the highest standard of customer service to clients, referents, and all community partners.

BENEFITS

• Regence BlueCross BlueShield medical insurance
• Comprehensive dental and vision insurance
• Employer-paid basic life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Additional voluntary insurance (short-term disability insurance, supplemental group life insurance, accident & critical illness insurance, and pet insurance)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare, dependent care and transportation costs
• 401K plan with Employer Matching up to 6%
• 4 weeks paid vacation, one floating holiday & sick leave
• 10 observed holidays, paid bereavement and paid jury duty days
• Flexible schedules
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted 24 Hour Fitness membership from $6.99/month
• One free employee meal on days worked at our Cherry Blossom location
• Online education tools for CEUs
• Critical shift compensation up to double hourly pay rate and shift premiums for certain positions
• Employee referral bonus
• Education grant program reimbursement for continuing education expenses after 90 days of employment
• Loan forgiveness for eligible medical and clinic positions
• Free parking at our two facilities

Employees may be eligible for education grants:

• National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
• NURSE Corps
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Fora Health is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Fora Health encourages applications from those who are in recovery. Please note that we require individuals in recovery to certify that they have at least two years of continuous sobriety upon hire.

Fora Health is a second chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding consideration of criminal background for employment purposes. Fora Health conducts a background check for all positions upon offer of employment. Government regulations, contractual requirements, or the duties of certain jobs may require us to take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.

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