Communications Clerk

Trinity Health • Mason City, IA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Communications Clerk is responsible for operating the switchboard, offering the best possible service to the public, physicians, and colleagues of the hospital. This role involves answering phones, directing calls, operating paging systems, coordinating on-call schedules, handling emergency calls, and maintaining radio contact with security and engineering. The clerk will also monitor security cameras, manage patient mail distribution, and utilize various computer applications for departmental functions. Additionally, the position requires providing directory information, attending meetings, monitoring scanners for disaster situations, and finding Sign Language Interpreters as needed. The role also emphasizes providing competent patient care, utilizing problem-solving skills, building collaborative relationships, and adhering to the organization's mission, values, and policies.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Working knowledge of computer operations
• Must have good voice modulation, finger dexterity, coordination, and sound judgment.
• Must have ability to make sound speedy decisions, react instantly, and to interpret and correctly implement procedures and instructions.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to be subjected to interruptions.
• Must be able to be subjected to changing work priorities.
• Must be able to work under pressure and make clear concise decisions.
• Must be able to hear.
• Must be able to see for reading and computer operation.
• Must provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS Healthcare Provider, American Heart Association; or American Red Cross, Professional Rescuer-LIVE class only) via current card prior to employment or within 60 days of hire and maintains current status.
• Completes Mandatory Reporting: Child and Dependent Adult Abuse requirement within 6 months of hire and renews this requirement every 5 years.
• Completes Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) – American Heart Association within 6 months of hire and maintains current status.
• Completes Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) – American Heart Association within 6 months of hire and maintains current status.
• Completes Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) – American Heart Association within 6 months of hire and maintains current status.
• Completes MANDT Training within 6 months of hire and maintains current status.
• Completes Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) within 6 months of hire and maintains current status.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of Business College course work preferred
• Experience with switchboard operations is preferred.
• Keyboarding experience is preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule within the department as required.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Demonstrates good problem-solving techniques.

Responsibilities

• Answers phone and directs calls to proper location in a courteous and timely manner using approved scripting.
• Operates Zetron Paging System to program, exchange, or issue pagers.
• Contacts American Messaging Service to have new or loaner pagers programmed for providers or colleagues.
• Inputs call schedules into the Smartsheet On-Call Scheduling Sheets and makes necessary changes.
• Coordinates on-call schedules ensuring they are up-to-date and posted correctly online.
• Answers calls after hours for several physician offices.
• Handles emergency calls such as Code Blue, Code White, Code Gray, Missing Person/Child/Infant, etc. and has knowledge of all code procedures.
• Use approved communication for fire and various other alarm systems.
• Uses approved communication for other emergency situations such as Trauma Alerts, Emergency Heart Cases, Rapid Responses, etc. and notifies personnel as needed.
• Responsible for sending out weather alerts or other emergency mass notification messages from Informacast.
• Maintains radio contact with security and engineering.
• Monitors security cameras and notifies security, nursing supervisor, or other personnel as needed.
• Assigns room numbers to patient mail for distribution and forwards mail to discharged patients that have been discharged.
• Operates the Spok computer applications for paging, looking up directory information, paging out emergency groups, logging calls, etc.
• Uses other computer applications to carry out the required functions for the department.
• Supply Directory Information to patients and staff.
• Attends department meetings and in-services as requested or required and actively participates.
• Monitors scanner for potential code disaster situations.
• Is responsible for finding Sign Language Interpreters as needed.
• Provides competent patient care to the above indicated populations by obtaining and appropriately interpreting data, making appropriate decisions based on demonstrated knowledge of age-specific growth and development, and appropriately adapting procedures and treatments.
• Utilizes problem solving knowledge and skills to investigate problems and formulate solutions to improve safety, maximize growth, and reduce costs.
• Build collaborative relationships throughout the organization in order to share knowledge, skills, and resources.
• Talk promptly and directly to an individual when there is a concern or problem.
• Build trust through open, two-way communication.
• Embrace change and take prudent risk to find new ways to support the Mission.
• Encourage new ideas to serve our patients and communities.
• Provide and accept coaching and feedback.
• Communicates with and performs duties following Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa Guiding Behaviors.
• Supports and abides by all medical center, departmental, and safety policies and procedures.
• Proactively identifies safety concerns surrounding the work environment.
• Acts in a professional manner reflecting the mission, philosophy and values of Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa and the Sisters of Mercy.
• Performs other responsibilities as requested by the Supervisor of Communications.
• Maintains required department confidentiality and abides by HIPPA regulations.
• Provides competent patient care to the above indicated patient populations by obtaining and appropriately interpreting data, making appropriate decisions based on demonstrated knowledge of age-specific growth and development, and appropriately adapting procedures and treatments.
• Takes an active role in enhancing ability to carry out job functions through personal and professional/job-related growth and development, and participates in medical center and/or departmental education programs.
• Communicates with and performs duties following the philosophy of MercyOne and Trinity Health reflecting the organization’s Mission, Values, and Guiding Behaviors.
• Supports and abides by all medical center, departmental, and safety policies and procedures.
• Proactively identifies safety concerns surrounding the work environment.
• Performs other responsibilities as requested by supervisor, manager or director.

Benefits

• Equal Opportunity Employer
• Consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
• Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation.
• Invested $1.5 billion in our communities through charity care and other community benefit programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED