Unit Secretary - Inpatient ICU- HUP Cedar- 3MOB ICU PCU - Full-Time Day Shift

Responsibilities:

• Answers telephones, takes and relays messages promptly, and answers inquiries.
• Greets patients and visitors, gives directions, and answers questions.
• Communicates with nursing staff and hospital staff about patients’ needs and whereabouts.
• Ensures that patient consents and Advance Directive paperwork is in order.
• Support Medication Reconciliation Process through appropriate chart forms and electronic auditing.
• Answers the patient call bell system and promptly communicates the patients’ needs to the appropriate healthcare team member.
• Facilitates access for security door/intercom system on locked nursing units as indicated—respectfully answers intercom request for entry onto the unit and follows through with security measures defined by nursing unit guidelines.
• Reports security door malfunctioning to the charge nurse, security and maintenance as indicated.
• Assists nurses, physicians and other health care providers in emergency situations by arranging for emergency studies, placing routine, CODE and STAT telephone pages.
• Arranges for patient transport as needed.
• Sorts and delivers patient flowers, mail, and packages according to unit needs.
• Calls for equipment and supplies as needed by the patient and arranges for return of equipment after use.
• Places calls, electronic info-grams and/or completes supportive paperwork to supportive serve departments regarding minor problems.
• Notifies Nurse Manager of problems of a more serious nature.
• Submits completed paperwork for Nurse Manager’s signature.
• Communicates patient arrival on unit, impending transfers, or discharges by entering the appropriate information into the computer system.
• Enters discharge information and appropriate admission and discharge code in the hospital electronic information system as soon as the patient either arrives on the unit or leaves the unit.
• Maintains the Admission, Discharge, and Transfer Logbook.
• Maintains patient medical record in appropriate order: identifies each sheet with patient identification.
• Files and charts laboratory, radiology and other patient information forms in appropriate sections of each patient chart.
• Checks charts for sufficient supply of imprinted forms.’
• Gathers all components of patient chart, including bedside chart from wall desks; assembles in proper discharge order; and ensures each page of the chart is properly imprinted when patient is discharged.
• Prepares necessary patient chart copies for discharge to new level of care — Rehabilitation, Psychiatry and/or Hospice.
• Prepares patient chart for all transitions in care: for tests, new patient care units, etc.
• Prepares the Transition Pass as directed.
• Facilitates patient progression through regular updates with the charge nurse and clinical staff.
• Accountable for placing completed discharge charts in locked box for pickup by Medical Records personnel.
• Maintains and updates patient identification bracelets as needed and ensures patient identification bar code stickers are accurate.
• Keeps requisition locations filled and ensures sufficient supplies are available at the nurses’ station.
• Monitors stationery and paper products levels; initiates order for supplies as directed by the Nurse Manager; maintains locations of forms in compliance with established guidelines.
• Maintains work area and mobile workstations in orderly fashion.
• Assists Nurse Manager in data collection for departmental projects/research when appropriate.
• Provides suggestions at staff meetings and other forums regarding changes in unit practices that provide for improved delivery of patient service.
• Accepts reassignment to other units as directed by Nurse Manager or Charge Nurse.
• Sensitive and responsive to patient, family, and customer satisfaction issues by demonstrating courtesy and respect for patients, family visitors, hospital staff and employees.
• Supports and contributes to the unit’s patient satisfaction goals.
• Communicates pertinent observations to appropriate members of the health care team in a timely fashion.
• Works in collaboration with all members of the healthcare team.
• Provides direction to the medical teams for completing the electronic death certificate. Secures the certificate according to guidelines.
• Provides direction to the medical teams for completing the fetal death certificate when appropriate.
• Supports the process of notification to Gift of Life.

Credentials:

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• H.S. Diploma/GED (Required)