Harm Reduction Technician (EMT)

Who We Are:
Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.

From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.

Job Summary:
Hours:   Part-time: 24 hours per week; 9:00am-9:30pm, weekend and holiday rotation
Union:  Yes
Union Name: 1199SEIU
Patient Facing: Yes

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is seeking a part-time Harm Reduction Technician  to work at the Barbara McInnis House (BMH), our 103-bed medical respite facility in Boston. With direction from the team RNs, the Harm Reduction Technician will offer clinical support services to the patients and will offer assistance and support to the BMH team RNs. These duties are essential to the overall functioning of BMH and this position is crucial to assure the continuity of patient care, providing an essential link for communication involving all departments. The ideal candidate for this role is a compassionate and self-motivated individual who embraces the mission of BHCHP and is committed to delivering high quality clinical care utilizing a harm reduction approach in a medical respite facility.

Responsibilities:

• Treats patients in a manner that preserves and supports patient confidentiality, patient rights, and patient’s dignity
• Acts as a member of the team of caregivers; collaborates with the team RN throughout the shift to determine appropriate work assignments and priorities, as well as communicating the status of delegated task completion and outcome of patient data findings; maintains timely ongoing verbal communication to the team RN in order to assure good patient care and the effective running of the specific team
• Assists nurse/provider during complex treatments/dressings/ procedures, including but not limited to, doing preps and set-ups for examinations/treatments, assisting during procedures when requested or required
• Accurately collects requested patient data (e.g. vital signs, weights and reason for visits), notifying the team RN of abnormalities; performs basic patient testing, including but not limited to urine dip, glucose finger stick and FIT testing; cleans the oxygen condensers; collects, labels, and sends specimens to the lab (stool & urine) with appropriate laboratory slips and/or requisitions
• Assists patients with personal hygiene, including bed baths and showering; assist with patient transfer from wheelchair to bed or to shower; provides personal care and one-to-one support for safety for patients needing end-of-life care; when necessary, escorts patients to off-site appointments; maintains diabetic cart; maintains the oxygen supply for the patients in their care
• Checks inventories on a weekly basis, order clinic supplies and stock them in their appropriate location upon arrival in order to avoid a shortage or misplacement of necessary supplies
• Maintains appropriate equipment logs and records per standards; copying, faxing and filing as needed

Qualifications:

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts EMT Certification
• Minimum of 2 years EMT or paramedic experience strongly preferred
• Strong assessment skills
• Understanding of substance use disorder and behavioral health issues
• Interest and experience with underserved population preferable
• Experience in understanding the effects and management of sedating medications and polysubstance use
• Individuals with lived experience encouraged to apply

Compensation and Benefits:

• The compensation is 31.11 per hour.
• BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off program, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan, pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount, additional compensation for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and more. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Does this amazing opportunity interest you? Then we'd love to hear from you.

As an equal opportunity employer, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Covid-19 Vaccination: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is optional for employment. Candidates who are offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination if they choose to.

Please Note: Employment at Boston Health Care for the Homeless is at-will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.