Professional Development Associate (PDA) Surgical/Sterile Processing

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position is responsible for maintaining data bases, event planning and managing logistics for educational activities, coordinating, and ensuring the evaluation, training, and education of staff. The incumbent may be assigned by the Clinical Staff Education department (CSE) to one or more clinical departments or areas and is specifically responsible for assessing and addressing educational needs in the assigned area(s), in collaboration with the CSE department and unit/department/service line leadership. This includes managing accurate and timely staff education records and teaching content. The incumbent will maintain clinical competence in their area of specialty. The Professional Development (PD) Associate is an individual who contributes to the overall functioning of a continuing education/professional development department and influences professional role competence and professional growth of learners in a variety of settings. The PD Associate supports lifelong learners in an inter professional environment that facilitates continuous development and learning for the health care team.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• In coordination with assigned areas(s) leadership, staff, and CSE, uses the educational design process to bridge the knowledge, skills, and/or practice gaps identified through a needs assessment. This includes taking an active role in supporting unit, department, and service line education programs and initiatives.
• Supports dissemination of new knowledge and the use of evidence based practice, guide clinical practice, and improve patient care and outcomes.
• Supports the generation of new ideas, identifying problems and solutions, assessing readiness and barriers for change, and communication of the vision for change.
• Generates evaluation methods based on system and protocol capabilities.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives.
• Actively engages in outcome development and measurement.
• Aggregates outcome data.
• Collaborates with CSE team to improve the quality of professional development activities.
• Provides timely communication.
• Communicates workload transparency.
• Facilitates student scheduling and clinical experiences in collaboration with the Student Placement and Allied Health Department
• Teaches area and service line level classes.
• Works with CSE team to assist with managing unit educational programs.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
• Ability to maintain all department and organization-required training by expected due dates as outlined by the organization's annual education plan and policy.
• Demonstrates competency with a variety of equipment.
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills and the ability to speak effectively before groups and/or teach classes.
• Demonstrates proficiency in relevant software applications.
• Demonstrates proficiency in maintaining eLearning documentation.
• Supports the instruction of the electronic health record.
• Provides care to the population served.
• Manages and prioritizes workload efficiently.
• Collaborates with other departments to achieve desired outcomes.
• Knowledge of budget reporting; ordering and monitoring use of supplies, equipment, etc. to prevent waste and preserve usefulness.

Qualifications

Required

• Associates degree in education or equivalency.
• 2 years of experience in field of specialty.

Licenses Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Preferred

One of the following:

• Current license to practice as an Advanced EMT in the State of Utah
• Current license to practice as a Paramedic in the State of Utah
• Current certification as a Certified Medical Assistant
• Current certification as a Certified Instrument Specialist of SP related certification
• Current certification/license in other applicable healthcare field
• Bachelor's degree in education or related and approved field
• Certification in clinical specialty
• PD Associate certification

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intensive work that may exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing medical care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners or behavioral health patients.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Non Indicated, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking