Department Secretary , ICU, Part time, 3rd weekend

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES

• Performs a variety of direct service activities to ensure that patients and their families/visitors receive timely information and appropriate responses to their needs.
• Provides informative, non-clinical information when requested by patients, families, staff or visitors. Interacts in a courteous professional manner.
• Coordinates activities of front desk/office support services. Performs clerical duties for the department. Answers/responds to telephone calls and inquiries in a timely manner.
• Answers patient call lights in a timely manner and immediately, if possible. . Follows-up on-call light requests to ensure nursing staff has responded.
• Maintains communication data, i.e. computer, charge/white boards, daily communication sheets, assignment sheets, updates room name tags, pre-caution labels i.e.
• Participates in orienting patient to their room, call light, telephones and the unit by distributing welcome letters and informational packets.
• Initiates daily RN phone assignment, logs RN daily phone numbers, and demonstrated appropriate procedures to triage calls through patient call system.
• Monitors healthcare computer software systems and Bed Board for new discharge orders, prints discharge summaries, places discharge summaries in chart, makes clinic appointments for patients prior to discharge, documents as required.
• Facilitates patient/family/visitor access to available hospital services such as, the cafeteria, chapel, gift shop, parking, cashier, etc.
• Identifies emergency situations and initiates appropriate response actions within the scope of his/her role. Is familiar with area disaster plans and unit.
• Coordinates and makes appointments for transportation for patients and related materials, e.g., VA, chair car, patient transport, medical records, specimens, blood products, requisitions, etc., in a timely manner. Uses computer software /terminal for access data entry.
• Works collaboratively with other units, services, and departments to ensure patients, families, visitors and staff receive needed services information, and materials.
• Takes initiative to identify and resolve/respond to questions and/or discrepancies, acts within the scope of role.
• Performs a variety of office and clerical functions, such as photocopying, sending and receiving fax transmissions; takes actions to respond appropriately.
• Coordinates unit's communications including but not limited to, placing alpha numeric text pages to physicians or appropriate staff, calling family members/next of kin, etc.
• May assist in patient admission, discharge and transfer processes by obtaining and managing insurance pre-approvals, obtaining and verifying demographic information, completing free-care applications obtaining and creating medical records.

• Prepares charts and labels on admission with appropriate documentation sheets and places appropriate clinical pathways in bedside charts, as ordered. Maintains complete and accurate medical records through timely filing of results and treatment documents, periodic chart thinning and replenishing of chart forms. Ensures that the chart made for the patient has all necessary documents and labels in place, etc.
• Label precaution charts with appropriate precaution labels. Maintains supply of precaution signs for patient rooms.
• Transcribes patient care orders accurately and in a timely manner as appropriate.
• Collaborates with the healthcare team to obtain necessary information for test/procedure scheduling inclusive of necessary pre-test/procedure preparation scheduling, e.g., books necessary, preoperative screening exams/tests in advance of scheduling surgery/procedure; coordinates patient test/procedure schedule to minimize patient travel and time off unit.
• Communicates with patients, families, primary care providers, consultants, and staff as appropriate.
• Maintains appropriate manual/computer logs records, and unit databases, e.g., diet list, census sheets, supply log, and patient board to include updated physician coverage, current pager number and RN name…