Overview

USA Health is Transforming Medicine along the Gulf Coast to care for the unique needs of our community. USA Health is changing how medical care, education and research impact the health of people who live in Mobile and the surrounding area. Our team of doctors, advanced care providers, nurses, therapists and researchers provide the region's most advanced medicine at multiple facilities, campuses, clinics and classrooms. We offer patients convenient access to innovative treatments and advancements that improve the health and overall wellbeing of our community.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements child life services which provide a safe and nurturing environment where children and adolescents can enrich coping skills to address reasons for hospital visits and/or their illness; provides therapeutic and recreational activities for the Child Life Department; provides orientation and conveys Child Life philosophy for new employees, physicians, volunteers, and students; works in conjunction with the Child Life Specialist II to develop a formalized plan of recreational and play therapy for the pediatric patient populations based on an understanding of the psychosocial and physical development; identifies high risk and high interaction patients and formulates a therapeutic plan; transports patients to and from patient rooms to activities via wheelchair, wagon or by arms; provides therapeutic interactions that may require bending, stooping, kneeling or sitting on the floor; serves as an advocate and liaison for patients and their families; provides sibling preparation for visits of critically ill patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; involves patients in medical play and learning experiences related to the hospital experience, such as needle play, discussions regarding procedures, play therapy, and end of life discussions; assists with the coordination of community organization activities and visits to the Treehouse and Class Act programs; assists with the coordination and supervision of hospital volunteers, student interns, and clinical observers assigned to the Treehouse and Class Act programs; accompanies surgery patients to the Operating Room as required and intervenes effectively; plans and provides normal recreational activities for all patients; assists with the tutorial needs of identified high-risk patients when deemed appropriate by hospital teachers; communicates and uses appropriate customer relation skills with physicians, patients, families, healthcare team and staff in person and via telephone; responds to overhead pages and digital pagers; maintains accurate and complete records by: documenting Child Life/Recreational Therapy plans of care, assessments, interventions, interactions, and responses for designated patient populations; documents teaching of therapy recommendations given to patients, parents, family; accepts and completes all duties positively and without conflict; cooperates, helps others and improves the performance of the unit; completes all mandatory unit, educational and hospital requirements; utilizes cost effective practices in performing all aspects of the job; adheres to current Infection Control and Safety Standards; demonstrates the ability to provide competent patient care to the following patient populations: Neonate, Infant-Toddler/Preschool, School Age/Adolescent, Reproductive Age; participates on committees as assigned; participates in Performance Improvement activities through quality measurement or participation of ICARE process as assigned; abides by and enforces all compliance requirements and policies and performs these responsibilities in an ethical manner consistent with the organization’s values; adheres to hospital policies including confidentiality; requires minimal supervision to safely perform patient care/essential functions; utilizes proper body mechanics when: moving equipment and or supplies that are necessary to perform essential functions; reports broken or malfunctioning equipment to supervisor or department head; regular and prompt attendance; ability to work schedule as defined and overtime as required; related duties as required.

Qualifications

Bachelors degree in child life, childhood development, therapeutic recreation or a related field from an accredited institution as approved and accepted by the University of South Alabama.Certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) or certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) is preferred.