At Houston Methodist, the Emergency Room Technician position is responsible for maintaining knowledge and skills necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated tasks for diverse patient population and their families in the Emergency Room, performing patient care activities of daily living (ADL's), as needed. This position performs delegated patient care duties under the supervision of a licensed nurse. The Emergency Room Technician position records data established by policy and procedure, and reports observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse and/or provider. The Emergency Room Technician position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions independently, handling patient care and technical issues as they arise within the scope of their job. This position also performs clerical tasks such as answering the phones and transcribes orders as needed.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates and contributes to a dynamic, team-focused work unit responding willingly and positively to colleagues needs for assistance and partnership to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner in a clear and timely manner.

• Communicates effectively with patients, family members, co-workers, medical staff, hospital personnel, and other customers; treats all individuals with dignity and respect. Acts as a patient advocate in coordinating care across the continuum that meets the patient's needs. Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity and inclusion principles.

• Encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding. Follows channels of communication for effective problem solving. Assists other techs and coworkers, manages several ongoing priorities with minimal supervision. Assists in resolving complex issues.

• Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for turnover/retention/employee satisfaction, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs delegated low risks, high frequency technical and clinical procedures required for patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. Documents, where applicable, comprehensive screenings, care administered, diagnostic measurements, allergies and medication lists, treatments and procedures as determined by skills, training and validation (i.e., vital signs, 12 Lead EKG, I.V. catheter insertion, CPR, splinting, specimen collection, immobilization by backboard, extrication from vehicles) in accordance with established policies and procedures. Repeats vital signs according to policy. Provides care in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity and inclusion principles.

• Assumes the role of phlebotomist when necessary. Performs drug screen collection according to established policy, procedure, and protocols.

• Observes patients, making hourly rounds to ensure patient needs are met (four P's), for condition change. Reports observations, conditions and problems of patients to the licensed nurse to achieve desired patient outcomes. Responds to the call light system, contacting nursing personnel as appropriate, and follows through with meeting patient needs.

• Actively works to pursue high levels of patient satisfaction by contributing towards improving department scores for patient satisfaction through peer-to-peer accountability.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Reports all accidents promptly and corrects minor safety hazards. Communicates with peers and management regarding any hazards identified in the workplace.

• Accurately identifies the patient using standardized patient identification protocols and resolves any discrepancies prior to caring for patient. Provides for the privacy of patients and families, keeping the safety of the patient in mind.

• Supports initiatives to prevent conditions such as pressure injuries, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections. Contributes to identification of corrective action and improvement activities, impacting hospital and department quality and safety targets, through peer-to-peer accountability, collaborating with the interprofessional team.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintains an orderly environment that facilitates access to supplies, equipment, and resource information. Assists in the inventory, monitoring and ordering supplies and medical equipment to maintain par levels. Minimizes the overuse of supplies and reports low supply inventories as they arise; does not waste supplies.

• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime. Performs tasks timely to meet department turn-around-times. Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members and performing additional tasks.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development including the development of advanced skills. Fosters a positive and constructive patient care environment by engaging co-workers in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with department objectives.

• Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement hospital projects and department shared governance activities. Completes and updates the My Development plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Six months in an emergency setting or Emergency Medical Technician Basic or Intermediate certification (State of Texas)

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
• NVCRISIS - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) within 3 months

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• CPT - Phlebotomy Technician Certification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Displays strong time management skills

• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers

• Practices proper infection control, including precautionary procedures

• Independently adapts to multiple ongoing priorities including organizing work flow

• Demonstrates independent judgment and discretion to recognize problems, identify causes and take corrective action

• Strong organizational skills to handle a heavy workload and maintain accuracy

• Possesses competent computer knowledge. Operates multiple computer systems including electronic health records, i.e., Epic, and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, & Excel)

• Demonstrates ability to access information both in the department and within the hospital system to support the department and interprofessional health care team as appropriate

• Successful completion of validated Basic EKG proficiency exam with a score of 80% and correct identification of lethal dysrhythmias during orientation

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) Yes

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist The Woodlands opened in 2017 as the eighth hospital in the Houston Methodist system. This 187-bed, 470,000-square-foot, full-service, acute care hospital offers many of the same services as our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Also on the $380 million hospital campus, located at the intersection of I-45 and TX 242, is a medical office building, which opened in 2016. Medical Office Building 1 includes a breast care center, cancer center & infusion center, orthopedics & sports medicine, rehabilitation services, wellness services, and an outpatient laboratory in addition to multi-specialty physician practices. A second medical office building and 785-car parking garage opened in 2018.