Health Unit Coordinator - FT

Bronson Healthcare•Battle Creek, NE

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of Unit Leadership, the Health Unit Coordinator (Unit Clerk/Receptionist) performs clerical and receptionist functions for the unit. The role prepares and compiles nursing-unit records, coordinates communication systems such as phones, nurse call systems, and hospital information systems, relays information, maintains positive public relations, and helps maintain supplies, equipment, and the unit environment. Other duties may be assigned by Unit Leadership. Employees providing direct patient care must demonstrate competencies specific to the population served. The coordinator supports communication and patient flow, responds to requests from patients, visitors, and staff, maintains records and supplies, and assists with patient and family needs. Depending on department assignment, duties may include transporting patients and guests, supporting admission paperwork, handling items from the tube station, monitoring elevator bays, and assisting with the Environment of Care. In specified units, the position may also involve holding stable newborn infants under RN direction or serving as a Patient Safety Assistant for suicide precautions. Patient Safety Assistant duties include observing and reporting patient activity, communicating with the responsible RN, accompanying patients to diagnostic tests occasionally, maintaining an orderly environment, and following safe patient-handling and confidentiality procedures. This is a first-shift, full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week at Bronson Battle Creek, in the OB Mother/Baby Unit.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required for employees hired on or after June 1, 2017.
Ability to successfully complete the organization's competency requirements for English, writing, spelling, and reading comprehension.
Ability to successfully complete hospital, core, and unit-specific orientation.
Working knowledge of medical terminology.
Ability to input and retrieve data from the organization's computerized systems.
Organizational skills to maintain records and orderly filing systems and manage multiple processes simultaneously.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients, visitors, and all members of the care delivery team.
Ability to perform work involving high levels of mental and visual fatigue, including CRT work for 70–90% of the time, close tolerances, and sustained hand-eye coordination.
Ability to stand or walk considerably, regularly lift objects weighing 20 pounds or less, assist with heavier tasks such as patient lifting and moving, and assume fatiguing positions or perform fatiguing physical motions.
For Patient Safety Assistant assignments: ability to follow safe patient-handling practices and assist with patient turns and transfers.

Nice To Haves

One to three months of related experience and/or training preferred.
Previous healthcare experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the flow of information throughout the unit or department for staff.
Answer telephone and nurse call system inquiries; provide information or relay messages to patients, visitors, and medical staff.
Direct visitors to patient rooms or visitor waiting areas and distribute mail, newspapers, and flowers to patients.
Compile patient census information, maintain records, and distribute information according to unit procedures.
Coordinate with the charge nurse to support smooth and timely patient flow into, through, and out of the department.
Perform clerical duties and process equipment and staff requests related to department needs.
Record patient and attending physician information to prepare medical records for new patients, and maintain medical-record files for patients on the unit.
Monitor and requisition designated supplies; organize and store supplies according to unit procedures and stock the assigned unit to facilitate patient care.
Gather, input, and retrieve information in computerized systems.
Transport patients and guests within the facility as directed or needed.
Take admission paperwork to patient rooms and facilitate or complete Medicare/important message and other paperwork as directed by an RN.
Manage incoming items from the tube station and deliver medications or other items to the RN or medication cart.
Work with transport staff to monitor elevator bays for beds and carts.
Assist in monitoring the Environment of Care and attend to patient and family needs, including tasks such as passing water or getting a towel.
Maintain unsupervised access to unit medication rooms for stocking or retrieving supplies.
In OB Mother/Baby or Antepartum, hold and cuddle stable newborn infants under RN direction and supervision.
When assigned as a Patient Safety Assistant for suicide precautions, observe and help prevent unsafe patient behavior, report patient activities and behaviors, communicate pertinent information to the responsible RN, occasionally accompany patients to diagnostic tests, and maintain a clean and orderly environment.
When assigned Patient Safety Assistant duties, assist with patient turns and transfers to a commode or bathroom using safe body mechanics, transfer devices, and personal protective equipment as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.