Home Health Aide

Home Health Aide

The Home Health Aide is a trained paraprofessional who performs basic nursing or therapy functions, such as personal care, prescribed therapeutic exercises and household services essential to providing health care at home following a specific written plan of care. The Registered Nurse Clinical Case Manager supervises the Home Health Aide and the Home Health Aide plan of care in the home. If there is not an RN on the case, then a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech Language Pathologist supervises the HHA and the POC for that case.

Position Specific Responsibilities

• Provides competent personal care as outlined on the Home Health Aide Plan of Care established by the patient, family/caregiver and case manager.
• Recognizes that the plan of care identifies the tasks the HHA is allowed to perform and that recognizing other patient's needs requires a new POC to be developed by the case manager specific to that patient.
• Care provided in a safe, comprehensive fashion, treating each patient with dignity and respect while maintaining confidentiality.
• Performs basic nursing care as directed and instructed by the supervising nurse including taking and recording vital signs and temperature, performing simple dressing changes, assisting with routine bowel care.
• Provides personal care, including, but not limited to, bath assist, oral and denture care, skin, hair and skin, shaving, and nail trimming.
• Helps patient to use the bathroom or in using bedpan or commode.
• Provides care of surgical or prosthetic appliances or devices as instructed, i.e., catheters, colostomies, leg braces, dentures, etc.
• Assists with prescribed exercises which patient and aide have been taught by the Physical or Occupational Therapist or Registered Nurse and as described in the Home Health Aide plan of care.
• Assists patient in bed with positioning, assists patients in and out of bed, and assists with transfers and ambulation.
• Assists patients as per agency procedure with medications that are ordinarily self-administered by the patient under the direction of the Registered Nurse.
• Performs light housekeeping, which facilitate the patient's self care at home and which are necessary to prevent or postpone institutionalization and are essential to the patient's health care recovery at home.
• Observes and reports changes in condition, body functions, and needs to the professional responsible for patients care.
• Completes appropriate records and documentation of the status and the care and/or services furnished.
• Works collaboratively with interdisciplinary team to develop, implement, and update plan of care/treatment.
• Responds to urgent needs by prioritizing and triaging visits.
• Communicates schedule and work plan to supervisor and/or Scheduler daily and other team members as needed/appropriate.
• Provides patient information to Clinical Supervisor/Manager and staffing for efficient communication.
• Independently manages own caseload, plans and schedules home visits and coordinates with other team members as needed to maximize effectiveness of overall care plan.
• Organizes weekly schedule to attend required meetings within schedule of patient care needs.
• Organizes and coordinates transfer of patient information for coverage during absences.
• Provides reinforcement to patient and their family in areas identified in the Home Health Aide plan of care in order to promote the optimum independence and health at discharge.
• Obtains required 12 hours of in-service per year.
• This education may be classroom or documented "in field" education.
• Recognizes that on-going instruction is necessary to maintain and advance skills and knowledge needed when caring for patient in their home.
• Participates in required agency in-service programs and community continuing education to remain clinically current in nursing assistant practice and home health care and participate in quality improvement programs as requested.
• Demonstrates ability to manage time effectively and efficiently.
• Is able to meet agency's productivity expectations.
• Responsible to check, respond and follow-up with Voice Mail messages in a timely manner.
• Responsible to manage & update schedule on a daily basis.
• Will be expected to meet the productivity standard for their discipline as well as complete the visit record on the day of the visit.
• It is an agency expectation that visit notes be completed the day of the visit; meaning that the notes meet the 48-hour turn around policy.
• Participates in care plan meetings and interdisciplinary team meetings as appropriate.
• Works closely with the clinicians to ensure that patients are assisted with all daily living activities, specimen collection and supervised ambulating as directed/needed.
• Orients and trains new Home Health Aides as directed by Clinical Supervisor/Manager.
• Must be able to work in pet friendly environment when in Client's homes.
• This may involve animals such as Cats, Dogs or Birds.

Education and/or Experience

• Required - Education to meet certification, license or registration requirement.
• CA: Preferred - 1 year Experience as a Home Health Aide.

Skills

• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from leaders, team members, investors, and external parties. Strong written and verbal communications.
• Language Skills: Requires ability to communicate in English effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Language Skills: Ability to communicate and work cohesively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. Articulates and embraces integrated healthcare at home philosophy.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Team Building/Interpersonal Skills:
• Other Skills and Abilities: Demonstrates competency by maintaining positive, collaborative, and constructive interpersonal relationships.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Understands and practices the principles of effective teamwork.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Work Prioritization/Flexibility/Adaptability:
• Other Skills and Abilities: Demonstrates ability to prioritize work assignments and meet productivity and quality standards.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Demonstrates ability to work with minimum supervisory guidance and exercises independent judgment within the scope of practice; adapts easily to changes in work assignments and environment, is willing to assume additional responsibility and learn new procedures.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to work flexible hours.

Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations

• Required within 30 days of hire: National Provider BLS - American Heart Association (Vendor Managed)
• Required within 30 days of hire: National Provider Identifier (NPI) number
• Required upon request: Driving may be necessary as part of this role. Caregivers are required to comply with all state laws and requirements for driving. Caregivers will be expected to provide proof of driver license and auto insurance upon request. See policy for additional information.
• CA: Required upon hire: California Home Health Aide License (Vendor Managed)

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The demands of this role necessitate a team member to effectively perform essential functions. Adaptations can be made to accommodate team members with disabilities. Regular standing, walking, and manual dexterity are fundamental, along with the ability to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Visual acuity requirements include close and distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. In a healthcare setting, exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and conditions typical to the field is expected. Routine use of standard medical equipment and tools associated with clinical care is essential. This description provides a general overview and may vary by role and department, capturing the nuanced demands and conditions inherent to clinical positions in our organization.

At Compassus, diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our Pillars of Success. We are committed to creating a fair work environment where our team members feel welcomed, highly valued, and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Compensation range:$23.00 - $29.08

The amounts listed are the base pay range; additional compensation may be