Emergency Dept Technician

Emergency Room
Full Time
PM Shift
1845-0715

Sign-On Bonus: 2500

Lexington Health is a comprehensive network of care that includes six community medical and urgent care centers, nearly 80 physician practices, more than 9,000 health care professionals and Lexington Medical Center, a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare and was first in the state to achieve Magnet with Distinction status for excellence in nursing care. Consistently ranked as best in the Columbia Metro area by U.S. News & World Report, Lexington Health delivers more than 4,000 babies each year, performs more than 34,000 surgeries annually and is the region's third largest employer.

Lexington Health also includes an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence, the state’s first HeartCARE Center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, and an Alzheimer’s care center. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies, as well as an informatics fellowship.

Job Summary

Performs various patient care and related services in providing for the personal needs and comforts of patients in assigned ED. Also performs order entry functions, supply stocking and maintenance of patient rooms. Acts as a liaison between nursing, physicians, hospital personnel, patients and visitors. Accepts changes in duties when appropriate. Demonstrates flexibility when asked or condition dictates.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent
Minimum Years of Experience: 1 Year of patient care experience in an acute care setting
Substitutable Education & Experience (Optional): 1 Year of experience can be substituted for those who are a Certified Nursing Assistant, have a EMT certification, or have completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Basic Life Support and Crisis Prevention Institute Training required within 90 days of hire. Refer to Mandatory Certficiation Requirements and Tranining for Nurses policy and procedure.
Required Training: Basic knowledge of computer skills; Demonstrates knowledge and effective use of medical terminology; Able to demonstrates working knowledge of computer systems to effectively provide patient centered care (i.e. order entry, chart documentation).

Essential Functions

• The ED Technician will perform assigned patient care tasks under the direction and supervision of the Registered Nurse. Performs clerical function in a manner which enhances the timely, efficient and effective delivery of patient care.
• After successfully completing specialized training, the ED Technician will Place patients on oxygen therapy and Pulse Oximetry as directed; Place patients on cardiac monitor and obtains Lead II strip for chart; Take and record vital signs- includes pulse oximetry and monitor, weighs patients and reports unusual or abnormal findings to the designated RN; Collects blood specimens via phletobomy venipuncture and delivers specimens to the lab as directed; Sets up sterile trays and assists physicians with suture repair; Applies orthopedic splints and appliances and assists physician with casting and other orthopedic interventions as directed; Provides patients with crutch walking instruction and demonstration; Sets up for water seal drainage for chest tube; Accurately obtains 12 lead EKG tracings and delivers recording to physician; Inserts foley catheters and maintain foley care; Serves as Mayday team member (performs CPR and obtains supplies, blood products and equipment during codes); Transports both monitored and unmonitored patients within the department as well as throughout the hospital as directed; Performs straight intermittent urinary catheterization as directed; Provides direct 1:1 observation for patient under Immediate Treatment Certficiation.
• Functions as a Unit Secretary when necessary: Answers phone calls to Zone; Answers nurse call system to determine patients’ needs and makes patient rounds as directed; Assures that the chart is correct and complete and that all pertinent forms, records and charges/credits have been scanned; Verifies that all information in the patient chart is accurate and initiates appropriate corrective action when necessary (face sheets, ID band, etc); Schedules diagnostic procedures, physician appointments, requests copies of medical record (when indicated) and arranges transportation for patient; Monitor bed assignment process for admissions and troubleshoot delays in process.
• Facilitate patient flow within Zone and notifies the Clinical Coordinator of ready rooms/process delays.
• Troubleshoot delays in acquiring specimens and reports/results.
• Clean and prepare rooms after patient discharge and update EPIC tracker.
• Rounding on zone patients- keeping patients and family informed and ensuring the patient has a call light within reach.
• Assists with admission procedures and orients patient to environment. Assures the patient has a call light within reach.
• Directs patient and/or assists patient to undress appropriately for exam.
• Recognizes need for safety measures and takes appropriate action to prevent injury.
• Assists patient with personal hygiene, empties and cleans bedpans, urinals, bedside commodes, etc. and records output as directed.
• Changes linen and makes up stretchers, organizes patients’ environment and performs other personalized services within scope of practice.
• Picks up and returns meal trays and feeds patients requiring assistance.
• Assists patient in ambulation, positions and turns patient, assists with patient transfers to stretcher and wheelchairs, transports or escorts patient to other areas for tests, treatments, transfers or discharges.
• Changes sterile and unsterile dressings as directed.
• Maintains oxygen tanks.
• Provides post mortem care and transport to morgue.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assists nurses and physicians with administration of treatments and examinations.
• Places supplies/specialty trays or carts in rooms when ordered.
• Prepares rooms and/or equipment for patients.
• Maintains clean and soiled utility rooms and ensures designated instruments are returned to Sterile Processing Department.
• Marks QA check sheets and checks/refills ED specialty carts/boxes
• Anticipates the discharge, admission and transfer of patients and prepares for this by obtaining wheelchair and/or other equipment.
• Reports changes in patient’s condition or other observations relevant to patient’s needs to RN.
• Independently informs nurse when STAT and/or abnormal results are made available.
• Participates in performance improvement/patient safety initiatives.
• Demonstrates knowledge of unit and organizational initiatives by attending 50% of staff meetings and/or process improvement meetings. Demonstrates initiative in getting information regarding content of missed meetings (i.e. reading meetings minutes).
• Contributes to orderly and timely shift change by assisting with unfinished work of previous shift. Reports off to relief ED Tech.
• Assists with orientation and training of new employees as requested.
• Conservatively utilizes and appropriately accounts for supplies and equipment.
• Participates in maintaining a safe and clean environment (Infection Control policy, procedures, and documentation)
• Recognizes and reports malfunctioning or unsafe equipment to appropriate persons.
• Demonstrates knowledge of supplies available to ED
• Documents pertinent, timely, legible, complete and concise information in the appropriate section of the medical record.
• Ensure Hazardous Waste or Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals are discarded, stored, and managed with other compatible waste streams in containers that are properly labeled and closed prior to being shipped offsite for proper disposal. Initial RCRA training is received within 6 months of the hire date and continuing with annual RCRA training.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

We are committed to offering quality, cost-effective benefits choices for our benefit eligible employees and their families:

• Day ONE medical, dental and life insurance benefits
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Employees are eligible for enrollment into the 403(b) match plan day one. LHI matches dollar for dollar up to 6%.
• Employer paid life insurance – equal to 1x salary
• Employee may elect supplemental life insurance with low cost premiums up to 3x salary
• Adoption assistance
• LHI provides its full-time employees employer paid short-term disability and long-term disability coverage after 90 days of eligible employment
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan forgiveness

Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of Lexington Health to provide equal opportunity of employment for all individuals, and to remain compliant with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Lexington Health strives to provide a discrimination-free environment, and to recruit, select, on-board, and employ all employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including but not limited to, lactation. Lexington Health endeavors to upgrade and promote employees from within the hospital where possible and consistent with the employee’s desires and abilities and the hospital’s needs.