Unit Secretary-Cardio Thoracic ICU Part-time Weekend Days

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

Pay

$22.10 - $22.10 hourly rate

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support, and student loan repayment
• Flexible work options and a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund
• Total Rewards package supporting physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being
• Volunteer opportunities in local communities
• Workforce-led resource groups

Learn more at jobs.nm.org/benefits.

About the role

The Unit Secretary reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulatory and accreditation standards. The Unit Secretary is the receptionist for the patient care unit and is often the first person to greet and assist patients, visitors, and staff. They coordinate the flow of information at the nurses’ station in a positive and timely manner and assist physicians, nurses, and other health care providers in coordinating the patient’s stay, care, and experience.

Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Extends courtesies to patients, staff, and visitors in a prompt and responsive manner in all communications
• Assists in monitoring visitor/employee access, including the presence of badges in all patient care areas and visitor waiting areas, and alerts security as necessary
• Recognizes difficult patient, staff, and visitor situations, facilitates communication, and escalates appropriately
• Assists and directs patients, staff, and visitors according to hospital policies
• Answers the phone promptly and transfers calls according to NMH phone standards using AIDET
• Effectively coordinates calls on multiple lines simultaneously
• Promptly and accurately answers and responds to all patient calls within identified timeframe via the nurse call system using AIDET
• Recognizes patient care requests requiring urgent attention and escalates to appropriate staff
• Assures patients with communication needs are identified at the nurse call system and calls are handled appropriately

Medical Records

• Prepares medical records on admission, discharge, and transfer
• Responsible for the maintenance of the patient medical record, including:
  • Assisting the care team in obtaining and releasing medical records
  • Maintaining paper records and remaining informed of their location
  • Placing forms in the medical record, including discharge paperwork, outpatient records, home health orders, advanced directives, and POLST
  • Scanning appropriate forms into the electronic medical record (EMR) and notifying appropriate team members when additional documents are added to the paper chart
  • Ensuring nurse coverage is appropriately identified in the EMR
• Facilitates unit readiness for EMR downtime, including knowledge of downtime procedures and maintenance of appropriate forms
• Assists in promptly reporting problems with EMR to the IT HELP desk
• Verifies regulatory documentation at the point of care and escalates to the appropriate care team for any missing documents
• Performs charge entry accurately

Patient Flow

• Performs admission, discharge, and transfer activities in a timely manner
• Notifies the appropriate nursing staff and physician upon patient admission
• Notifies appropriate nurse staff and physician when consulting teams arrive to the unit
• Obtains patient identification if needed
• Assigns appropriate caregivers in the nurse call system
• Prepares patient chart: to be sent to medical records after patient discharge, for discharge to another healthcare facility, for transfer to another inpatient unit or the OR
• Requests time for will-call ambulance and Medicare
• Requests patient escort when appropriate
• Tracks patient scheduling for tests and procedures and informs care providers of anticipated time
• Tracks patient activity on and off the patient care unit—monitors and updates bed tracking as appropriate
• Verifies and reconciles unit census for accuracy in collaboration with charge nurse and/or Clinical Coordinator
• Other duties and responsibilities supporting patient flow as delegated by unit leadership

Desk Flow & Clerical Organization

• Receives and distributes patient care unit deliveries to patients and staff
• Accepts deliveries and stocks in appropriate place
• Maintains a clean, uncluttered nursing station and tube station
• Places service requests for equipment and repair and follows up to ensure repair is complete
• Maintains and tracks an adequate supply of forms, clerical equipment, and nursing supplies according to patient care unit standards
• Accurately completes and submits supply requisitions
• Performs basic computer/printer maintenance: adds paper, toner, fixes printer jams
• Maintains list of staff assignments and phone numbers and distributes as appropriate
• Ensures unit signage is stocked
• Demonstrates ability to use online systems as required
• Attends appropriate training classes necessary to perform job
• Other duties and responsibilities delegated by unit leadership

Qualifications

Required:

• High School diploma or GED
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Computer experience

Preferred:

• One year of college or business school
• Unit secretary experience
• Medical terminology