ABOLISHED 01/01/2017 PER PAY LETTER 17-04 - Medical Technical Assistant (Correctional Facility)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: WZ25
Class Code: 8217
Established: 07/23/1975
Revised: 05/07/2002
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under direction, in a correctional facility in the Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health Unit at the California Medical Facility, or the Department of the Youth Authority, performs tasks involved in the medical and/or psychiatric care of inmates, youthful offenders, residents, or patients; maintains order and supervises the conduct of inmates, youthful offenders, residents, or patients; protects and maintains the safety of persons and property; and does other related work.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Positions in the class of Medical Technical Assistant (Correctional Facility) are established at State correctional facilities typically under the following conditions:
Department of Corrections or Department of Mental Health Unit at the California Medical Facility
1. In lieu of Correctional Officers in a correctional facility in instances where medical skills are required of custodial officers in addition to their usual responsibilities for the custody and supervision of inmates.
Department of the Youth Authority
1. In lieu of Youth Correctional Officers in a correctional facility in instances where medical skills are required of custodial officers in addition to their usual responsibilities for the custody and supervision of youthful offenders. or
2. In lieu of registered graduate nurses, certified clinical laboratory technicians, certified x-ray technicians, or certified physical therapy technicians. Such employment occurs either in instances where qualified specialists in these classifications are unavailable or where the size or nature of the medical program would not warrant separate specialists in these various categories, and the duties of several specialties may be combined in one position.
Typical Tasks
Assists medical and dental officers at correctional facilities in medical examinations by performing such tasks as taking and recording portions of medical history, determining height, weight, color sense, auditory acuity, and collecting laboratory specimens; participates in the evaluation of patients' needs; administers oral and intravenous or intermuscular medications; prepares, passes, and charts medications; takes temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; observes and reports patients' symptoms and behavior; performs urinary bladder irrigations; cleans and sets up equipment; collects specimens; administers enemas; provides care in instances requiring adherence to aseptic and isolation techniques; prepares patients receiving specialized treatment administered by the registered nurse or the physician and may assist in the administration of such treatments; assists in processing the sick line by dressing superficial injuries and otherwise participates in therapeutic measures; performs bedside nursing procedures; administers pre-and postoperative nursing care; administers first aid in the absence of a medical officer; supervises and instructs inmate workers in routine housekeeping procedures and is responsible for their custody while engaged in these tasks; under direction of a medical officer, may assist in giving routine physiotherapy and hydrotherapy treatments, such as packs, continuous flow tub, and infrared and ultraviolet treatments; maintains order and supervises the conduct of inmates, youthful offenders, residents, or patients; protects and maintains the safety of persons and property; inspects premises and searches inmates for contraband, and replaces and/or assists custodial staff during emergency situations, such as fights, attempted escapes, or major incidents, such as riots; in the Department of Mental Health Unit at the California Medical Facility and the mental health delivery system at other institutions, in addition to the above tasks, serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team in providing both clinical and custodial information to its members; assists other mental health professionals in conducting various therapeutic activities of an educational, rehabilitative, or psychotherapeutic nature; monitors, observes, and records the behavior of patients and contributes to the treatment planning process and the formal evaluation of patient progress; under supervision, conducts certain therapeutic activities involving the training of patients in activities of daily living as prescribed in patients' individual treatment plans; in the Department of the Youth Authority, in addition to the previously mentioned tasks, under general supervision of a medical officer, performs simple, routine clinical laboratory procedures; cleans and cares for laboratory equipment and apparatus; keeps records of tests made; under general supervision of a medical officer, may, with appropriate licensure, make medical x-ray exposures; processes and files films; prepares solutions for processing films; maintains x-ray equipment; assists in fluoroscopic work; and makes clinical photographs of unusual cases and identification photographs as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Graduation from high school, passing the general educational development test indicating high school graduation level, passing the California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited college or university. The high school shall be either a United States public school meeting the high school standards set by the state in which it is located, an accredited United States Department of Defense high school, or an accredited nonpublic high school. Any accreditation required by this paragraph shall be from an accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(e). and Either:
1. Possession of a valid license from the State of California to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse or Registered Nurse. (Persons applying under this pattern who are within six months of completing their academic training as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse will be admitted to the examination, but must obtain a valid license from the State of California to practice as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse to be eligible for appointment.) or
2. Twelve months' experience rendering patient care while on active duty in the medical corps of any of the armed forces of the United States or in the United States Public Health Service and completion of the basic course of instruction in nursing required by the United States Public Health Service or by his or her particular branch of the armed forces. (Persons qualifying under this pattern must be eligible at time of appointment for licensure as a Registered Nurse or Vocational Nurse and must obtain a State of California license within six months of employment.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Fundamentals of nursing care; general nursing procedures and techniques involved in the care of individuals who are physically ill; practical bedside nursing procedures; principles used in caring for the immobile patient; medical terminology and hospital routines and practices; first-aid procedures and therapeutic measures; uses and effects of medicines and narcotics; routine clinical laboratory methods and procedures; x-ray equipment and techniques; principles, methods, and equipment used in physical therapy treatment; principles and techniques of effective supervision of inmates, youthful offenders, residents, or patients; and in the Youth Authority, operating and maintaining x-ray equipment and use and care of laboratory equipment.
Ability to: Communicate effectively at a level required for successful job performance; perform bedside nursing procedures and apply nursing techniques; perform first-aid procedures and therapeutic measures; control, direct, and instruct inmates, youthful offenders, residents, or patients individually and in groups; act quickly in an emergency; observe and record symptoms of behavior, analyze situations accurately, and adopt an effective course of action; keep records, provide statistical data, and prepare reports; and in the Youth Authority, administer principles, methods, and equipment used in physical therapy treatments.
Special Personal Characteristics
Neat personal appearance; adaptability; emotional maturity and stability; tact; patience; sympathetic and objective understanding of persons under restraint; leadership ability; willingness to work irregular hours; satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen; normal or corrected to normal hearing; sound physical condition; strength, endurance, and agility; free from the use of illicit drugs; and willingness to report for duty at any time due to an emergency crisis.
Assignments during a shift may include sole responsibility for the supervision of inmates, youthful offenders, residents, or patients and/or the protection of personal and real property.
Felony Disqualification
Existing law provides that persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers except in the Department of the Youth Authority as provided under Welfare and Institutions Code, Division 2, Chapter 3, Article 8, Section 1179(b) or Division 2.5, Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 1772(b). Unless exempted pursuant to one of the above statutes, persons convicted of a felony are not eligible to be examined for, or be appointed to, positions in this class.
Background Investigation
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(d), all persons successful in this examination will be required to successfully complete a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
Citizenship Requirement
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(a), in order to be appointed to a peace officer position, a person must be either a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for United States citizenship prior to appointment.
Training Requirement
Successful completion of a training course under the provisions of Penal Code Section 832 is a requirement for permanent status in this class.
Age Limitation
Minimum age for appointment: 18 years, pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(b). In the Departments of Mental Health and Corrections, the minimum age for appointment is 21 years.
Drug Testing Requirement
Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug- screening test. (The drug-screening test will be waived for employees who are currently in a designated "Sensitive" class for which drug testing is required under State Personnel Board Rule 213.)
