STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
The Home Health Aide is responsible for providing personal care services as prescribed by a physician according to written directions /care plan prepared by the R.N. and appropriate therapist and carried out under the supervision of the appropriate professional.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education and Experience:

• Is certified where required by law and/or has completed a state approved training course and competency program listed on NYS Registry. 
• Equivalency may be established according to New York state regulation.

Specific:

• Sympathetic attitude toward providing services for patients at home who have medical problems.
• Access to utilization of public or private transportation system. 
• Is able to read, write, understand and carryout directions or instructions, record messages and to keep simple records.  
• Is able to accurately take and record blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration. 
• Is able to use the telephone, good communication skills. 
• Ability to communicate information concerning a patient’s condition clearly.
• Functions independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to move intermittently throughout the work day, inclusive of sitting, standing and bending, pushing, pulling or moving objects and patients in a stand/pivot method. 
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds and operate variety of lifts, including hoyer lifts and Sit-To-Stand.
• Ability to relate to and work with the various personality styles, ill, disabled and elderly.
• Read, write and communicate in English. 
• Maturity, emotional and mental stability. 
• Experience in personal care or homemaking. 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides personal care, rehabilitative, comfort and supportive services essential to the patient’s health as ordered and directed under the supervision of a nurse.
• Assists in activities of daily living (personal hygiene, oral hygiene, grooming, eating, dressing, elimination, exercise and ambulation). 
• Maintains current and accurate clinical records and reports.  Documents patient care activities on a daily basis and submits same weekly.
• Maintains a safe environment.
• Communicates to the Registered Nurse changes in the status, condition and needs of the patient and/or family.
• Provides household duties to facilitate the patient’s self-care at home and encourages the patient’s participation to their ability. 
• Plan - purchase, prepare some meals. 
• Supports teachings of all Agency personnel and carries out simple procedures as an extension of physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and privacy and treats all patients with dignity and respect.
• Assists with medications that are ordinarily self-administered as permitted by state law.
• Supports the patient and provides the appropriate setting to encourage independence.
• Participates in patient case conferences, in-service programs and orientation. 
• Observes appearance and gross behavioral changes in the patient and reports to the Registered Nurse.
• Assists with range of motion, activities of daily living, mobility, transfers, toileting, specimen collection.
• Prioritizes and schedules duties to ensure all patient care tasks and visits are completed as assigned.
• Communicates with the office coordinator weekly regarding scheduling, availability, attendance and assignment.
• Utilizes universal precautions and infection control techniques as necessary.
• AIDES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ADMINISTER ANY MEDICINES OR PERFORM SPECIALIZED CARE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
• THE HOME HEALTH CARE AIDE DOES NOT CHANGE STERILE DRESSINGS, IRRIGATE BODY CAVITIES SUCH AS 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, NOR ANY PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED BY THE REGISTERED NURSE IN THE PATIENT CARE PLAN. 

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accompanies patient(s) to and from appointments. 

ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Registered Nurse
• Nursing Supervisor
• Director of Clinical Services
• Scheduler/Coordinator