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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Specification for Class

HOSPITAL ASSISTANT

UW CODE AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUP

8576 (WFSE Campuswide)
8708 (WFSE HMC)

CLASS SERIES CONCEPT

Provide assistance to medical and nursing staff by performing tasks involving direct and indirect patient care, treatment, transportation and clerical tasks.

BASIC FUNCTION

Under general supervision, perform routine tasks involving direct and indirect patient care, treatment, transportation, and various clerical tasks.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Under general supervision, perform routine tasks involving direct and indirect patient care, treatment, and transportation such as assisting patients with daily living activities; preparing patients for surgery; performing non-invasive lab procedures; transporting patients, equipment and supplies, and assisting with treatments. Perform various clerical tasks such as collecting data, ordering supplies, answering phones, recording messages or referring calls, data entry, photocopying, folding, and completing forms.

TYPICAL WORK

Observe, document, and report changes in patient activity and/or symptoms such as vital signs, respiration, discomfort, intake, output, weight, and bleeding;

Respond to internal and external emergencies and hospital codes including show of force; assist in applying restraints; initiate CPR; alert RNs of alarms sounding;

Assist with or prepare patient for transport including moving patient to and from bed to gurney or wheelchair; transition patients various monitors and oxygen for transport;

Transport patients, patient belongings and valuables, blood products, supplies, pharmaceuticals, x-ray films, and equipment and specimens to and from various locations; assist patients, including infants, to and from vehicles; stay with patients at destination until someone receives them; transport and prepare for use medical gas tanks such as oxygen and nitrogen; perform morgue transport;

Assist patients with activities of daily living including bathing, eating, shampooing hair, oral care, skin care, toileting and ambulation;

Acknowledge patient inquiries; respond or refer inquiries appropriately;

Answer patient call lights; determine nature of problem; respond within scope and/or obtain appropriate resources;

Assist physicians, nurses and technologists with wound care and patient procedures such as application of betadine to limbs, surgical shave preparation and positioning patients; open materials in a sterile field; load film in laser cameras;

Perform non-invasive lab procedures and report results to a Registered Nurse;

Assist families and visitors in finding staff to address concerns, safeguarding patient confidentiality and privacy;

Dispatch transporters;

Track the location of patients (arrival and departure) and procedures performed or to be performed; relay information to patient care staff;

Maintain cleanliness and safety in patient areas; participate in operating room preparation; configure operating room tables for surgical procedures; breakdown dirty procedures trays;

Stock supplies and equipment; conduct equipment inventory; locate missing equipment; take defective equipment to repair area; complete a defective equipment tag, or identify and report repair needs; help with quality assurance on processors, monitors and other equipment;

Perform clerical duties such as collection of data, supply ordering, answering phones, recording messages or referring call to appropriate person/area, data entry, photocopying, folding, and completing forms;

Make beds; stock linen; remove soiled linen and autoclavible trash;

Accompany patients to cafeteria and assist in food selection and carrying of the tray;

Orient new Hospital Assistant employees, students and other patient care providers;

Serve on task forces and committees

Perform related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - UW Contract Classified

High School graduation AND six months experience involving customer service in a health care setting OR six months experience involving direct patient care

OR

equivalent education/experience.

New Class: 5-17-74
Revise MQ: 7-2-90
Revise Class/Title: 9-11-98
Revise MQ: 2-10-99

CSR Class Conversion (mc): 06-01-05