County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under close supervision, to perform sub-professional and clerical duties specific to the health field; to assist in patient care and treatment; to assist in community outreach and education activities in various Health Care Services Agency departments; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Health Services Trainees may be persons who have completed specific training to be eligible to take the California State Licensing examination for licensed vocational nurse, the State of California Certification Exam for Microbiologist, or who are receiving in-service training for positions such as nursing assistant, medical translator, community outreach worker, laboratory assistant or who are used in a sub-professional trainee capacity in various departments in the Health Care Services Agency. Positions in this class are sometimes used in order to meet recruitment problems in positions for the Health Care Services Agency.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Assists physicians, mid-level practitioners, professional nurses, and licensed vocational nurses in administering treatments and other nursing tasks as assigned; provides hygienic care for patients; assists in feeding patients and gives cleansing and retention enemas.

2. Observes patients, records patient information, and reports unusual occurrences or serious conditions to supervisor; answers call lights; takes patients’ weight, temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; prepares patients for surgery and other medical examination and treatment; performs routine tests such as urine, sugar, acetone, and eye chart tests.

3. Attends patients in special equipment such as clinitron or rocking beds; transfers patients from one piece of equipment to another; transports patients; works as laboratory assistant preparing and processing specimens.

4. Maintains treatment rooms, utility rooms, and equipment; cleans and autoclaves equipment.

5. Provides interpreter/translator services to patients.

6. Participates in orientation and instruction program as required.

7. Participates in an intensive training program in order to become familiar with community resources; provides general advice to patients and others regarding available services; provides assistance to clients in utilizing available health and community resources.

8. Participates in an intensive training program performing varied and specialized microbiological examinations involving the fields of bacteriology, parasitology, serology, virology and mycology in order to obtain scientific data which may be used to ascertain the presence, progress and source of disease.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The ability to meet the appropriate educational license and/or experience requirements for the class for which the incumbent is training prior to promotion.

Some positions may require the ability to speak and read a second language fluently and/or type 40 words per minute.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• General health service delivery routine; methods of preventing infection and spread of contagion.
• Elements of personal hygiene; medical terminology.
• Fundamentals of microbiological principles.
• Chemical principles.
• Public health lab procedures and techniques.
• Availability of community and government services and resources.
• Interviewing techniques.
• Principles of counseling.
• Basic principles of health promotion, disease prevention and preventive health care.
• Basic social needs, problems, attitudes and behavioral patterns of targeted populations.

Ability to:

• Provide sympathetic health services.
• Understand and follow general and medical written and oral instructions.
• Keep records accurately and makes reports.
• Work cooperatively with others.
• Observe safety precautions and procedures.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TAT:JB:pb
Revised: 2/86
AM:pb
Revised: 3/15/93
Old document: Y:\0741h.wpf
New document: Jobspecs/7879
ys/9/01
CSC Date: 5/5/93

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.