Psychiatric Provider Aide

Sea Mar Community Health Centers•White Center, WA

About The Position

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is a community-based Federally Qualified Health Center providing comprehensive health, human, housing, educational, and cultural services to diverse communities, with a focus on serving Latinos in Washington State. The Psychiatric Provider Aide supports psychiatric prescribers with administrative and clinical work and coordinates care with mental health therapists, chemical dependency professionals, and other treatment participants. The aide conducts screenings and case management, participates in client services, and coordinates community support services. Other duties may be assigned by the supervisor. The position helps maintain regulatory compliance and prepares charts, refill requests, and other materials for psychiatric prescribers. Clinical work includes supporting client flow, preparing clients for visits, gathering subjective information and vital signs, monitoring clients and medications, screening for suicide risk, and coordinating referrals and follow-up care. The aide also assists clients with service access, prescription assistance, transportation, and other identified needs; maintains case management records; and participates in interdisciplinary case reviews. The role requires collaboration with an integrated care team and adherence to Sea Mar policies, professional standards, and applicable regulations. Duties may also include assisting providers with examinations and minor procedures, supporting point-of-care referrals and laboratory work, using electronic health record and practice management systems, and delivering courteous, client-centered service. The organization requires COVID-19 and flu vaccination, subject to stated exemptions for influenza vaccination.

Requirements

Hold a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license issued by the Washington State Department of Health.
Speak, write, and read English proficiently.
Have basic mathematical skills, including basic arithmetic and unit conversions such as pounds to kilograms.
Be able to solve practical problems, interpret written and oral instructions, and anticipate client and provider needs using clinical information.
Be familiar with software including Microsoft Office Windows, business websites, and proprietary systems; become proficient in agency PM and EHR systems before the end of the probationary period.
Understand mental health and chemical dependency treatment.
Have good organizational and communication skills; demonstrate professionalism, appropriate boundaries, teamwork, and an ability to give and receive constructive criticism.
Be of good character and have the understanding, physical health, emotional stability, and personality suited to the needs of the population served.
Have no history or evidence of alcohol or other drug misuse during the three years immediately before employment, and no such misuse while employed.
Meet the stated restrictions regarding felony convictions, child abuse convictions, crimes involving physical harm, and substantiated child abuse.
Demonstrate respect for and appreciation of diversity, understand the community system, and have experience and ability in maintaining effective relationships with clients, team members, and community providers.
Pass a Washington State Patrol background check and sign a permanent confidentiality oath covering client-related information.
Possess a current First Aid Certificate and pass an annual competency test.
Complete pre-hire and annual employee health screening; pass a TB test at hire and annually thereafter.
Meet the flu vaccination requirement or have an approved medical or religious exemption; employees with an approved exemption must wear a mask throughout flu season.
Have a valid Washington State driver's license.
Obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire and maintain current BLS CPR throughout employment.
Pass a satisfactory background check.
Meet the physical requirements of the job, including regularly using hands and arms and talking or hearing; frequently standing, walking, sitting, and lifting or moving up to 10 pounds; occasionally climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting or moving up to 50 pounds.
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to provide age-appropriate care and understand growth and development across the lifespan, including identifying age-specific needs.

Nice To Haves

Ability to speak and interpret Spanish and/or Russian; this may be required depending on clinic needs.

Responsibilities

Assist with agency compliance with applicable WACs, RCWs, laws, regulations, and contracts.
Prepare and organize client charts, prescription refill requests, and paperwork for psychiatric prescribers.
Maintain medication storage, maintenance, dispensing, and waste logs, and promptly report noncompliance.
Follow and implement medical, nursing, health and safety, and personnel policies and procedures.
Support psychiatric staff with client flow and timely quality care; perform routine checks, monitor clients, and report unusual or harmful behavior.
Prepare clients for provider visits, obtain subjective data and vital signs, and document according to agency policy.
Provide routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care to clients under psychiatric staff direction.
Encourage client participation in social, educational, recreational, and employment activities.
Process pharmacy medication refill requests, verify requests in the EHR, communicate with pharmacies when requests are invalid, route valid requests to prescribers, and ensure prescriptions are faxed to pharmacies.
Review medication histories as requested, collaborate with prescribers on next steps, and respond to client calls about side effects or refill status.
Facilitate enrollment in prescription assistance programs and monitor medication effects, reporting positive and negative side effects to the psychiatrist.
Screen for suicide risk, notify the psychiatric prescriber and mental health therapist, and coordinate case management, community support, and follow-up care as needed.
Maintain confidentiality, support professional boundaries, and offer practical approaches to challenging situations.
Advocate for clients and help address barriers to participation in service plans, including transportation and language barriers.
Help clients complete forms, obtain documentation or authorization, arrange transportation, and access services.
Make referrals to appropriate agencies and community services, provide self-referral information, and maintain required case management files.
Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews and collaborate with staff to provide individualized, comprehensive services.
Welcome and orient new staff and visitors, complete daily record keeping, report unusual incidents, and report suspected child or elder abuse or neglect as mandated.
Support a full-time provider (MD/ARNP) who sees an average of 14 patients per day.
Assist providers with GYN exams, I&Ds, and other minor procedures; use aseptic technique and assist with laboratory tests and results.
Communicate clearly in writing and verbally, and immediately contact the provider when abnormal vital signs make a patient a priority.
Complete point-of-care referrals and care coordination, and support specialty referral processing as described in the posting.
Maintain collaborative working relationships with coworkers, specialists, and community organizations; escort patients to and from treatment rooms and communicate delays to front-desk staff and patients.
Use the nursing functions of the Electronic Health Record and Practice Management applications and comply with applicable regulatory and quality requirements.
Demonstrate CPR proficiency, measure and record food and fluid intake and output, and recognize and report clients’ emotional, social, cultural, and mental health needs.
Address individual behavioral needs and perform applicable duties under WAC 246-841-400, depending on the work environment.
Participate in supervision as directed.