Mental Health Tech - Emergency Department

At Houston Methodist, the Mental Health Technician (MHT) position advances in skill and ability to care for, communicate effectively and carry out delegated tasks for population-specific patients. This position functions under the guidance and supervision of the registered nurse in meeting the physiological and psychosocial needs of the patient, utilizing therapeutic communication techniques. The MHT position records data and performs treatments and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures and reports observations and patient problems to the nurse. This position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions and practices, relationship-centered care in concert with the Houston Methodist Values. The MHT position may involve travel to conduct home visits.

Requirements:

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Interacts with peers, staff and visitors in a supportive and respectful manner. Encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear and professional.

• Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Demonstrates teamwork by responding positively to requests for assistance to obtain optimal department results. Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort as a whole and facilitates problem resolution.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follows the patient and family-centered care standards, as directed by registered nurse. Performs treatments, activities and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures and reports observations and patient problems to the registered nurse.

• Offers assistance to physicians, patients, visitors and staff as appropriate using progressive knowledge and appropriate use of hospital database such as EPIC. Ability to access information both in the department and within the hospital system to support the department and interprofessional care team as appropriate.

• Assists with maintaining and cleaning of equipment and stocking supplies as established on assigned unit. Assists with positioning and transporting of patients.

• Utilizes progressive skills through peer-to-peer accountability towards improving department score for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Accurately records all aspects of care administered in the patient medical record according to established procedures. Maintains processes and updates patient records, assuring all forms are properly identified with the patient's name and contents are filed correctly.

• Organizes the work flow, problem-solves and manages multiple ongoing priorities, with minimal supervision. Inputs errors promptly into the patient safety reporting system to improve processes and identify trends.

• Demonstrates progressive skills towards meeting quality and safety targets on unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability, focusing on the task at hand and reporting near misses.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks. Uses resources effectively and efficiently.

• Progressively contributes towards meeting department financial targets on unit-based scorecard through timely documentation of care, minimizing incidental overtime, optimizing efficiency and other areas according to departmental specifications.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in department projects and shared governance activities.

• Seeks guidance and validation of knowledge base, skill level and decision making as necessary, especially in areas of question, from preceptor and assigned licensed personnel

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Technician.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Qualifications:

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• One (1) year of previous experience as a Mental Health Technician in a psychiatric/substance abuse setting

• Three (3) years' experience as a nursing/patient care assistant with specialized training and experience in crisis management prevention in a hospital setting.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
• NVCRISIS - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) -- (if certificate is not from Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), 30 days to complete, post date of hire) within 30 days

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Demonstrates knowledge of court processes for detaining patients

• Progression towards organizational and problem solving skills as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components

• Progression towards demonstrating time management skills

• Ability to progress towards independence and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, patients and their families

• Demonstrates ability to access information both in the department and within the hospital system to support the department and interprofessional health care team as appropriate

• Possesses basic computer knowledge. Operates multiple computer systems including electronic health records, i.e., Epic, and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, & Excel) to maintain patient information

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No

• Scrubs Yes

• Business professional No

• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*

• Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call

• No

TRAVEL

Travel specifications may vary by department

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes

• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Company Profile:

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital opened in June 2017 as the eighth hospital in the Houston Methodist system. This 267-bed, 725,000-square-foot, full-service, acute-care hospital offers many of the same services as our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Also, on the beautiful hospital campus, located at the intersection of Interstate 45 and Texas State Highway 242, are two medical office buildings, which include a Breast Care Center; Cancer Center; infusion center; heart and vascular services; neurology; orthopedics and sports medicine; rehabilitation services; wellness services; an outpatient laboratory; and several other multispecialty physician practices. In January 2022, Houston Methodist The Woodlands opened Healing Tower - a $250 million expansion project that added 106 beds, focused on medical-surgical and women's services, and provided nine operating rooms. The project also included the expansion of the endoscopy center, emergency department and diagnostic imaging department with an enhanced neurodiagnostic and interventional center.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor - priority referral Protected Veterans requested.