Mental Health Tech - SW Behavioral Center (Adult Unit)

Mental Health Technician

The Mental Health Technician (MHT) performs select patient care activities. The MHT is a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and provides support for the patient's therapeutic treatment plan. Primary responsibilities include maintaining safety and structure of the milieu, observing and recording patient information pertinent to the treatment plan and reporting this information to unit charge nurse and team members. Must be capable of verbally and physically assisting patients with everyday activities and emergency situations including application of physical holds on aggressive patients. The MHT is also responsible for providing education to patients in groups and individually as delegated by the unit charge nurse.

Service Excellence:

Participates in the Hospital's Service Excellence Program designed to improve patient care employee and physician satisfaction. Participation includes knowledge of HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Systems and Providers), which measures patient's perceptions of care received and Core Measure Set, which measures performance of patients' care based on medical research.

Tasks:

• Models positive social/coping skills
• Observes patient behaviors and records accurately on 15 min rounding sheets.
• Observes patient behaviors and thoroughly and accurately document tech notes in Meditech as assigned.
• Documents in Meditech patient's response to Therapeutic Rehab group daily.
• Communicates symptoms and changes in patients' condition to RN and co-workers
• Records patients' vital signs, heights and weights
• Consults and coordinates with health care team members to implement patient care plans. Acts as a communication liaison between patients and other treatment team members. Notifies appropriate team members of patient requests outside of scope of MHT duties (Including but not limited to requests regarding PRN medications, medication changes, leaving against medical advice, complaints/grievances, follow up care, case management, clinical nursing procedures, etc.)
• Monitors all aspects of patient care, including diet, sleep and physical activity
• Assists patients with comfort measures, bathing, hygiene, meals, skin care and other basic care needs
• Prepares patients for and assists with searches, examinations and treatments
• Maintains the safety and structure of the milieu
• Maintains accurate environmental logs as assigned
• Reports patient/team member on-the-job injuries to supervisor immediately
• Uses verbal de-escalation techniques and explores therapeutic alternatives with agitated patients as primary interventions. Applies physical intervention techniques as a last resort to prevent harm to patients and/or staff
• Provides educational and leisure activities and groups to patients
• Ensures patient safety and staff supervision and intervention to include properly implementing behavioral medical emergency protocol
• Promotes customer service (Patients, Families, Visitors, Team Member and Physicians)
• Assists with new hire training and acts as a preceptor when appropriate
• Required to go to the main campus to be a behavioral health sitter (refer to BH sitter policy; attached) with behavioral health patients as needed.
• Other duties as assigned to include floating to other units as needed.

Equipment Listing:

• Computer/Laptop
• Copy/Fax Machine
• EKG
• AED
• Telephone system
• Dinamap
• Thermometer

Licensure/Certification/Registration:

• Current BLS within first week of hire
• First Aid within 30 days of hire
• MAB (Managing Aggressive Behavior) within 30 days of hire

Experience Required:

• Previous Behavioral Health experience preferred.

Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent; college coursework or degree preferred.
• A bachelor's degree in Psychology or Sociology will be recognized as 4 years' experience