Authors (including presenting author) :
Lai ML(1), Pang WY (1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital
Introduction :
Since 1994, around 900 Health Care Assistants were started to be recruited and trained in Hospital Authority which became Patient Care Assistants (PCAs) today. Recruiting PCAs has proved to be effective in alleviating the workload of healthcare staff and improving their working environment. PCAs were required to provide patient care deliver and basic patient intervention according to nurses’ instruction. Providing and keeping an accurate, updated and well-organized mentorship record booklet, instead of just providing number of assessment forms, is essential for newly recruited PCAs. This helped to ensure that all PCA mentees are competent on the basis of appropriate education, training or experience.
Objectives :
(1)To ensure newly recruited PCA mentees understand and meet the job requirement; (2)to assist PCA mentors to understand the mentorship program easier and (3)to enhance the competency of newly recruited PCAs within a fixed time period.
Methodology :
Questionnaire were designed and distributed to PCA mentors and mentees. 6 yes-no questions were asked including (1)whether purpose of mentorship is clear, (2)whether job responsibilities are clear, (3) whether learning objectives are clear, (4) whether clinical assessment items are clear, (5) whether the content is accurate, updated and enough & (6)able to act as a useful mentorship tool for mentors or able to allow mentees to fit to the job.
Result & Outcome :
From May 2019 to Dec 2024, 31 newly recruited PCAs in Department of Medicine & Geriatrics in Kwong Wah Hospital were trained. 100% of them completed the mentorship program within 8 weeks. Total 61 questionnaires were distributed to PCA mentors (30pcs) and mentees(31pcs). 100% of them were returned. 100% mentors claimed the mentorship program record booklet is able to assisted them to provide systematic training for newly recruited PCAs. 100% mentees replied the booklet is a successful tool for them to fit in the job as soon as possible.
Conclusions:
Providing and keeping an accurate, updated and well-organized mentorship record booklet can help mentor to provide systematic and updated education for newly recruited PCAs. It also helps PCA mentees to build confidence and competencies that are essential for delivering high-quality care with the increasing demand for healthcare services.
