Operations/Monitor Assoc I

Baystate Health•Springfield, MA

About The Position

Reports to the Nurse Manager, with daily activities coordinated by the charge nurse. Independently supports patient- and family-centered care teams by processing patient information, managing documentation, organizing medical records, and facilitating smooth unit operations. Files patient reports and other information, relays messages among staff, supports bed management and patient throughput, processes direct admissions, and serves as a receptionist and business partner to the department and clinical staff. Orients patients and families to the unit and answers routine questions. The role coordinates admissions, discharges, and transfers; tracks and assigns beds; monitors discharge readiness and documentation; communicates with nursing, case management, physicians, and other departments; and arranges patient transport when needed. It also supports hospitalist and teaching teams, maintains patient charts and unit logs, assists with staffing coordination, inventories and charges supplies, and initiates emergency procedures as directed. The position observes cardiac monitors, reports irregular rhythms to registered nurses, and records and processes EKG monitor strips for defined cardiac patient populations.

Requirements

GED or HiSET.
Three years of acute care experience, including at least one year as a Level II OA MT at BH.
Computer literacy and good interpersonal skills.
Must take and pass the required dysrhythmia (telemetry) course within six weeks of hire.
Ability to read and write in English.
Ability to organize and prioritize, and to apply critical thinking skills.
Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.

Responsibilities

Track, prioritize, and assign beds; coordinate admissions, discharges, and transfers with relevant teams and systems.
Check and update bed management data, advise the charge nurse of changes, track ED admissions, obtain and relay SBAR information, and arrange transport when needed.
Monitor discharge orders, follow up on required documentation, enter discharges and pending discharges in designated systems, and coordinate discharge planning with nurses and case managers.
Round with RNs and case managers on discharge plans, timing, special instructions, and Discharge Lounge appropriateness; monitor observation patients with case management for discharge or status changes.
Carry the bed management beeper and arrange coverage during breaks and meals to maintain continuity of admissions, discharges, and transfers.
Accurately use the computer applications required for daily work, including C Word, OA Gold, SMS, CIS, Premise, BMD, PCM Auditor, People Soft, Staples, and Kronos access if applicable.
Complete assigned unit projects, such as payroll, committee participation, and development of unit time schedules.
Provide shift handoff on pending discharges, admissions in process, empty or cleaning beds, and closed beds and their reasons.
Contact other departments to arrange priority tests for patients identified for next-day discharge.
Answer telephone calls, promptly relay accurate messages, respond to routine inquiries or refer them appropriately, communicate identified problems, and place calls to physicians and ancillary departments to facilitate care and throughput.
Coordinate communication with NEOPO and related paperwork with the RN when appropriate; screen calls for the clinical team and facilitate requested information.
Serve as a unit-based resource for Zoned Hospitalists and medical/surgical teaching teams, including assisting during rounds by initiating calls, sending faxes, and calling consults as directed.
Make daily unit assignments available to Hospitalists, maintain a designated Hospitalist workspace with computer and telephone access, identify the Hospitalist of the day using electronic systems, and post break and lunch coverage centrally.
Work with Access Services and patients or families to secure post-discharge follow-up appointments.
Maintain patient charts in proper sequence, label pages, prepare records for transfer and discharge, explain and obtain signatures for Medicare forms, and organize, fax, or copy records as needed.
Send discharge records to HIM immediately after discharge, update admission and discharge logs, ensure transfer information is complete, prepare patient charge tickets, and keep accurate unit records.
Enter data into PCM Auditor at specified times when appropriate, and replenish or restock unit audit tools and other unit logs and forms.
Greet new patients and families, assist other departments with information, and post or file physician schedules for clinical team reference.
Coordinate with the charge nurse to prepare staffing assignments for the next shift, call to replace unplanned staffing vacancies, and communicate staffing and scheduling to the Clinical Supervisor.
Retrieve mail, blood products, medications, and supplies from designated departments as needed.
Inventory, maintain, and charge supplies; initiate accurate and timely requisitions; store supplies within 24 hours of receipt; record or submit patient supply charges or credits; and coordinate paper supplies to maintain unit par levels.
Know and initiate emergency procedures as needed or directed, verbalize the location of emergency equipment, and mobilize emergency support personnel by telephone.
Observe cardiac monitors, identify and report irregular rhythms to a registered nurse for interpretation and intervention, and record and process EKG monitor strips for defined cardiac patient populations.
Ensure proper placement and maintenance of monitoring equipment.