HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09161986 - 1.37 POSITION ADJUSTMENT REQUEST No.
Date: 5/23/86
Dept. No./ - Copers
Department Health Services/Hospital Budget Unit No. 0540 .,Org.1p0.!,, 6341 _ Agency No. 54
Action Requested: Establish the class of Clinical Thanatologist_,_ allocate it to Salary
Level C5-1756 ($2629-3196) , and classify one (1) position,.'V
Proposed Effective Date: 6/25/86
Explain why adjustment is needed: To provide a position for the Hospice Program replacing
a contractor.
Draft Specification
-Caass-i f-it-at-ibrr guest-forna•ire attached: Yes [D NoE]
Estimated cost of adjustment: $
372 month
Cost is within department's budget: Yes ] No []
If not within budget, use reverse side to explain how costs are to be funded
Department must initiate necessary appropriation adjustment. Web Beadle
Use additional sheets for further explanations or comments. Department Personnel Officer
for Department Head
Personnel Department Recommendation
Date: F16
Add on fU I"l timg_t"edi cal Soci al Worker -po"si ti'17n; SaYary-Level�- T2- •0963-`(256V2025) .
Amend Resolution 71111 establishing positions and resolutions allocating classes to the
Basic/Exempt Salary Schedule, as described above.
Effective: Vi day following Board action.
Date for Director of rsonnel
County Administrator Recommendation
Date:
(Approve Recommendation of Director of Personnel
0 Disapprove Recommendation of Director of Personnel
C3 Other:
r Coun Administrator
Board of Supervisors Action Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of
Adjustment APPROVED/- miff D on SEP 16 1986 Supervisors asci County Administrator
Date: SEP 16 1986 By: L`,
APPROVAL OF THIS ADJUSTMENT CONSTITUTES A PERSONNEL/SALARY RESOLUTION AMENDMENT.
M.147 r)/,q?
DRAFT Proposed Salary Level 4C5-1756 ($2629-3196)
CLINICAL THANATOLOGIST
DEFINITION•
Under general direction, to teach pain management techniques to terminally ill
patients and to provide grief counseling to their families; to assist and advise
other care providers on the needs of dying patients; and to do related work as
required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This single position class is distinguished as a specialist in services for the
terminally ill in the Health Service Department's Hospice Program. The incum-
bent coordinates and provides direct services to patients and serves as a resi-
dent expert in the field of Clinical Thanatology, which is the study of death
and the care of the dying. It is distinguished from the class of Mental Health
Treatment Specialist in that the latter provides psychotherapy and treatment to
seriously disturbed mental patients. It is distinguished from Medical Social
Worker in that the latter provides counseling and supportive Social Services to
medical patients.
TYPICAL TASKS:
Conducts training for physicians, nurses, other medical providers and patient
families regarding caring for the terminally ill; teaches terminally ill
patients how to better manage pain.and control other symptoms of their disease
. thru such techniques as hypnosis, biofeedback, and i�8rY A Provides grief coun-
seling to families and other bereavement support services; as part of an inter- j
disciplinary team, functions as caKe manager for Hospice patients screeening
entry into the program, serving as liason between providers of care and making
Clinical Thanatologist
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referrals to community resources; provides on-call crisis intervention services
to patients and their families; participates in public forums to educate the
public and publicize Hospice Program Services; provides clinical supervision to
graduate students in the field of Thanatology.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: s'
Education: Possession of a doctoral degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology
from an accredited college or university.
Experience: Two years of fulltime experience, or it's equivalent, teaching
Pain management and providing grief counseling in a Hospice Program.
Substitution: Two additional years of fulltime experience, or it's equivalent,
Of the type noted above may be substituted for the required doctoral degree.
However, no substitution is permitted for a Master degree.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of the principles and practices of Clinical Thanatology; .knowledge. of
the physical and psychological aspects of death and dying; knowledge of the
techniques of pain/symptom control such as hypnosis, biofeedback, and imagry;
knowledge of California law relating to wills, durable power of attorney, and
the rights of the terminally ill; knowledge of applicable utilization review and
quality assurance standards and requirements; knowledge of local community
resources and programs for the terminally ill; ability to conduct grief coun-
seling activities; ability to empathetically relate to the needs of the ter-
minally ill; ability to provide work direction and training to others; ability
to work effectively with an interdisciplinary team of care providers.
GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION
Thanatologist
Responsibilities under this job description shall include but not be limited
to the following activities:
Staff Training
Development and implementation of specialized training and instruction
to care for patients who are terminally ill, and families, and their
care givers.
Training shall include group on-site training, individual one on one
on and off-site training, orientation for new employees who serve
patients, on call for inservice training to other County departments,
and on call as needed for community education programs provided by the
County.
In addition to lectures, workshops and case reviews, training materials
are to be developed as well as varied media presentations.
Direct Patient Care
Direct patient care shall be provided to management of symptoms of
terminally ill patients and their families which are especially
designed to meet the needs of this population. Services shall be
provided at Merrithew Memorial Hospital, outpatient clinics, convales-
cent hospitals, homes of patients and other such locations as shall
meet the needs of this service group. Service shall include the
development of a bereavement support program as a provision of direct
services.
Interdisciplinary Team
The Thanatologist shall function as case manager for hospice and symptom
control cases. This person shall also be responsible for education
screening, liaison between disciplines, and management of outside
referral sources. It shall be the responsibility of the Thanatologist
to develop and manage the interdisciplinary team as well as plan and
implement weekly hospice/symptom control rounds.
On Call Service
The Thanatologist is responsible for coordination of a 24 hour 7 day
per week .on call service to patients and their families.
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Community Liaison
The Thanatologist is expected to participate in public forums and
accept speaking engagements as requested and available in order to
educate the general public about the hospice/symptom control program, as
well as issues in the field of death and dying.
Supervision
As Contra Costa County Health Services department provides learning
experience for students, the Thanatologist shall develop, implement and
manage a graduate internship and externship program and shall provide.
direct supervision of all students.
Clinical Support
The Thanatologist shall be available for bereavement support and
assistance in the management of difficult patients and family members,
and in management of symptom control. These services shall be available
to team members, hospital nursing staff, physicians, and others
providing direct care to patients and families in this population with
life threatening illness.
Pain Management
The Thanatologist shall provide direct service to patients in the
management of pain and which shall function as a part of symptom
control. A wide array of techniques shall be made available including
hypnosis, biofeedback, autogenics, imagry, in addition to other
therapies as appropriate.
The Thanatologist will work closely with medical care givers in the
design and implementation of symptom management.
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