Unit Secretary-Medical Oncology 14P Full-time Weekend Days

About the role

The Unit Secretary plays a crucial role in the patient care unit, serving as the receptionist and first point of contact for patients, visitors, and staff. This position requires excellent communication and customer service skills, as well as the ability to manage various tasks efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Extends courtesies to patients, staff, and visitors in a prompt and responsive manner in all communications.
• Aids in monitoring visitor/employee access, ensuring badges are present in patient care areas, and alerts security as necessary.
• Facilitates communication and escalates difficult situations to appropriate staff.
• Answers the phone promptly and transfers calls according to Northwestern Medicine standards using AIDET.
• Coordinates calls on multiple lines simultaneously and ensures patient calls are answered within identified timeframe.
• Escalates urgent patient care requests to the appropriate staff and ensures communication needs are met.
• Prepares medical records on admission, discharge, and transfer, maintaining the patient medical record and scanning forms into the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Notifies appropriate nursing and physician staff upon patient admission, consulting team arrivals, and patient identification needs.
• Assigns caregivers in the nurse call system and prepares patient charts for discharge, transfer, or OR use.
• Tracks patient scheduling for tests and procedures and informs care providers of anticipated times.
• Maintains a clean, uncluttered nursing station and tube station, places service requests for equipment and repairs, and ensures unit signage is stocked.
• Completes supply requisitions and performs basic computer/printer maintenance.
• Demonstrates ability to use online systems as required and attends appropriate training classes.
• Supports patient flow by performing admission, discharge, and transfer activities in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• High School or GED.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Computer experience.
• One year of college or business school preferred.
• Unit secretary experience preferred.
• Medical terminology knowledge preferred.