Behavioral Health Technician

Merrimack Health; Lawrence (MA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrimack Health in Massachusetts is seeking a Behavioral Health (BH) Technician to maintain a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for BH patients in the ED. You will monitor patients, report changes to the clinical team, assist with assessments and daily living activities, and collaborate with staff while protecting patient privacy.

The role emphasizes teamwork and compassionate care in a fast-paced ED setting.

Qualifications

• De-escalation techniques
• Observation and reporting of patient changes
• Collaboration with ED staff

Responsibilities

• Monitors BH patients, noting changes in behavior and reporting behavior to clinical staff in a timely manner.
• Utilizes de-escalation and restraint prevention techniques; may assist with restraints if de-escalation fails.
• 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 engaging in conversation, activities, and reading materials.
• Communicates with patient families to update on condition and treatment plan while protecting privacy.
• Interacts professionally with providers, nurses, and other ED staff.
• Keeps ED nurses, doctors, and other clinicians apprised of patient condition.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living including toileting, personal hygiene, meals, and other needs.
• Performs all other job duties as assigned.

Job description

As the Behavioral Health (BH) Technician, you will be asked to maintaina 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.