Job Summary

To enhance the flow of the patient care process in the psychiatric emergency department and improve care by assisting the psychiatric evaluators, nurses, and physicians. Assist the evaluators by keeping track of patients and treatments given. Inform evaluators, nurses and doctors of critical and at-risk patients. Decrease patient length of stay in the emergency department by facilitating treatments and communication between staff and departments. Treating life-threatening and non-life threatening emergencies according to established hospital policies and procedures and under the direct supervision of the nurse and/or physician. To assist evaluator staff and nursing staff in providing for the safety and comfort of patients, through performance of non-licensed requiring tasks. To also provide clerical support to the evaluator and healthcare team.

Responsibilities

• Performs close observations/one to ones and ongoing unit rounds to ensure patients’ safety and comfort needs are met.
• Monitors patient's vital signs and condition; temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respirations per unit specific policy. Performs all treatments and procedures in accordance with established policies, procedures, and patient care standards. All information is reported to the RN and Mental Health Evaluator.
• Alerts security when a new patient arrives, assures the patient has been changed and contrabanded; documents patient belongings in EDIMS, documents on related security logs. Ensures discharged patients receive their belongings prior to departing from the unit.
• Documents legibly on the patient record. Holds on the line with other facilities for doctor or other staff to speak to accepting MD, PMD or other providers. Checks to make sure contents of chart are correct, accurate and complete before sending to medical records.
• Verifies Medicaid and arranges ambulance transportation.
• Participates as part of the team, in crisis situations, to maintain patient and department safety.
• Participates in environmental and safety rounds of the department to ensure compliance with regulation and hospital policies. Helps facilitate resolution when issues are identified on rounds.
• Contacts other healthcare providers for the MH evaluators. Ensures patient is having testing done in a timely manner. Checks fax machine and ensures that all test results are placed on chart in a timely manner to efficiently facilitate disposition for the patient.
• Demonstrates the ability to process and interface appropriate information between the health care team and the patient, family/significant other to ensure quality patient outcomes. Keeps patient and consented guests informed of the plan of care, next steps, and informed of any delays.
• Maintains patient and department environment in a neat, clean, and orderly manner, including contents of refrigerator, assuring there are no expired items and that all opened items are labeled and dated with expirations. Assures that beds are clean and ready for the next patient. Ensures that all supplies/linen are maintained at department pars.
• Assists evaluator/RN with any patient admission, transfer and discharge of patients. Keeps track of patients at shift change so orders and dispositions are not delayed.
• The technician may be called upon to cross train and/or float to other departments in MHS.
• Participates in interdisciplinary shift change meetings.

Qualifications/Requirements

EXPERIENCE

1 year experience working in direct patient care, preferred. 

EDUCATION

High School Diploma or equivalent, required. 

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

BLS preferred.