Unit Clerk

About the role

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Longview seeks a Unit Clerk to support hospital staff in maintaining an organized and functional nursing station. The Unit Clerk acts as a liaison between the nursing unit and administration, answering phones, supporting paperwork, and assisting with patient admissions and discharges.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a receptionist by answering the phone quickly and accurately; directing calls to patients and staff.
• Aids in the admission process by becoming the liaison with the business office and admitting office.
• Gathers relevant descriptive and financial information as needed, and routes this information to appropriate hospital personnel.
• Greets visitors, patients and their families, displaying an empathetic and helpful attitude.
• Completes most of the nursing unit's paperwork, including setting up records for new patients, maintaining patient records, completing daily census and revenue forms, and assisting in the preparation of the monthly report.
• May transcribe physician's orders from patient records and copy data such as blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature onto patients' medical records.
• Records patient diagnosis on the correct medical forms and prepares requisition forms for laboratory tests, drugs and supplies as well.
• Maintains a safe and professional standard for patient care in accordance with Joint Commission, Federal and State regulations, Oceans' Mission, policies and procedures and Performance Improvement Standards.
• May coordinate the transfer of patients and process patient discharge forms.
• Transports patients and/or performs other minor medical assisting tasks that mirror those of the nursing assistants.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent preferred.
• At least 1 year experience working with psychiatric patients in an inpatient setting desired.
• Must be able to read, write, and follow verbal and written instruction.
• Must work well with diverse populations.
• Must utilize Age, Disability and Cultural Specific knowledge in working with specialized populations to best communicate with those clients.
• Must be in good physical and mental health as evidenced by a warm empathetic attitude, respect for dignity, worth and potentiality of clients and hold a high sense of personal integrity.
• Must be able to work under close supervision.
• Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Qualifications / Skills

• Must be able to read, write and follow verbal and written instruction.
• Must work well with diverse populations.
• Must utilize Age, Disability and Cultural Specific knowledge in working with specialized populations to best communicate with those clients.
• Must be in good physical and mental health as evidenced by a warm empathetic attitude, respect for dignity, worth and potentiality of clients and hold a high sense of personal integrity.
• Must be able to work under close supervision.
• Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Work Environment

• Subject to many interruptions.
• Occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.
• This position can be high paced and stressful; must be able to cope mentally and physically to atmosphere.
• This person might sometimes experience disagreeable odors, sights and/or unpredictable patient behavior.
• Work requires spending approximately 90% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.