Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as:

• New Hire Premium: +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Shift Differential Pay: P.M. shift (7:00 PM - 7:30 AM) = 7.5% of base pay.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Position: Patient Safety Observer - FT - Shift

Compensation

The estimated pay for this position is $17.3702 to $21.3631. The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.

Definition:

Under direction, provides a variety of direct and indirect patient care in an in-patient setting using the virtual patient observation technology and training to monitor patients’ behaviors who might be at high risk for falls, disruption of treatments or injury to themselves or others due to confusion, delirium, self-destructive behavior, or a high likelihood of falling.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Patient Safety Observer assignment utilizes virtual patient safety observation technology, to remotely observe multiple simultaneously, and in-person safety monitoring for suicidal patients or other patients who may not be able to be monitored using the applicable technology for one or more patients at a time based on severity. The objective of the patient safety monitoring program is to enhance patient safety, injury prevention and improve overall patient satisfaction via a live-only audio-visual stream of the patient to the secure monitoring hub or in-person observation. This position will observe, communicate and document behaviors that could be disruptive to patient safety or the patient care plan. This position is an important part of the patient care team, assisting the patient by proactively reminding them of self-care limitations, providing timely feedback of behavioral observations to the bedside care team, as well as providing companionship to the patient.

Incumbents follow clearly established procedures to care for patients’ safety needs and assist licensed, professional nursing and medical staff in an in-patient setting to include performing general clerical functions and caring for patient’s personal needs, and comfort.

Essential Functions:

• Provides virtual observation and/or in-person observation and direct patient care as directed by the RN including, but not limited to, activities of daily living (such as bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, and ambulating) as well as turning and repositioning patients
• Provide continuous observation and surveillance for an assigned group of identified patients. Responsible for keeping the patient in his/her line of vision at all times and working with others in the healthcare team to assure prompt intervention to prevent physical harm to patients ensuring optimal patient safety and patient comfort.
• Provides prompt notification to the appropriate clinical staff if patient requires assistance. Summons the nursing staff if the patient requires assistance by communication device and or Staff- assist Alert Alarm.
• Participates in a collaborative identification and reporting of patient safety issues. Monitors for and maintains patient environmental safety. Notifies clinical staff of potential safety hazards.
• Wears headset at all times when assigned to the monitoring station and verbally redirects patient using a 2-way audio feature. In all observation cases, remains engaged with patients continuously during shift. Verbally redirects patients from engaging in at risk behaviors.
• Provides patients with necessary explanations but does not counsel or provide opinions.
• Participates in report with observation staff when arriving for shift, and upon completion of shift. Reviews pertinent patient information and behaviors.
• Document patient activity and Patient Safety Observer interventions per hospital policy.
• Provides one on one companionship/supervision with patients.
• Assists with admitting, transferring and discharging patients by inputting data into the virtual patient observation software or other EMR system as needed.
• Assists with patient observation and care; checks and records vital signs and pain levels; measures and records intake and output of food and fluids; and records results.
• Answers call signals; makes beds; cleans and cares for equipment.
• Adheres to isolation precautions/practices, medical asepsis and infection control; observes oxygen precautions.
• Performs general clerical duties; operates a variety of office equipment.
• Answers telephones and provides basic information to patients and/or other interested parties.
• Coordinates the delivery of equipment and/or other services for patients to include, but not limited to, camera equipment to patient room.
• Assists patients with personal hygiene and grooming.

Other Functions:

• Passes and observes food trays; assists or feeds patients only as needed.
• Transports patients as needed for admission, discharge, and procedures; transports specimens to the lab.
• Performs other job-related duties as required

Employment Standards:

Successful completion of a State of California Department of Health Services approved Nursing Assistant training program OR one (1) year of an education program leading to an Associate’s Degree or Baccalaureate degree in Nursing, OR two (2) years of experience as a Nursing Attendant or performing the responsibilities of a nursing attendant in an acute care facility or in a skilled nursing facility for psychiatric patients OR completion of a Certified Medical Assistant program, Valid Medical Assistant Certification and 2 years of Medical Assistant experience in an medical facility with progressive responsibility and daily hands on patient care.

AND

Must successfully complete Patient Safety Observer equipment training program to demonstrate understanding and proficiency with the hospital’s virtual patient safety observation applications and be able to provide appropriate care to patient population requiring video monitoring.

Additional Requirements:

• Possess and maintain a current, clean, and clear American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card. Appointees not possessing the BLS cared must successfully complete appropriate training and qualify for the BLS card within sixty (60) days of appointment or employment will be terminated.
• Employees must maintain all health requirements designated by Kern Medical Center.
• Depending on assignment incumbents may be required to possess and maintain specific certificates of competency as a condition of employment.
• Any additional mandatory education or training as required and assigned by Kern Medical.

Physical Requirements:

Physical requirements for this classification require incumbents to stand, bend, squat, kneel, push and pull intermittently throughout the majority of the work day. Incumbents must be able to frequently lift and carry, partially carry, or fully support a patient while transferring to and from a bed, wheelchair, or gurney, or while walking.

Knowledge of:

Non-professional nursing care and techniques; medical terminology and metric measurement.

Ability to:

Anticipate the needs of the patients being observed, as well as the bedside care team. Problem solve quickly, navigate computer software efficiently, Perform non-professional nursing care; read and record medical terminology and metric measurement, maintain medical records, follow oral and written instructions; and maintain effective relations with medical staff and the public.

Supplemental:

A background check may be required for this classification.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers”. In the event of a disaster or civil disorder, all Kern Medical employees are to remain at work or to report to work in a safe and practicable manner.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.