Health Technician (Psychiatry) - Defense Health Agency Civilian Corps, Falls Church, VA

Health Technician (Psychiatry) - GS-0640-07 - Naval Medical Center San Diego 

Downtown San Diego is located on San Diego Bay. Balboa Park encompasses several mesas and canyons to the northeast, surrounded by older, dense urban communities including Hillcrest and North Park. To the east and southeast lie City Heights, the College Area, and Southeast San Diego. To the north lies Mission Valley and Interstate 8. The communities north of the valley and freeway, and south of Marine Corps Air Station Mirmar, include Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Tierrasanta, and Navajo. Stretching north from Miramar are the northern suburbs of Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, and Ranch Bernado. The far northeast portion of the city encompasses Lake Hodges and the San Pasqual Valley, which holds an agricultural preserve. Carmel Valley and Del Mar Heights occupy the northwest corner of the city. To their south are Torrey Pines State Reserve and the business center of the Golden Triangle. Further south are the beach and coastal communities of La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach. Pont Loma occupies the peninsula across San Diego Bay from downtown. The communities of South San Diego (an Enclave), such as San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, are located next to the Mexico-United States border and are physically separated from the rest of the city by the cities of National City and Chula Vista. A narrow strip of land at the bottom of San Diego Bay connects these southern neighborhoods with the rest of the city.

San Diego has one of the top-ten best climates in the United States and has one of the two best summer climates in the country as scored by The Weather Channel. San Diego area has been variously categorized as having either a semi-arid climate or a Mediterranean climate. San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round, with an average of 201 days above 70 °F and low rainfall (9–13 inches annually).

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions.  For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

Inpatient Care for Acute Psychiatric and Intermediate Units: 

Assists in initial intake assessments and triage interviews. Assist in counseling and orienting patients to the unit procedures and policies. Performs ward searches; monitors use of dangerous items. Assists in the delivery of a variety of treatment modalities including but not limited to biofeedback, stress management, and group therapy. Coordinate and perform routine training in Professional Assault Crisis Training; understand principles and apply interventions for management of assaultive behavior. Assists with patient education. Performs ongoing risk assessment; assist in maintaining a safe and therapeutic milieu. Performs routine ward procedures for admission, discharges, and patient transfers. Develops a therapeutic relationship with psychiatric patients; observes patient progress during treatment. Organizes and facilitates patient groups and activities. Escorts patients safely on and off the unit, knows the patient management procedures for development risks; takes patients out on schedule outings and required activities. Monitors patient safety; able to competently implement physical restraint procedures such as the application of manual and mechanical restraints. Completes applicable documentation in the support of these activities. Manages agitated patients; identifies and reports endorsement of homicidal or suicidal ideation and intent; performs line of sight and one-on-one observations IAW unit protocol. Maintains all records required on patients to include data entry and retrieval on current electronic based operating computer systems (CHCS, Essentris).Performs a range of diagnostic support duties which include but are not limited to phlebotomy procedures to support lab studies; collection and labeling of specimens; obtaining vital signs; providing standby services and assisting the provider in a variety of diagnostic examinations. Understands the requirements of confidentiality as they apply to patient and health care provider during all aspects of care; instructs personnel in the maintenance of rights for psychiatric patient. Responds to emergency situations within area of competence and initiates appropriate action and provides supportive documentation (restraint calls, code calls, fire calls, and disaster situations). Monitors and discontinues IV fluids as directed (if appropriately certified and competent). Performs all other duties, procedures, and assignments within appropriate scope of practice as directed by the Charge Nurse or Medical Officer.

Outpatient Care: 

Supports outpatient front desk operations; assist patients by answering questions and providing information; offers courteous and attentive assistance. Follows the Command’s mission and values of Service, Professionalism, Teamwork, Respect, and Compassion. Schedules patient appointments through the CHCS operating platform. Coordinates and assists the Primary Care Provider in contacting and rescheduling (as applicable) patient which are no-show for their appointments. Maintains all records required on patients to include data entry and retrieval on CHCS and CIS operating systems. Ensures that all records are properly maintained, constructed, and secured in a controlled access area. Disposes of the Secondary Convenience Record after maintaining these for three years. Understands the requirements of confidentiality as they apply to patient and health care provider during all aspects of care; instructs personnel in the maintenance of rights for psychiatric patients. Prepares and pulls all outpatient records for scheduled appointments. Prints applicable medication reconciliation sheets to support scheduled appointments. Performs End of Day processing in accordance with NMCSD instructions. Answers telephone calls and relays pertinent information to providers as required. Performs all other duties, procedures, and assignments as directed by the Supervisor.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Must be a US Citizen