Oncology Unit Secretary

About the role

Performs a wide range of clerical, receptionist, dispatching and/or admitting and discharge duties in support of assigned patient care department.

Core duties and responsibilities

• Greets and admits patients upon their arrival to the department.
• Accurately prepares patient identification bands and name tags.
• Welcomes visitors to the department and responds to requests for assistance or information.
• Assists with delivering items to patient rooms.
• Maintains stock levels of office supplies.
• Responsible for clerical admission and discharge functions.
• Schedules follow-up appointments as requested by physician.
• Arranges transportation for patient as necessary.
• Organizes and maintains patient records and appropriate department records.
• Faxes patient chart copies as needed for transfer or follow-up care.
• Coordination and facilitation of ongoing communication to ensure efficient intradepartmental and interdepartmental operations.
• Communicates in a timely fashion with other departments regarding patients who have been admitted, discharged, require inter-hospital transfer, or have expired.
• Consistently answers telephone in a courteous and timely manner, identifying self and department at all times and answering questions within area of knowledge.
• Forwards calls to appropriate staff members.
• Consistently answers patient call bells in a courteous and timely manner and dispatches appropriate personnel.
• Assists physicians and other individuals by providing requested information about specific patient or department routines in accordance with the hospital's policy on Release of Patient Information.
• Coordinates and facilitates ongoing communication to ensure timely, efficient intradepartmental and interdepartmental transportation of patients.
• Phones in consults to other services in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintains communication with other patient care departments (e.g., Dietary, Lab, Telemetry, Video Monitoring) to assure patient care needs are met.

  Physical requirements

  • Manual dexterity used in operating standard office equipment.
  • Prolonged periods of sitting.
  • May be required to walk to various areas throughout the department or medical complex.
  • This may require use of elevators and/or stairs.

  Skills and abilities

  • Basic computer knowledge and ability to operate standard office equipment.
  • Knowledge of medical terminology.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.