Communications Clerk

University of Maryland Medical System•Largo, MD

12d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for operating central answering telephone equipment, answering incoming calls, and promptly transferring calls or providing requested service according to departmental procedure. The role also involves providing telephone paging services, receiving and delivering messages, and responding to emergency calls by activating various communication methods and contacting appropriate emergency services. Additionally, the Communications Clerk maintains logs of emergency calls, uses a Siemens system for patient information, performs data entry, conducts test pages, reports system malfunctions, manages on-call schedules, makes appointments for translation services, monitors the fire alarm and Huggs security systems, and proctors new hires.

Requirements

High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED) is required.
One year experience as a Telephone Attendant/Operator using computerized equipment.

Nice To Haves

Completed Course Work/Program: Applicable Experience
Medical Terminology

Responsibilities

Operates central answering telephone equipment, answers incoming calls, and promptly transfers calls or provides requested service according to departmental procedure.
Provides telephone paging services for physicians and other designated personnel according to departmental procedure.
Receives and promptly delivers messages which have a medical urgency or necessity to Physicians, Residents, Staff and Patients according to departmental procedure.
Answers fire, emergency, or medical emergency calls, activates paging, fax, text messages, desk top notification and overhead alerts according to departmental policy and procedures; calls affected department to get specific information including exact location of emergency in order to contact the appropriate emergency service. Ensures that appropriate Code teams respond to emergency calls.
Maintains logs of all emergency calls. Records date, time, caller, and operator responsible for activating emergency call protocol.
Uses Siemens query patient information and provides information to public according to departmental procedures and HIPAA guidelines.
Performs data entry of changes in department numbers, pager numbers, and medical and surgical schedules.
Performs monthly Test Pages according to departmental policy and procedure.
Reports all system malfunctions immediately to appropriate personnel, vendors and management.
Monitors and makes daily changes to on-call schedule for medical staff, AOC, PA’s, ICU consults, Respiratory, Cath Lab (Stemi), OR, Ortho attending, Vascular lab, Psychiatrist, Echo Techs, Dialysis, Biomedical Engineering and Interventional Radiology.
Makes appointments for patients in need of translation services for admissions, hospital stays, discharges, legal, Human Resources, outpatient service and all other stakeholders.
Monitors fire alarm system in conjunction with Clinical Engineering.
Contacts clergy at the request of patient, family or nursing unit.
Monitors Huggs security system.
Proctors new hires.