Home Health Aide

Provide hands on personal care, perform simple procedures as an extension of therapy or nursing services, and assist patients with ambulation or exercises in their home. Provide care with direction and supervisory by the primary professional discipline.

Essential Job Functions

• Deliver direct and indirect patient care in accordance with regulation, agency policies, procedures, protocols, and other professional standards of care.


• Demonstrate sound knowledge of all personal care skills and work within policy limitations.


• Perform or assist patient with activities of daily living.


• Complete patient care related activities within scheduled timeframe.


• Assist in the promotion of education coordination of patient care to improve patient outcomes by reinforcement and follow through of instructions provided by professional staff.


• Maintain a collaborative relationship with other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.


• Communicate pertinent information to the supervising professional/supervisor and record in an accurate and timely manner any changes in patient status or behavior, or any unusual incidents observed.


• Report change in patient’s condition to the primary professional discipline, including the need to reassess the patient or change the plan of care; confer with the clinical staff when there is a need to contact the physician and when contact has been made.


• Participate in agency performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer service.


• Demonstrate leadership by utilizing the behaviors inherent to the role of the home health aide.


• Demonstrate an ability to solve problems independently and seek assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.


• Maintain accountability for actions taken.


• Effectively functions as a resource person.


• Act as a patient advocate.


• Perform effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.


• Assist in maintaining/decreasing agency expenses.


• Assist in agency compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies.


• Participate in preparations for inspections and surveys.


• Adhere to the infection control process, including universal precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections.


• Provide for patient safety in compliance with health system and agency policies.


• Utilize two forms of patient identification as appropriate.


• Involve the patient and or family in patient safety standards, processes, and education.


• Adjust to a variety of responsibilities, characterized by frequent changes nada dap to changes in workload or patient assignments, and meet agency productivity standards.


• Demonstrate understanding and acceptance of the Hospice [philosophy.


• Maintain a minimum of 12 hours of educational credits annually.


• Deliver direct and indirect patient care in accordance with regulation, agency policies, procedures, protocols, and other professional standards of care.


• Demonstrate sound knowledge of all personal care skills and work within policy limitations.


• Assist in the promotion of education coordination of patient care to improve patient outcomes by reinforcement/follow through of instructions provided by the professional staff.


• Maintain a collaborative relationship with other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.


• Communicate pertinent information to the supervising professional/supervisor and records in an accurate and timely manner any changes in patient status or behavior, or any unusual incidents observed.


• Report changes in patient’s condition to the primary professional discipline, including the need to reassess patient or change the plan of care; confer with the clinical staff wen there is a need to contact the physician and when contact has been made.


• Participate in agency performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer service.


• Demonstrate leadership by utilizing the behaviors inherent to the role of the home health aide.


• Demonstrate an ability to solve problems independently and seek assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.


• Maintain a minimum of 12 hours educational credits annually.


• Provide for patient safety in compliance with health system and agency policies.


• Involve the patient and or family in patient safety standards, processes and education.


• Adjust to a variety of responsibilities, characterized by frequent changes and adapt to changes in workload or patient assignments, and meet agency productivity standards.


• Demonstrate understanding and acceptance of the Hospice philosophy.


• Perform according to the established plan of care to enhance the quality of life of the terminally ill patient.


• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings when able.


• Perform homemaking tasks as defined in the plan of care.


• Develop effective, supportive interaction with the dying patients and their significant others.


• Practice careful, efficient, and resourceful use of supplies.


• Assume responsibility for keeping informed by reviewing agency communications.


• Cognitive ability to function and concentrate on the essential and specialty functions of the job at a high level.


• Achieves thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing an essential or specialty function of the job.


• Ability to think and concentrate for an entire shift.


• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.


• Completion of a Nurse Aide Program.


• Effective May 18, 2017 – must have attended at a minimum outside training program consisting of classroom and supervised practicum of a minimum of 75 hours (A minimum of 16 hours of classroom training must precede a minimum of 16 hours of supervised practical training as part of the 75 hours).


• One-year experience as a nurse aide/assistant in a healthcare facility or as a home health aide in a home care/hospice agency.


• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, and sound judgment.


• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Nurse Aide Certification.


• Certification as Hospice/Palliative Care Nurse Aide; Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook.


• Experience in Healthcare setting.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.

• Act 33 with renewal


• Act 34 with renewal


• Act 73 FBI Clearance

• Valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License (if out of state hire current Department of Motor Vehicle record report required and obtain PA Current Driver License within 30 days of hire).

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Regular, consistent, on-site and timely attendance.


• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).


• Travel may be expected locally between Excela Health locations.

LEAN

• Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one’s own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to Excela’s missions, vision and values.

AAP/EEO

• Excela Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Excela Health to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Excela Health will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.


• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.

Work Environment:  JC1242 Home Health Aide

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.