2016 Health Care Champions Technician: Tony Massey

Tony Massey’s career has been spent on the frontlines assisting troubled kids and their families in the Ozarks.

With 26 years of experience in Springfield’s health care industry, the CoxHealth psychiatric technician is part of a multidisciplinary inpatient team facilitating treatment plans and behavior modification programs for children and adolescents ages 6-17. He also works with parents and families to regain their confidence and create strategies for managing those behavior problems stemming from mental, emotional, learning and behavioral disorders.

It’s a role that psychologist and fellow CoxHealth Psychological Services staff member Patrick Lord says requires a special kind of loyalty and devotion.

“Tony has a long history of dedication to providing competent, compassionate care to our patients, many of whom have experienced significant episodes of abuse and neglect,” Lord says. “The evidence for special capacity for providing a sage and therapeutic space for these children and young people to begin to heal or accept the challenge to change is in his ability to earn their respect and trust.”

Massey’s willingness to improve and widen the scope of the health care system’s psychiatric services has led him to operate in a capacity beyond that of a typical technician, Lord says. Massey volunteered to design and implement CoxHealth’s parent education program, which teaches parenting skills and helps identify community support systems and resources to families. He continues to offer the weekly series titled “Parenting Strategies for the Real World” free of charge.

Massey also has been called on to teach, train and certify CoxHealth’s psychiatric and systemwide staff in such skills as nonviolent crisis intervention, management of workplace violence scenarios and psychiatric safety, including the use of seclusion and humane restraint applications.

“Due to his superior skills and dependability, Tony has been selected to provide training and orientation to our newest psychiatric technicians, demonstrating to them by his words and actions the standards of care and duties of the position,” Lord says. “I can think of no better model for new members of the team than Tony.”

Massey’s role as a leader also extends to the racetrack. Among a host of highlights on the radio-controlled car circuit, he’s a two-time member of a world champion team, a three-time regional champion and a factory research and development driver for an international manufacturer. But his true passion is helping children, teens and their parents realize their potential.

“My professional motivation is seeing our patients change and improve over the course of treatment,” Massey says. “It is gratifying to work with an amazing group of professionals who remain committed to the best for the children and families. My years of working alongside the doctors and nurses have been rewarding and helped me grow as a person. Of all the opportunities and experiences I have enjoyed along the way, I feel proudest of having become a good team member. Seeing us all grow together and to impact the lives of our patients is a proud accomplishment indeed.”