Lead Patient Observation Technician

FLSA STATUSNon-exemptQUALIFICATIONSEDUCATION High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)
Associate degree preferred EXPERIENCE One year experience in a Patient Observation Technician or related role Prior experience in a lead, preceptor, or charge capacity preferred LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONSRequiredBLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association andNVCRISIS - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention or Instructor (CPI) - Crisis Prevention Institute within 6 months KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIESDemonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles Ability to lead shift operations independently and maintain alignment with clinical, operational, and safety priorities Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians, and co-workers Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including, organizing workflow, and actively participating in problem solving Proficiency with Epic, care.ai, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and census tracking tools In-depth knowledge of virtual observation workflows, escalation protocols, and patient monitoring best practices Strong skills in communication, time management, problem-solving, and staff coordination ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSPEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSPromotes a positive and collaborative work culture where team members support one another to achieve department goals. Encourages staff development and helps improve team communication and cohesion across shifts and units. Leads daily operations, including technician coordination, patient list validation, break coverage, and real-time communication. Facilitates shift handoffs and team huddles using ICARE values and effective communication principles. Coaches and mentors technicians in professionalism, communication, and technical accuracy. Drives initiatives of improvement of department scores for employee engagement. SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSOversees virtual observation assignments using Epic and care.ai and ensures accurate and balanced patient distribution throughout the shift. Addresses staff shift assignments based on patient census and escalates staffing needs/issues to management as appropriate. Tracks admissions, discharges, and observation order status across the system and supports fair, timely reassignment when workloads shift. Manages the huddle board to reflect real-time staffing, coverage, and patient status updates. Assists management in daily operations and workflow coordination, including timely equipment distribution and patient service. Provides direct patient observation when needed and ensures appropriate scripting and redirection techniques are used. Role models skills, through peer-to-peer accountability, towards improving departmental score for patient satisfaction. QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSDrives quality patient care through vigilant monitoring, timely communication to unit staff, and documentation of adverse events or escalations. Assimilates and communicates information from multiple systems and sources to ensure complete situational awareness. Completes MS Form Handoff Reports with critical updates: equipment issues, patient events, IT tickets, staffing concerns, and safety flags. Audits and reconciles patient assignments at the start and end of shift; ensures Epic and care.ai records match station monitoring. Identifies and recommends corrective actions to leadership, ensuring timely communication and follow-up. Actively contributes to quality and safety improvement initiatives through coordination with management. FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSMaintains accurate shift documentation and assists with department charge tracking if applicable. Manages time effectively and minimizes incidental overtime while helping team members prioritize and complete tasks. GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSSupports continuous learning by engaging team members in real-time development opportunities. Fosters a supportive teaching environment to improve performance and team outcomes. Contributes to innovation by identifying workflow gaps and sharing feedback with leadership for process and technology improvements. Participates in department projects, performance improvement initiatives, and shared governance activities. Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTSWORK ATTIREUniform: No Scrubs: Yes Business professional: No Other (department approved): Yes ON-CALL**Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.On Call* No TRAVEL****Travel specifications may vary by department**May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No