Psychiatric Tech

POSITION SUMMARY:

HCW Duties (5.1 Task 1): The duties for the HCW are as follows:

GENERAL DUTIES. Contractor personnel shall perform a full range of duties consistent with their labor category, education, training, experience, clinical privileges (as applicable), and assigned position. General duties that apply to all personnel or across certain labor categories are given below.

* Maintain a level of productivity comparable with that of other individuals performing similar services.
* Participate in peer review and performance improvement activities.
* Practice aseptic techniques as necessary. Comply with infection control guidelines to include the proper handling, storage, and disposal of infectious wastes, and the use of universal precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
* Function with an awareness and application of safety procedures.
* Perform efficiently in emergency patient situations following established protocols, remaining calm, informing appropriate persons, and documenting events. Anticipate potential problems/emergencies and make appropriate interventions. Notify supervisor, director, or other designated person regarding problems that the HCW is unable to manage.
* Apply an awareness of legal issues in all aspects of patient care and strive to manage situations in a reduced risk manner.
* Participate in the implementation of the Family Advocacy Program as directed. Participation shall include, but not be limited to, appropriate medical examination, documentation, and reporting.
* Exercise awareness and sensitivity to patient/significant others' rights, as identified within the MTF.
* Maintain an awareness of responsibility and accountability for own professional practice.
* Participate in continuing education to meet own professional growth.
* Attend and/or comply with all annual training classes required by the Command, to include but not limited to online annual training provided by the MTF: disaster training, infection control, Sexual Harassment, Bloodborne Pathogens, Fire and Safety, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE), and all other required training.
* Actively participate in the command's Performance Improvement Program. Participate in meetings to review and evaluate the care provided to patients, identify opportunities to improve the care delivered, and recommend corrective action when problems exist.
* Participate in the provision of in-service training to clinic staff members. Provide training and/or clinical direction as applicable to supporting government employees (e.g., hospital corpsmen, students, etc.).
* Attend and participate in various meetings as directed.
* Perform timely, accurate, and concise documentation of patient care.
* Operate and manipulate automated systems such as CHCS, AHLTA, ADS, Essentris, MHS Genesis, and Clinical Information System (CIS), participate in clinical staff Performance Improvement (PI) and Risk Management (RM) functions, as prescribed by the Commander. Maintain DOD email account as directed. The HCW shall be responsive to all email and voicemail communications.
* Exercise appropriate clinical delegation of tasks and duties in the direction and coordination of health care team members, patient care, and clinic activities.
* Maintain documentation of all treatment provided in accordance with clinic directives and prepare such records and reports as may be required. All records and reports must be legible. Abbreviations must be only those listed in local instructions.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties- Specific.

The HCWs shall provide services within the scope of their competencies, the applicable duties provided in the basic contract, and the following:

* Perform ongoing risk assessment; assist in maintaining therapeutic milieu.
* Transcribe physician's orders.
* Develop a therapeutic relationship with psychiatric patients; observe patient progress during treatment.
* Organize and facilitate patient groups and activities.
* Escort patients safely on and off the unit, as permitted by the government supervisor and while adhering to patient management protocols for patients identified as elopement risks.
* Monitor patient safety; be able to do physical restraint procedures such as applying manual and mechanical restraints.
* Manage agitated patients; identify and report symptoms of homicidal or suicidal patient; perform line of sight one-on-one observations.
* Maintain all records required on patients to include data entry and retrieval on CHCS and CIS computer systems.
* Perform a range of diagnostic support duties which include but are not limited to drawing blood for lab studies, collect and label specimens, take vital signs, and assist Physicians in a variety of diagnostic examinations.
* Understand the rules of confidentiality as applied to patient and health care provider during all aspects of care; instruct personnel in psychiatric patient rights.
* Respond to emergency situations within area of competence and initiate appropriate action and documentation (restraint calls, fire calls, and disaster situations).
* Monitor and discontinue IV fluids as directed.
* Operate the outpatient front desk areas, assist patients with questions and information, offer courteous and attentive assistance. Follow the Command's mission and values of Service, Professionalism, Teamwork, Respect, and Compassion.
* Schedule patient appointments through the CHCS computer system. Coordinate and assist the Primary Care Providers in contacting patients who miss appointments.
* Ensure that all records are properly maintained, constructed, and secured in a controlled access area.
* Provide Secondary Convenience Records to the government supervisor for disposal after being maintained for three years.
* Prepare and pull all outpatient records for scheduled appointments.
* Perform End of Day processing in accordance with local instructions.
* Perform psychiatric testing/screening evaluations as directed.

QUALIFICATIONS - EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS:

HCW Qualifications:

Degree: Certificate.

Education: Graduation from an accredited Psychiatric Technician Program; or completion of an equivalent education and experience that meets the requirement of the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians or completion of education and experience as a behavioral science specialist/technician in the United States military and proof of having completed an Armed Forces course involving psychiatric technician training or civilian course from an accredited school in the care of behavioral health patients.

Experience: Have a minimum of 12 months experience within the last 18 months as a Psychiatric Technician or LPN/LVN providing care in a mental healthcare setting.

Licensure: Possess and maintain a current, unrestricted license to practice as a Psychiatric Technician in any one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands;

OR

Possess at least a level one national Psychiatric Technician certification or equivalent;

OR

Possess and maintain a current, unrestricted license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) in any one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Psychiatric Technicians will have the ability to work at NMCSD while working to obtain

their Certificate or License to allow for better recruitment efforts and increase current fill-rates. The Psychiatric Technicians must obtain their Certificate or License within 6 months of employment to continue performing services within the contract or face immediate termination.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS:

Place of Performance: Naval Medical Center San Diego and associated branch medical clinics within a 40 mile radius of their assigned MTF. HCWs shall receive notification 48 hours prior to reassignment to another location within a 40-mile commuting radius of their assigned MTF.

Recognized Holidays: Contract HCWs will not be required to work on federally

recognized holidays.

* New Year's Day (January 1)
* Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday (3rd Monday in January)
* Presidents' Day (3rd Monday in February)
* Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
* Juneteenth (June 19)
* Independence Day (July 4)
* Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
* Veterans Day (November 11)
* Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
* Native American Heritage Day (Day after Thanksgiving Day)
* Christmas Day (December 25)

Hours of Performance: The performance hours of the MTF are as follows:

The MTF operates 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours per day.

Services shall be provided Monday through Friday, between the hours of 0630 and 1930, for either an 8 hour or 12 hour period. Each shift will be extended ½ hour or 1 hour for an uncompensated meal break to cover a full 8 or 12 hours of service. Services are not required on Federal Holidays. In no instance will a HCW be required to provide services in excess

of 80 hours per 2-week period.

Scheduling: The schedule or scheduling process is as follows:

Specific days, hours, and shift length will be scheduled by the designated government representative. The specific schedule for each two-week period will be provided 1 month in advance by the government supervisor or designee. At the mutual agreement of the contractor and the Government, alternative schedules may be implemented such as a compressed work schedule. Any changes in the schedule shall be coordinated between the HCW and the government. Any planned absences of the HCW shall be communicated to the government supervisor in advance of the absence in order to ensure that clinical operations are not adversely affected. The Government reserves the right to change shift hours with 72 hours' notice to accommodate patient care needs.

Closures: During a planned closure of the facility due to training, holiday or unplanned closure due to unusual and compelling circumstances (e.g., natural disasters, military emergencies, severe weather), the Contractor will be compensated for the unplanned closure.

Overview

Jackson Healthcare Government Services is an innovator in the delivery of healthcare workforce solutions across the nation, leading the way as a comprehensive healthcare professional and support staffing, technology and program management partner to federal, state and municipal government agencies of all types and sizes.

EEO Statement

Jackson Healthcare is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all of our associates.