Responsibilities

The Patient Companion will provide companionship, safety of and supportive care for patients requiring close observation. The Patient Companion observes the patient in order to minimize the patient's ability to injure self while in the hospital, to include behavioral issues, maintenance of medical interventions or to prevent patient from wandering. Essential functions of the Patient Companion may include:

• Responsible for diligently tending to and being attentive to patient at all times to promote a safe environment.
• Within established guidelines, will provide comfort measures for the patient, such as offering fluids, etc.
• Providing diversion activities for the patient, as appropriate, to include conversing, playing music, watching movies, providing patient with an "activity box," etc.
• Utilizing a calm, understanding and courteous attitude when communicating with working with patients.
• Requesting assistance in an emergency situation or when there is a change to the patient's behavior or condition.
• Responsible for maintaining a clean environment for the patient by assisting the staff with the patient's ADLs and turning, positioning and ambulation of the patient, as requested by the nursing staff.
• Assisting with patient feeding, if directed by the nursing staff.
• Maintaining patient's comfort at all times and communicating patient's needs for patient care to the nursing staff.
• Responding to questions/concerns of patient and patient's family members, utilizing excellent customer service skills.
• Collaborating with other members of the Patient Care Team to ensure excellent and proper services are provided at all times.