Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Patient Companion is required to report to the hospital’s Head/Charge Nurse of the unit/floor where the OPWDD individual is located, to: a. Receive direction regarding the care to be provided. b. Communicate regarding breaks and meal schedules. 2. Patient Companion is to provide the following services subject to the rules and regulations of the community hospital unless directed by hospital staff or OPWDD staff to do otherwise: a. Interact with hospitalized individuals assisting with their adjustment to a new environment, interpreting and communicating their needs, as necessary, to appropriate hospital staff. b. Provide individualized assistance based upon the individual’s needs including communicating preferences in foods, diet consistencies, etc. c. Observe the individualʹs responses to treatment and reporting them orally to appropriate hospital staff. d. Maintain a communication log to report applicable observations to the incoming Patient Companion staff. e. Provide limited behavioral intervention (soothing, reassuring, etc.) if the individual is exhibiting agitated or anxious behavior. f. Assist individual with grooming activities (combing hair, brushing teeth, cleaning fingernails, shaving, applying powders/lotions, etc.).
