Health Unit Coordinator

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • DeKalb, IL

4d • $17 - $26

About The Position

The Health Unit Coordinator reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values and complies with its Code of Ethics, Corporate Compliance Program, policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory and accreditation standards. The role performs unit-based reception, clerical, medical-record, and patient-registration functions, and helps manage overall unit workflow in coordination with the charge RN and/or assistant manager. The coordinator serves as a liaison between patient-care units and other patient-related departments, communicates with patients, families, staff, and physicians, and prioritizes work while responding calmly to emergencies and changing unit needs.

The position includes handling patient records and orders, retrieving and communicating lab results, registering patients, maintaining census information, managing telephone and unit-entry systems, and ordering supplies and chart forms. The coordinator is expected to provide professional, customer-oriented service, protect patient confidentiality, use equipment safely, and participate in teamwork, continuous improvement, and professional development.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to assess when an interpreter is needed and use interpreter services effectively.
• Excellent customer service skills.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience in a pertinent clinical specialty.

Responsibilities

• Present a friendly, approachable, professional demeanor and appearance.
• Provide accurate information and timely updates to patients and customers; respond to questions and concerns or direct them to appropriate people and resources.
• Help patients and customers find their way and use service-recovery skills to address problems or service breakdowns.
• Work cooperatively across teams and departments, communicate respectfully, and use organizational and unit resources efficiently.
• Manage schedules, tasks, and assignments on time and contribute to continuous improvement and efforts to reduce costs and streamline work.
• Coordinate work with the Manager and Charge Nurse and communicate clearly with managers, charge nurses, co-workers, and physicians.
• Consult other departments as appropriate to support an interdisciplinary approach to patient needs.
• Retrieve lab results from the computer and bring them to the attention of the nurse caring for the patient.
• Interact professionally with patients and families, providing explanations and verbal reassurance as needed.
• Prepare medical records for new admissions, disassemble charts at discharge, and forward them to Medical Records.
• Maintain records in proper chronological order behind the appropriate tabs and obtain required signatures and documents.
• Understand the Petition and Certificate process related to involuntary admissions.
• Accurately transcribe and clarify handwritten orders, physician order sets, and clinical data; enter and verify computer orders for timely delivery of medications, supplies, and diagnostic or therapeutic tests and services.
• Seek learning opportunities, participate in professional growth and development, and share knowledge from continuing education with co-workers.
• Use computer systems for order entry, results, documentation, and policies, and operate equipment safely and correctly.
• Remain flexible and organized under stressful situations and prioritize multiple high-level, time-sensitive tasks as unit needs change.
• Answer the telephone and monitor the unit’s closed-circuit camera and intercom/door-entry system, communicating information appropriately to staff and families.
• Monitor patient type in the computer against actual status and correct discrepancies.
• Perform pre-census activities and validate daily admission, discharge, and census lists.
• Register patients in the computer.
• Conduct telephone screenings and determine appropriate disposition based on the call while observing confidentiality and Release of Information rules.
• Order supplies and print forms used for patient charts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Loan forgiveness
• 401(k) matching
• A range of benefits supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being and protection for unexpected life events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED