April 3, 2013 | Quebec

An Essential Contribution to Ongoing Support

People receiving assistance may interact with several professionals over the course of a day or throughout a period of care. To keep that assistance consistent and responsive to their needs, every member of the team plays a role in maintaining continuity of services.

Patient Service Associates or Orderlies play an important part in this process. Through their daily presence, observations, and collaboration with other care providers, they provide support that can evolve with each person's needs.

This collaborative approach is an important part of CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program, where students develop the skills needed to work with different professionals while understanding and respecting their own role.

Working as Part of a Team

Patient Service Associates do not work in isolation.

They collaborate with a variety of care providers to help ensure that the people they support receive assistance suited to their circumstances.

Each professional brings different expertise to the team, while Patient Service Associates contribute valuable insight through their regular contact with people and familiarity with their day-to-day routines.

This combination of perspectives supports consistent, person-centred assistance.

👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Work as a Team?

Communicating Relevant Information

Continuity of services depends in part on information being communicated effectively among care providers.

Patient Service Associates share relevant information that falls within their responsibilities, following the procedures established in their workplace.

This communication provides other members of the care team with useful information to support ongoing care and assistance.

Adapting Assistance Over Time

A person's needs may change over the course of the support they receive.

Patient Service Associates remain attentive to these changes so they can adapt their approach while respecting the person's abilities, daily routines, and level of independence.

This helps ensure that assistance continues to reflect each person's circumstances as they evolve.

👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Respect People's Daily Routines?

Collaboration That Benefits the People They Support

When different care providers work together, people can benefit from more consistent and coordinated assistance.

Continuity of services can help address changing needs, make transitions between different care settings or stages of care smoother, and maintain a person-centred approach.

Patient Service Associates contribute to this continuity through their regular contact with the people they support and their collaboration with other members of the care team.

A Skill Developed During Training

CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program prepares students to work in an environment where collaboration among different professionals is essential.

Through courses, hands-on labs, and practicums, students learn to communicate effectively, share relevant information, and understand their role in maintaining continuity of services for the people they support.

This training helps prepare them to enter the workforce with a practical understanding of how care teams work together.

A Profession That Contributes to Quality Care

Continuity of services is important for providing assistance that is safe, consistent, and responsive to people's needs.

By collaborating with other professionals, communicating relevant information, and remaining attentive to the people they support within their scope of responsibilities, Patient Service Associates actively contribute to the quality of services provided across the health and social services network.

Explore Further

👉 Why Do Patient Service Associates Need Professional Judgment?

👉 How Do Patient Service Associates Contribute to People's Quality of Life?

👉 Why Do Patient Service Associates Collaborate With the Families of the People They Support?

👉 Learn More About CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS Program