Occupation · SOC 31-9099
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
All healthcare support workers not listed separately.
Median wage
$46,050
$32,450–$68,180
Projected growth
+3.5%
Average growth
Annual openings
380
per year
Employed (US)
103,650
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
161 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringCritical ThinkingWriting
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministrativeMedicine and DentistryPsychology
Technology & tools
Operating system softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Clean, disinfect, or calibrate scopes or other endoscopic instruments according to manufacturer recommendations and facility standards.Collect specimens from patients, using standard medical procedures.Document clients' progress toward meeting established treatment objectives.Perform safety checks to verify proper equipment functioning.Maintain or repair endoscopic equipment.Implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.Collect and compile data to document clients' performance or assess program quality.Assist physicians or registered nurses in the conduct of endoscopic procedures.Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities.Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.Place devices, such as blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeter sensors, nasal cannulas, surgical cautery pads, and cardiac monitoring electrodes, on patients to monitor vital signs.Prepare suites or rooms according to endoscopic procedure requirements.Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.Maintain inventories of endoscopic equipment and supplies.Attend in-service training to validate or refresh basic professional skills.Conduct in-service training sessions to disseminate information regarding equipment or instruments.Position or transport patients in accordance with instructions from medical personnel.Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in endoscopy.Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of client screenings or assessments of language, voice, fluency, articulation, or hearing.Prepare charts, graphs, or other visual displays to communicate clients' performance information.Test or maintain equipment to ensure correct performance.Conduct in-service training sessions, or family and community education programs.Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of speech-language research projects.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient mobility assistance — perform basic transfers in and out of beds and wheelchairs under direct supervision in a clinical or home care setting.Bathing procedures — complete supervised bed baths and personal hygiene tasks following established facility protocols.Bed linen and laundry tasks — change bed linens and assist with basic room cleaning under the guidance of a senior care worker.Patient care records — document routine observations of patient condition using standardized forms under supervisor review.Active listening skills — receive and repeat back verbal instructions from clinical supervisors during patient care activities.Personal care assistance — help patients with dressing and grooming following step-by-step guidance from a care plan.Safety awareness — recognize and report potential hazards during patient transfers and daily care routines to a supervising clinician.Basic software navigation — enter patient data into a healthcare database using office suite or electronic health record software with trainer support.Service orientation — respond to patient requests for comfort or assistance promptly and courteously in a supervised care environment.Vocabulary comprehension — read and follow written care instructions, short procedure guides, and facility policies under supervisor clarification.
developing
Patient transfer routines — assist patients in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, and automobiles with minimal oversight, applying safe body-mechanics techniques.Comprehensive bathing support — independently conduct patient bathing procedures while monitoring skin condition and noting changes for reporting.Care environment maintenance — manage laundry, ironing, and room cleaning tasks on a scheduled basis in a home health or long-term care setting.Progress documentation — record patient care activities, observations, and changes in condition in electronic health records using database or office suite software.Interpersonal communication — convey patient status updates clearly and accurately to nursing staff during shift transitions in a healthcare facility.Behavioral monitoring — observe and track patterns in patient mood, mobility, or hygiene needs across consecutive care visits and flag concerns appropriately.Dressing and grooming assistance — support patients with varying levels of physical limitation in personal care tasks, adapting techniques to individual needs.Problem sensitivity — identify early signs of patient discomfort, skin breakdown, or behavioral change and initiate reporting procedures without prompting.Electronic mail coordination — use email software to communicate scheduling changes, supply needs, and patient updates to supervisors and care team members.Empathetic care delivery — apply knowledge of patient psychology to provide emotionally supportive assistance during difficult or uncomfortable personal care procedures.
proficient
Complex mobility management — execute advanced patient transfers and repositioning techniques independently for patients with significant physical limitations across diverse care environments.Holistic personal care — plan and deliver individualized bathing, grooming, and dressing routines that account for dignity, cultural preferences, and clinical contraindications.Multi-patient record management — maintain accurate, detailed care records for a full patient caseload using electronic health record and spreadsheet software, ensuring regulatory compliance.Non-routine situation response — assess and respond autonomously to unexpected changes in patient condition, applying critical thinking to determine when escalation to clinical staff is required.Care plan interpretation — read and implement complex written care plans, translating clinical terminology into actionable daily support tasks.Environmental safety oversight — proactively evaluate home or facility environments for fall risks, sanitation deficiencies, and equipment hazards and implement corrective measures.Cross-functional communication — collaborate with nurses, therapists, and social workers by contributing structured written and verbal patient observations to interdisciplinary care discussions.Patient advocacy — identify unmet patient needs related to comfort, nutrition, or emotional well-being and independently initiate appropriate referrals or care adjustments.Technology proficiency — generate spreadsheet-based tracking reports on patient ADL performance and care frequency for quality review meetings.Public safety and security compliance — apply knowledge of infection control, emergency procedures, and mandatory reporting requirements consistently across all patient interactions.
advanced
Competency framework leadership — design and deliver orientation and ongoing training programs for new healthcare support workers across a facility or home care agency.Quality improvement oversight — analyze aggregated patient care records and outcome data to identify systemic gaps and lead evidence-based process improvement initiatives.Policy and protocol development — author or revise departmental care standards, documentation procedures, and safety protocols in alignment with regulatory and accreditation requirements.Mentorship and supervision — provide day-to-day coaching, performance feedback, and professional development guidance to a team of developing and emerging healthcare support workers.Strategic staffing coordination — oversee scheduling, caseload distribution, and resource allocation across a large support team to ensure continuity and quality of patient care.Organizational technology adoption — lead the implementation and staff training of new electronic health record modules, database tools, or office suite upgrades across a care unit.Interdisciplinary liaison role — represent the healthcare support workforce in clinical governance meetings, translating frontline observations into actionable recommendations for clinical leadership.Compliance and audit leadership — conduct internal audits of care documentation, patient handling practices, and hygiene standards, reporting findings and remediation plans to administration.Cultural competency advancement — develop and champion programs that integrate patient psychology, diversity, and equity principles into standard personal care and communication practices.Community and sector representation — present workforce capability data and best-practice care models to external stakeholders, regulatory bodies, or professional associations on behalf of the organization.
Also known as
54 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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