Behavioral Health Technician in Lawrence, Massachusetts at Merrimack Health

As the Behavioral Health (BH) Technician, you will be asked to maintain a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for BH patients in the ED, monitor the patient’s condition and report changes to the clinical team to ensure changes in condition are addressed in a timely manner. Works in collaboration with Patient Safety Monitors, Security staff, and others to apply de-escalation and restraint prevention techniques, and assists with restraints as needed to maintain patient and staff safety. Reports to the Behavioral Health Care Coordinator in collaboration with the EC Clinical Leadership team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitors BH patients, noting any changes in behavior and reporting that behavior to clinical staff in a timely manner.
• Utilizes de-escalation and restraint prevention techniques at all times and may assist in applying restraints if de-escalation measures fail.
• Assists with patient assessments such as vital signs, EKGs, finger stick blood glucose, as needed
• Supports patient participation in virtual therapeutic programming as needed
• Interacts therapeutically with patients including, but not limited to, engaging in conversation, playing games, providing reading material
• Communicates with patient’s family members to update on patient condition and treatment plan as appropriate while maintaining patient privacy
• Interacts professionally with providers, nurses, and other staff in the ED.
• Keeps ED nurses, doctors, and other clinicians apprised of patient’s condition.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living including toileting, personal hygiene, meals, and other needs.
• Performs all other job duties as assigned.