Patient Care Technician, Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Unit

Patient Care Technician, Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Unit

The University of Maryland Medical System is a 14‑hospital system with academic, community, and specialty medical services reaching every part of Maryland and beyond. UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health, and physical rehabilitation. It is the fourth largest private employer in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the top 20 employers in the state of Maryland.

The organization provides clinical variety, supportive environments, and opportunities for professional growth.

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, the Patient Care Technician provides direct patient care. Responsibilities include taking vital signs, checking surgical dressings, aiding patients with activities of daily living, performing blood draws and collecting specimen samples, observing and communicating patient status, and serving as a member of the interdisciplinary patient care services team.

• Performs testing and manages the care of the patient based on results achieved and clinical findings.
• Records patient care along the continuum, including activities of daily living (ADLs): feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting and transferring.
• Completes, documents and reports patient vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and reported pain level).
• Assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
• Participates in cost‑effective strategies to optimize patient outcomes.
• Promotes patient safety including fall prevention. Ensures the safety of the clinical environment for patients, visitors, and other staff members.
• Maintains order and appearance of patient rooms and work area. Maintains patient care supplies and linen.
• Provides post‑mortem care.
• Collaborates with members of the health care team to carry out the plan of care, including reporting observed changes in patients’ condition.
• Ensures patient comfort relative to their pain status.
• Measures and documents patient urinary and stool output. Documents calorie count. Measures and documents patient weight.
• Assists with indwelling urinary catheter care. Applies, maintains and removes external urinary catheter devices. Performs bladder scans, measures post‑void residuals and documents. Inserts both intermittent and indwelling catheters, documenting volume output.
• Conducts blood glucose monitoring.
• Performs venipuncture for drawing blood samples and established IV access.
• Performs nasal swabs.
• Gathers equipment required and initiates placement of IV for the patient as directed by the registered nurse.
• Sets up and operates multiple lead EKG machines; attaches and removes EKG leads; runs a rhythm strip.
• Assists with enteral tube feedings via nasogastric or gastrostomy tubes, as supervised by licensed nurse.
• Performs chest physical/physio therapy, tracheal suctioning, tracheostomy care and incentive spirometry treatments as delegated and supervised by the responsible registered nurse.
• Assists with simple dressing changes, such as routine dressings to stage one and two wounds, surgical incisions, and peripheral IV sites after assessment by a Registered Nurse. Provides wound care to promote healing and maintain structural integrity of the skin. Performs skin care and hygiene and reports impaired skin integrity and/or wound impairment. Assists with appropriate strategies and/or treatment measures to provide wound care.
• Assists with collection of patient specimens for laboratory testing. Incorporates proper techniques for patient identification, method for collection of appropriate specimen(s) and documentation.
• Provides orthopedic/rehab device care: e.g., braces, splints, CPM. Dons/doffs compression wraps/stockings.
• Precepts and mentors PCT Is, and other PCT IIs, managing completion of documentation.
• Participates in hourly patient rounding in collaboration with the health care team.
• Responds to patient‑triggered alarms, including call light, chair alarm, bed alarm, tele‑sitter alarm, etc.
• Complies with The Joint Commission National Patient Safety…