Courier - PRN/Evenings - Medical Center

Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Courier position is responsible for the transportation of medications, laboratory specimens, medical records, patient belongings, and other misc. This position is also responsible for accurately sorting, organizing, and transporting specimens and medications between various pharmacy/laboratory locations, nursing units, and physician offices. The Courier position performs deliveries accurately and efficiently within the allotted time standards and ensures deliveries are made throughout the Houston Methodist complex on a 24-hour basis. This position must be able to communicate appropriately and work closely with other staff and co-workers.

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVEDRefer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

Responsibilities

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Communicates clearly, professionally, positively, and effectively with patients, nurses, physicians, visitors, and coworkers in a courteous, friendly, and helpful manner. Utilizes professional phone etiquette. Communicates with co-workers regarding specimen and medication delivery/pick-up issues.

• Promotes a positive image of the department and Hospital through verbal and non-verbal communication with all persons and complies with personal appearance guidelines. Uses appropriate communication to maintains confidentiality of the patient information at all times as required by HIPAA.

• Makes appropriate customer service decisions with problem-solving, setting/communicating trip delays, canceling, and recalling assignments. Provides contributions towards the improvement of department scores for turnover/retention/employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Delivers items in a timely manner, accurately, and efficiently. Completes deliveries and pick-ups within the established time standards.

• Properly operates the pneumatic tube system to send medications through the system. Separates medications that cannot be transported through the pneumatic tube system to various nursing units. Understands how to utilize the pneumatic tube system and adhering to the established guidelines.

• Separates specimens that cannot be transported through the pneumatic tube system to various laboratories such as Microbiology, Cytology, Histology, HLA, and others as needed.

• Contributes towards improving department scores for patient satisfaction/experience through peer-to-peer accountability and providing timely transports.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Documents lab/pharmacy trips neatly, completely, and accurately on the appropriate courier log sheets during the shift. Maintains confidentiality of patient information as required by HIPAA by covering items during the delivery process. Adheres to accreditation and HIPPA guidelines and other regulations.

• Follows all safety rules while on the job. Reports accidents promptly and corrects minor safety hazards. Follow safe handling of cytotoxic and bio-hazardous materials.

• Properly utilizes the handheld radio when calling in all lab/pharmacy trips to dispatch. Uses radio etiquette when communicating to co-workers on the handheld ra