Psychiatric Provider Aide

Sea Mar Community Health Centers•Aberdeen, WA

About The Position

The Psychiatric Provider Aide supports psychiatric prescribers in administrative and clinical tasks and coordinates care with Mental Health Therapists, Chemical Dependency Professionals, and other treatment teams. The aide provides screenings and case management, helps ensure continuity of care, participates in client services and community support coordination, and performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor. Administrative work includes helping maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and agency policies; preparing charts and prescription refill requests for prescribers; and maintaining medication storage, maintenance, dispensation, and waste logs. Clinical work includes supporting client flow, monitoring clients and reporting observations, collecting visit information and vital signs, processing medication refill requests, monitoring medication effects, screening for suicide risk, providing case management and referrals, and helping clients access services. The role works as part of an integrated care team and supports the individualized needs of clients across age groups. The position also includes medical-assistant-type duties such as assisting with minor procedures, laboratory testing, referrals, and patient flow; using aseptic technique; maintaining records in electronic health record and practice management systems; and responding to urgent clinical observations. The aide must maintain confidentiality, follow treatment and regulatory policies, and support a positive, collaborative client experience. Sea Mar is a community-based Federally Qualified Health Center serving diverse communities, with a focus on Latinos in Washington State. It is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization, subject to the stated exemption provisions for flu vaccination. The role is paid hourly at $21.30 per hour. Full-time employees working 30 hours or more receive the described benefits package.

Requirements

Must hold a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license issued by the Washington State Department of Health or a comparable certification from another state.
Must have a current First Aid Certificate.
Must have a valid Washington State driver’s license.
Must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire and maintain current BLS CPR throughout employment.
Must speak, write, and read English proficiently.
Must have basic mathematics skills, including performing arithmetic and converting pounds to kilograms.
Must be able to solve practical problems in situations with limited standardization, interpret written and oral instructions, and anticipate client and provider needs based on clinical information.
Must be familiar with Microsoft Office Windows, business websites, and software such as electronic medical records and related clinical equipment; must become proficient with agency practice-management and EHR systems before the end of the probationary period.
Must understand mental health and chemical dependency treatment.
Must have good organizational and communication skills and demonstrate professionalism, appropriate boundaries, teamwork, and willingness to give and receive constructive criticism.
Must demonstrate respect for diversity, understand the community system, and have experience and ability to form and maintain effective relationships with clients, team members, and community providers.
Must pass a Washington State Patrol and other satisfactory background checks and sign a permanent confidentiality oath covering client information.
Must meet the stated character, physical health, emotional stability, and personality requirements for serving the population.
Must have no history or evidence of alcohol or other drug misuse for three years immediately before employment and no misuse while employed; must meet the stated restrictions concerning felony convictions and convictions or substantiated findings involving abuse or physical harm.
Must complete pre-hire and annual employee health screening and pass a TB test at hire and annually thereafter.
Annual influenza vaccination is required, except for approved medical or religious exemptions; employees with an approved exemption must wear a mask during flu season.
Must be able to perform the listed physical demands, including frequent lifting or moving up to 10 pounds and occasional lifting or moving up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Support psychiatric prescribers in administrative and clinical areas and coordinate care with therapists, chemical dependency professionals, and other parties involved in treatment.
Assist with compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and agency policies and procedures.
Prepare charts, prescription refill requests, and other materials for prescriber visits; maintain medication storage, maintenance, dispensation, and waste logs.
Support client flow, collect subjective visit information and vital signs, monitor clients, and report unusual or potentially harmful behavior and urgent findings to psychiatric staff.
Process medication refill requests, verify requests in the EHR, communicate with pharmacies, check medication histories as requested, and collaborate with prescribers on next steps.
Monitor medication effects and report positive and negative side effects to the psychiatrist; respond to client questions about side effects and refill status.
Screen clients for suicide risk and notify the psychiatric prescriber and mental health therapist; provide follow-up case management and community support as needed.
Provide routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under psychiatric staff direction and encourage participation in social, educational, recreational, and employment activities.
Help clients access services by assisting with forms, documentation, authorizations, transportation, advocacy, referrals, and self-referral information.
Maintain case-management files and daily records, participate in interdisciplinary case reviews, and report unusual incidents and suspected child or elder abuse or neglect as required.
Collaborate with team members and community providers to deliver individualized, comprehensive services and maintain professional standards and client confidentiality.
Support a full-time provider seeing an average of 14 patients per day, as specified in the posting.
Assist providers with gynecological exams, incision and drainage, and other minor procedures; use aseptic technique and assist with laboratory tests and results.
Complete point-of-care referrals, provide referral information to patients, and support care coordination and specialty services.
Escort patients to and from treatment rooms, communicate provider or patient-flow delays, and provide customer service during visits.
Use electronic health record and practice management systems and demonstrate proficiency in applicable regulatory and quality requirements.
Perform CPR independently and measure and record fluid and food intake and output.
Recognize, respond to, and report clients’ emotional, social, cultural, and mental health needs and address individual behavioral needs.
Welcome and orient new staff and visitors positively.