Medical Technician

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Medical Technician is an integral member of an expanding, multidisciplinary medical team dedicated to the compassionate care of vulnerable individuals seeking to decrease their use of drugs or alcohol. This position performs all duties relevant to providing direct care for individuals receiving withdrawal management services within the guidelines of Fora Health’s mission and policies & procedures, and will provide direct support to nurses as well as licensed independent providers.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Clinical Duties

• Assist nurses with care of patients withdrawing from drugs and alcohol, and may include nighttime shifts
• Assist the medical provider with the triage, admission, and discharge process of patients from withdrawal management services
• Assist the medical provider, patient and residential staff with the transition of withdrawal management patients to other programs
• Tracks potential withdrawal management patients and ensures consistent, quick screening and documentation
• Performs thorough searches of patients’ belongings and inventories belongings accurately
• Provide direct care for all patients to include monitoring for behavioral needs/changes and medical symptoms 
• Collaborates and communicates issues/concerns with the treatment team on clinical and non-clinical issues.
• Follows standard milieu intervention guidelines, holding patients accountable to the program structure
• Charting and record keeping as required by the policies and procedures
• Assist medical provider and nurses with medication and the medical needs of patients
• Monitoring urine drug screens
• Enters patient over the counter medication as needed medication accurately and efficiently in accordance with the electronic medical record 
• Ensure patients have clean clothing and bedding
• Provide patients with access to fluids, snacks and meals
• Assist with inventory, routine maintenance and storage of medical supplies and equipment
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and to Fora policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Support compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners’ and outside providers’ patient confidentiality agreements, including privacy and security requirements for EMR access
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Counseling and Education

• Role model healthy styles of communication and behavior, by using non-violent communication, verbal de-escalation, and demonstrating appropriate physical and emotional boundaries. Maintain professional boundaries with the patients at all times.
• Facilitate patients’ engagement in the treatment and recovery process; utilizing motivational enhancement techniques and nonviolent communication.
• Focuses on skill building within the context of dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy
• Provides information about drugs and alcohol, stages of change and relapse prevention.
• Understands the principles of harm reduction and trauma-informed care
• Understands the basics of 12 step recovery, and Smart recovery
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Administrative Duties

• Reads all relevant emails and follows approved policies and procedures
• All verbal, electronic or paper communication is completed in a professional, concise, objective and clinical manner  
• Documentation is completed in a timely, accurate manner
• Completes filing tasks as assigned
• Distributes paperwork and messages to the appropriate staff or patients
• Maintains current inventory of forms at the detox station and make copies of forms as needed
• Completes unusual incident reports as necessary
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Customer Service Duties

• Communicates with patients, referents, staff, and outside guests in a welcoming, respectful manner 
• Answers the phone, directs calls, and takes messages in a professional manner, adhering to Federal and State laws and agency policies and procedures regarding confidentiality
• Performs additional duties as assigned

ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend staff meetings and Fora trainings as scheduled
• Additional trainings to be completed as assigned in a timely manner.
• Special projects and other duties as assigned.
• Participate in ongoing supervision and consultation.
• Performs additional duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Experience working in the medical field preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Communicates information effectively in writing and verbally
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Displays initiative and problem-solving skills
• Basic knowledge of substance-use disorders
• Marked ability to demonstrate and utilize self-awareness
• Intermediate understanding of mental health disorders and symptom presentation

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• For employees with a history of substance use disorder, Fora Health’s policy requires certification of a minimum of two years of sobriety for this position.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
• Ability to pass DHS criminal background.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position generally works in an indoor office environment with infrequent travel between sites or to special events.
• Position does not consistently require overtime. Adjustment of work schedule may be required.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases which can encompass a variety of illnesses and infections, including tuberculosis, Hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases which can encompass a variety of illnesses and infections, including COVID, tuberculosis, Hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV.
• Possible exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized, disabled or emotionally disturbed adults, adolescents, and families.
• Exposure to potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals, personal protective equipment provided. 
• Fast paced, high volume work environment.