BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN

Shift: Rotation of day and afternoon shifts, occational weekends.  Days and hours are subject to change.

Job Summary

 Functions as a member of the treatment team under the clinical direction of a registered nurse by providing patient care and performing evaluations of psychiatric patients in the emergency room. The Behavioral Health Technician position provides direct one-on-one and group counseling services to mental health patients while participating in team assessments and care plan development.

Essential Job Functions

• Delivers direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital policies, procedures, protocols, and standards of care.
  • Performs and/or assists with patient care needs as directed.
  • Assists patients with activities of daily living if needed.
  • Conducts vitals on patients.
  • Conducts timed observation rounding of patients on the unit, based upon the patient’s identified level of risk.
  • Collects, documents, and reports ongoing patient care data as directed.
  • Interacts with assigned patients, makes pertinent observations of patients' behaviors, reports and records same.
  • Remains with and observes assigned patients in a one-to-one situation if necessary.
  • Demonstrates good interview techniques with phone contacts/patient/family/significant others and documents accordingly.
  • Accompany patients off the unit for testing as needed.
• Assists in developing an educational process for the provision and coordination of patient care activities that promote and maintain health, foster self-care, and improve outcomes.
  • Reports to R.N. information regarding the patient's readiness to learn.
  • Plans and initiates patients' activities.
  • Facilitates groups as requested.
  • Documents observations in group/activity sessions.
• Demonstrates leadership by utilizing the behaviors inherent to the role of Behavioral Health Technician.
  • Demonstrates an ability to solve problems utilizing critical thinking skills and seeks assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of chain of command; refers patient questions/requests information to appropriate supervisor.
  • Effectively functions as a resource person.
  • Acts as patient advocate.
• Assists in the department's compliance with state, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies.
  • Assists in preparation for inspection and surveys.
  • Conducts audits to ensure compliance and quality care as directed
  • Adheres to the infection control process, including standard precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections.
  • Participates in preparation for inspections, surveys and audits.
  • Participates in ongoing unit performance improvement activities.
  • Completes and documents follow up phone calls to patients and/or their families who have been discharged from the Emergency Department.
• Provides and participates in educational activities.
  • Provides and documents patient/family education.
  • Participates in staff education, both as participant and presenter.
  • Makes recommendations for staff development.
  • Serves on hospital committees and participates in other related projects as directed.
  • Precept new Behavioral Health technician staff on the unit and in the Emergency Department.
• Process psychiatric emergencies.
  • Assesses the severity of guest’s presenting condition.
  • Completes Evidence Based Tools to screen and assess for patient’s risk of Suicide.
  • Utilizes clinical expertise in collaboration with Emergency Department and Psychiatric team members to assign patient’s levels of risk.
  • Works collaboratively with Nursing Staff to an effective comprehensive crisis resolution.
  • Works collaboratively with all Emergency Departments of Excela Health hospitals to facilitate effective resolution of behavioral health issues.
  • Obtains authorization/reauthorization/certifications as appropriate for ongoing treatment
  • Demonstrates a working knowledge of the Mental Health Procedures Act.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Specialty Functions

• Works collaboratively with the Emergency Department and Behavioral Health treatment team to affect an effective comprehensive crisis solution.
  • Communicates pertinent information of actual/potential problems to the professional staff.
  • Communicates pertinent information at shift reports and during internal and external transfers.
  • Consults with the Psychiatrist all clinical screening and assessment information after completion of the clinical inte