Hospice Aide – Per Visit

Hospice Aide/CNA – Per Visit

U.S. Medical Management (USMM) is an affiliate of a leading Fortune 100 company. A national organization built on a continuum of care with premier healthcare providers, clinicians and patient focused individuals working together. Our Mission – “Through Compassionate Patient-Centered Care in the Home; We will Provide Exceptional Outcomes across our Continuum of Services” – Visiting Physicians Association, Pinnacle Senior Care, Grace Hospice, Comfort Hospice, Home DME & our In Home Health Assessments (IHA).

Our Values of Integrity, Respect, Teamwork & Excellence are leading us to a better tomorrow for patient care. Our Purposes Centered on “We are Unified in our Work through our Continuum of Services” “We can Find Comfort that We are Making a Difference for our Patients” & “We make a Broader Positive Impact on Society”, allows USMM to be poised for a phenomenal future.

We are seeking candidates who desire the experience of delivering quality & compassionate healthcare within proven care models with patients at the forefront of everything we do.

Position Description

The Hospice Aide is a non-professional employee trained to provide personal care and related services in the home for the sick or disabled.  The Hospice Aide functions under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or a physical therapist to assist the patient to perform on 2 or more ADL’s.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

During each, visit the Hospice Aide:

• Shall obtain vital signs, record and notify the primary RN of deviations according to standard practice
• The Hospice Aide shall provide assistance with at least 2 of the following ADL’s

• Personal hygiene (Example: bathing, grooming, hair care, shaving, deodorant application, skin care with lotions and/or powder, foot care, and ear care. 
• Q-tips are not to be used;
• Nail care and oral hygiene, which are needed to facilitate treatment or prevent deterioration (nail cutting will NOT be done; and filing will NOT be done, if patient is diabetic);
• Changing bed linens and making bed;
• Eating and maintaining adequate nutrition and fluid intake when appropriate;
• Dressing (clothes);
• Ambulation and transfers (For Example: Assisting patients to the toilet/commode or with bedpans and with elimination needs, assisting patients in and out of bed, assisting with ambulation, and assisting with other transfers and positional needs as appropriate);
• Incidental household services, which are essential to patient health care (for example, light housekeeping, straightening room, and laundry);
• Assisting with prescribed exercises, which the hospice aide and the patient have been taught by a health professional agent (employee) of the Agency;
• May hand patient prepared medications
• May empty or change a colostomy bag after receiving direction from RN

• Will understand and apply basic infection control principles and procedures
• Will contact supervisor with any concerns related to infection control
• Will follow the Plan of Care (Instruction Sheet) as instructed by Agency’s health care professional
• Will document appropriately according to the Plan of Care and submit all documentation per agency policy
• Will keep a record of hospice aide Plan of Care for each patient assigned
• Will observe physical and gross behavioral changes in the patient’s condition or family situation and report to the registered nurse
• Will follow the visit schedule and indicate changes in schedule as appropriate
• Will promptly contact patients and an Agency supervisor whenever unable to visit a patient as scheduled and will give full report to covering aides concerning patient care, visit times, etc. Will give patient name of covering hospice aide
• Will communicate appropriately with patient/family and Agency personnel
• Will attend required in-services and meetings as identified by the Agency (must have 12 hours of In-service per year)
• Will adhere to Agency’s Policies and Procedures
• Will perform other duties as assigned
• Will participate in Performance Improvement activities as indicated

The Hospice Aide WILL NOT do the following:

• Irrigate body cavities such as giving an enema;
• Irrigate a colostomy or wound;
• Perform a gastric lavage or gavage;
• Catheterize a patient;
• Administer medications;
• Apply heat by any method;
• Care for a Tracheostomy tube;
• Cut nails;
• File nails; if patient is diabetic, and;
• Provide any personal health service, which has not been included by the health care professional (employee) in the patient care plan

REQUIRED Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Current driver’s license and automobile in good working condition with proof of auto insurance
• Are certified nurses aides (CNA). Effective for services furnished after August 14, 1990, a person who has successfully completed a State-established or other training program that meets the federal requirements of §484.76(a) and a competency evaluation program or State licensure program that meets the federal requirements of §484.76(b), or a competency evaluation program or State licensure program that meets the federal requirements of §484.36(b). An individual is not considered to have completed a training and competency evaluation program, or a competency evaluation program if, since the individual’s most recent completion of this program(s), there has been a continuous period of twenty four (24) consecutive months during none of which the individual furnished services described in  §409.40 of the federal regulations for compensation.
• Is able to meet certain physical demands of standing, bending, lifting, stooping or performing other work requiring light physical exertion (up to 30 pounds) on a continuous basis (over 50% of time); or moderate physical exertion (30 to 50 pounds) on a frequent basis (16 to 50% of time); or heavy physical exertion on an occasional basis (up to 15% of time).
• A Hospice Aide may be used by the agency providing licensed hospice services if the aide meets one of the following requirements:
• A minimum of one year full-time experience in direct client care in an institutional setting (hospital or nursing facility);
• One year full-time experience within the last five years in direct client care in an agency setting;
• Satisfactorily completed a training and competency evaluation program that complies with the requirements of this section;
• Satisfactorily completed a competency evaluation program that complies with the requirements of this section;
• Submitted to the agency documentation from the director of programs or the dean of a school of nursing that states that the individual is a nursing student who has demonstrated competency in providing basic nursing skills in accordance with the school’s curriculum; or

• A Hospice Aide must have provided hospice services within the previous 24 months to qualify under subsection (a)(3) or (4) of this section
• Agree to undergo supplemental training by Agency personnel, as may be required by the Agency
• Attends staff meetings and educational in-services per agency requirements
• Have completed the 9th grade, with ability to read and write at an adequate level.  High school graduates or GED preferred
• Have an interest in and a sympathetic attitude toward caring for the sick at home.
• Have the emotional maturity necessary for establishing and maintaining a good rapport with patient and family members
• Demonstrate the ability to be able to work within a multi-disciplinary team setting
• Demonstrate the ability to work in field situations and navigate within assigned districts
• Have and maintain an automobile to be used for work
• Have the ability to meet the physical demands of the job
• Have satisfactorily passed Agency pre-employment testing which will include a written and performance evaluation
• Must inform all employees and cooperate and coordinate to assure highest performance of quality when providing services to the beneficiary
• Is prohibited from simultaneous/concurrent employment

Preferred Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA) through HPNA
• EMR Experience