Unit Secretary - PRN 7am-7pm Job at MedStar Health in Baltimore

Overview

Provides administrative and clerical support on a patient-centered care unit or department. Facilitates communication and contributes to patient care. Greets the physician and other health care personnel on arrival to the unit and assists in expediting the processes of patient care. Acts as a receptionist for visitors and other health care personnel and serves as a central contact for telephone calls and distribution point for paperwork, laboratory and test results.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives; adheres to department policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety standards. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Accurately transcribes orders and notifies the appropriate nurse in a timely manner.
• Acknowledges physicians and other healthcare providers' arrival on the unit and assists them as requested; notifies the RN/LPN of patient arrival and other healthcare personnel on the unit.
• Answers and makes telephone calls, responds to intercom and e-mail, identifies emergency messages, directs information to the appropriate personnel, and, as directed by RN/SW/MD, makes appointments at outside agencies.
• Communicates patient information to the registered nurse in a timely manner and reports actual and potential problems concerning patients, families, staff and other departments to the RN.
• Compiles and maintains unit statistics regarding admissions, discharges and transfers per unit policy.
• Expedites the patient admission, transfer and discharge process, performing bed control functions following hospital policy, procedures and guidelines.
• Greets and orients patients, family, and significant others to the patient care unit and patient room, following admission procedures. Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality.
• Maintains accurate up-to-date inventory of patient forms and ensures forms are readily available for all healthcare providers; communicates needs and orders unit-based supplies as appropriate.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary quality and service improvement teams, unit-based/hospital committees, and represents the department and hospital in community outreach efforts.
• Performs clerical duties to maintain the patient's medical record according to policy, including assembling and copying charts and forms, data entry, chart preparation, filing, and photocopying as required. Prepares medical records for admission, transfer and discharge; ensures unit-based order sets, clinical pathways and care guidelines are part of the chart order as appropriate. Demonstrates proficiency with faxing, scanning, PC use, printer, nurse-call system and telephones; assists in care and maintenance of departmental equipment.
• Maintains inventory of necessary supplies; reports equipment malfunctions or defects to appropriate personnel.
• Responds to questions from physicians, other healthcare providers, patients and families in a prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable manner and refers to appropriate personnel.
• Validates diet with nurse and catering; attends to comfort needs of patients as directed; assists with transport of specimens, equipment and supplies as appropriate; may assist with tray setups and intake/output recording.
• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality as directed by HIPAA regulations; may assist with environmental services tasks as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Knowledge of medical terminology required

Experience

• 1 year 6 months unit secretary, registration or medical records preferred
• Related clerical experience in a health care setting preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• Completion of an approved Unit Secretary curriculum or equivalent experience as registration or medical records assistant in a health care setting preferred

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Basic computer skills
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to operate standard office equipment

This position has a hiring range of $18 - $28.73.