Rehabilitation Aide

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Position Summary

This position is based in settings where both positions—Rehabilitation Aide (RA) and Activities Aide (AA)—exist. The RA/AA provides a broad array of duties within an activity program that meets physical, mental, psychosocial needs and interests of residents. This employee performs in a professional manner, respects confidentiality, and demonstrates qualities endorsed by following 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 rehabilitation 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 additionally 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.

Salary is $19.85 + DOE

Position Complexities

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. This 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.

Physical Activity Requirements
Employee is required to use a transfer/gait belt or to obtain the assistance of another employee when attempting to assist residents or when lifting and carrying objects more than 25 lbs. The employee must be aware that during the normal, routine performance of the essential functions, some of the following body movements may occur naturally, although they may not be a requirement of the job.

Access to Personal Health Information
Required access to personal health information on an as-needed basis.

Licensure/Certification Requirements
Designated positions in this job class 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. Except as specifically noted, the following functions are considered essential to this position.

• 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 in the clinic.
• Assists providers with administrative manners and clinic operations as appropriate. Utilize the hospital computer system to obtain patient information, as well as keep abreast of hospital directives, and in general participate 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 participate 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 dispensable supplies, 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 resident’s 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 (i.e., 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 in 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 judgement is necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required
• For Hospital based Rehab Aide (Sitka/WRG) - National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCPA), Activity Professional Certification (APC) preferred-OR – completion of a comparable program – Grade 15.
• Ambulatory based Rehab Aides - American Medical Certification Association, Physical Therapy Technician Certification (PTTC) preferred – Grade 14.
• CPR certified or must obtain within three months of hiring/employment.
• High School Diploma or equivalent

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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 (ex. 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 of new technologies such as laptops, tablets, and imaging devices.

Ability to
• Must have the 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 that others can understand.
• Must 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).
• Must have the ability to exercise sound judgment in all aspects of employment such as resident care, workplace safety and employee relations.

Computer Skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Products including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Travel Required:
• Must be able to travel 10% of the time.

Physical Demands:
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is 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.