Health Unit Secretary-Emergency Services - Per Diem

About the role

The Emergency Services Department at Lakeside Medical Center seeks a dedicated and compassionate individual to join our team. This position involves clerical duties and coordination of a variety of clinical skills.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to the hospital mission, philosophy, standards, policies and procedures.
• Recognizes all staff, physicians and visitors, as well as, patients as customers and provides courteous and respectful service.
• Performs assigned care and communications within the guidelines of the Relationship and Results Oriented Healthcare Model as directed by the licensed nurse.
• Keeps the patient, family and staff informed of the progress in the plan of care as appropriate. Documents and reports any complaints from patients/visitors/physicians to supervisor.
• Observes patients and reports any changes in behavior or condition to RN or physician.
• Works as a team with other care providers; utilizes good communication skills, critical thinking, and checkpoints for team work.
• Recognizes cultural differences with patients and adjusts care and approaches to patients to make them feel safe and valued.
• Demonstrates understanding of Joint Commission Safety Goals and delivers care with patient safety as a goal.
• Communicates effectively with other patient care providers and team members for efficiencies and safety of care.
• Refers to RN all calls regarding critical lab values.
• Refers to the RN all nurse calls regarding request for health information.
• Ensures that all records are completed prior to discharge of the patient.
• Acknowledges patients’ religious needs and contacts health care providers if requested.
• Informs the patient and documents appropriately all patient care procedures that are performed.
• Aids in securing patient valuables by labeling personal items and storing dentures, glasses, etc., in a safe place and ensuring that valuables stay with patient when transferred/discharged.
• Encourages family members to take valuables/belongings home that are not necessary for the patient while in the hospital.
• Reports to the oncoming clerical staff or the charge nurse the status of pending transfers or other incomplete duties.
• Utilizes and ensures staff uses supplies efficiently, following infection control procedures, avoiding waste and follows patient charging procedures.
• Aids in patient preparation for tests and procedures, such as assuring NPO status, etc.
• Performs duties as a team member - communicating effectively and assisting co-workers as needed to ensure efficient and safe patient care.
• Assists in the orientation of new staff members recognizing importance of bringing new staff into a friendly and supportive work environment.
• Works with manager and other staff members to maintain competence and skills for procedures assigned.
• Attends annual in-services and unit staff meetings and/or educational offerings as needed.
• Affords assistance in identifying opportunities for improvement in patient care processes.
• Demonstrates an understanding of responsibility in emergency plans and is available for patient care as needed or scheduled when hospital emergency preparedness plans are activated.
• Participates in hospital community activities and promotes the hospital within the community.
• Serves as a change leader, positively promoting new systems and changes implemented which improves the hospital and the service provided to its patients.
• Participates in the hospital goals for growth by being an example of good service to patients in our community and in assisting physicians and other team members.
• Maintains knowledge of the documentation system used for patient care, charges and ordering of test.
• Measures/takes vital signs, blood pressure and related data and documents same as requested by the RN.
• Completes training and validation of usage of all equipment in the Emergency Services Department.
• Uses patient care equipment safely and as directed by policies and instruction.
• Labels any piece of equipment that is malfunctioning, reports to the appropriate department for repair.
• Identifies emergent situations and can activate the panic button and lock down the department until law enforcement has arrived.
• Monitors all patient billing for correct charges and inputs charges as needed.
• Follows and adheres to Universal Protocol for prevention of wrong site, wrong procedure and wrong person surgery.
• Communicates and completes handoff documentation for effective handoff of patients care (SBAR) for admission or transfer to another health care facility.
• Fulfills emergency duty as required, including working in special needs or Red Cross shelters or to perform other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to threats or disasters, man made or natural.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of six (6) months in an acute care setting is preferred, with a good understanding of medical terminology.
• Must have computer knowledge and skills with the ability to work with multiple different programs.
• BLS certification required.