Unit Secretary

Job Summary

Under direct supervision, this position is responsible for supporting and coordinating the administrative activities of the nursing Unit. May be assigned to cover multiple Units per Medical Center protocol

• Promotes, ensures and improves customer service to external/internal (physicians and staff both on and off the Unit) customers by demonstrating skills which are consistent with the organization's philosophy of providing extraordinary customer relations and quality service.
• Processes, transfers and discharges using the Admit-Discharge
  - Transfer (ADT) system in the electronic medical record, including event management.
• Answers and appropriately routes internal and external telephone calls.
• Orders materials and supplies and collects equipment as needed for this Unit.
• Answers call systems; follows up with the nurse, patient and/or family as appropriate.
• Makes follow-up appointments for patients as necessary.
• In conjunction with the Discharge Coordinator, organizes transfers to other nursing facilities, including printing relevant sections of the patient s chart.
• Prepares discharge packets and other documents for patients.
• Coordinates discharge times, contacts family members with pending discharge times, assists and facilitates a timely discharge when the patient is ready.
• Maintains/tracks the Units business equipment, including maintaining appropriately charged wireless carts. Arranges for special maintenance or repair of the Units business equipment.
• Updates the Units census board.
• Maintains the Minimum Medical Record.
• Assists Unit personnel in the electronic medical record and other systems; may act as the Unit resource for computer-related issues.
• Acts as the greeter for the Unit, greeting new patients and their families.
• Initiates Unit downtime procedure when necessary.
• Communicates with other Units/departments.
• May support Environmental Services in the data entry into the ADT system on bed status (clean or dirty).
• Provide management or hospital bed coordinator with updates on open beds.
• May help to facilitate co-pay collection by communicating with the Admitting Office when family members are present on the Unit, relaying information between family and the Admitting Office.
• Participates in hourly rounding to promote service excellence.
• May prepare birth certificates and identification bands.
• Floats to other departments as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned (see Unit specific activity lists.)
• Reporting noncompliance, and adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, accreditation and licensing requirements (if applicable), Kaiser Permanente s policies and procedures.