Patient Care Assistant (PCA)

PCA Responsibilities:

• Provides various personal care and related paraprofessional services in accordance with an established plan of care. Provides for the personal needs and comfort of patients in their homes.

• Performs personal care activities that assist the patient with activities of daily living

• which include (but are not limited to):

• Personal hygiene (assisting to bathroom or in using bedpan, bathing, care of

• mouth, skin and hair)

• Ambulation

• Eating

• Dressing

• Shaving

• Prepares meals and snacks according to instructions.

• Performs patient-specific activities that are taught by a nurse. These could include (but are not limited to):

• Assisting with the change of ostomy appliances

• Reinforcement of dressings

• Assisting with prescribed range of motion exercises

• Measuring and preparing special diets

• Taking vital signs

• Application of an external catheter

• Performs homemaking activities which include (but are not limited to): vacuuming, dusting, sweeping or mopping floors, doing dishes, changing bed linens, doing laundry and cleaning bathrooms.

PCA Requirements:

• High school graduate or G.E.D certificate preferred.

• 2 years experience as a Personal Care Assistant in healthcare (in homes or facilities).

• Successful completion of a state-approved Nurse Aide or Personal Care Assistant course.

• Current CPR certificate is required.

• Ability to read, write, speak and understand English as needed for the job.

• Possess a valid driver's license and have use of an insured automobile or access to adequate transportation for the job.

• Meeting recurring training requirements

Polices:

• Services are provided under the supervision and direction of the clinical director or the appropriate qualified professional with at least one year of home health and administrative/supervisory experience

• On-site professional supervisory visits are required for all patients receiving home health aide services.

• When patients are receiving home health aide services as well as another skilled service, a registered nurse (or another professional therapist if the patient is not receiving nursing services) must make an on-site supervisory visit to the patient’s residence no less frequently than every two (2) weeks.

• When HHA services are being provided in the absence of a skilled service, a registered nurse must make an on-site supervisory visit to the patient’s residence (while the home health aide is providing care) no less frequently than every sixty (60) calendar days.

• Services must be provided in accordance with a written home health aide care plan.