Clerical Support - Surgery - M-F, Days

Johnson Regional Medical Center•Clarksville, AR

About The Position

The Unit Secretary provides clerical support for the Surgery Department. Position is FT, Monday through Friday. POSITION DESCRIPTION Job Title: Surgical Services Unit Secretary Supervised by: Surgical Services Nurse Director Job Summary: Provides indirect patient care for the department. Schedules all operative and invasive procedures. Records statistics as requested. Orders equipment for specific procedures. Performs all secretarial duties as requested. Maintains communication lines for department. Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas: Interacts professionally with physicians, patients/family and others. Responds to inappropriate behavior in a therapeutic manner. Obtains licensed nurse when family requests communication regarding patient’s condition, beyond the Unit Secretary’s scope of practice. Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors. Handles delivery of mail daily to and from department. Orders office supplies and printing, as required, and picks up orders. Schedules all surgeries, as called in to department by physicians or physician’s offices, per policy and procedure. Organizes and prepares the Surgery Schedule for the following day and delivers to all appropriate departments daily. Delivers Surgery Schedule book to Chief Nursing Officer, if Unit Secretary is last person to leave at end of day. Verifies the number of inpatients and outpatients from the previous day and communicates information to Information Management. Batches patient charges and sends to data processing daily. Maintains current surgery logbook daily. Maintains implant logbook. Checks in supplies from Materials Management and places items on cart, to be put away by responsible staff person. Notifies Engineering Department of any equipment not in proper working order; completes necessary paperwork. Orders intraocular lenses for cataract surgeries, per physician specifications. Obtains purchase orders (PO numbers) for instruments, cell saver, implants, etc. Assists in transport of patients to and from the OR/PACU. Computes and reports monthly statistics to Medical Records, Performance Improvement and Surgical Services Nurse Manager. Notifies Nurse Manager and anesthesia provider of any changes in surgery line-up. If schedule is already distributed, notifies appropriate departments. Confirms daily surgical and PACU on-call schedule, places changes in schedule book and on master schedule before delivery to Chief Nursing Officer. Makes changes monthly by copying the surgery master schedule. Communicates information about the surgical progress to the patient’s family/significant other in the waiting room, as directed. Takes and records messages and communicates to appropriate medical staff. Answers telephone in a polite manner and communicates information to appropriate staff, using phone memo book. Calls anesthesia providers daily for their next day’s assignments. Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationships with co-workers for the patient’s benefit. Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self-motivated. Organization and management of secretary’s activities reflects due consideration for the needs of the department and staff. Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of facts and good judgment within the secretary’s scope of practice. Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality. Keeps informed of patient’s condition and whereabouts when patient is out of room Completes other duties, as assigned. Professional Requirements: Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean. Completes annual education requirements. Maintains regulatory requirements. Maintains patient confidentiality at all times. Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time. Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly. Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion. Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled. Attends 12 staff meetings annually, or reads and returns all staff meeting minutes. Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner. Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities. Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices. Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.

Requirements

High School graduate or equivalent.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
One (1) year of experience as surgery scheduler, preferred.
Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Additional languages preferred.
Basic computer knowledge.
Ability to type minimum of 40 wpm.
Knowledgeable in skills of patient/guest relations.
Light physical effort. Lift/carry up to 30 pounds. Mostly sedentary work with occasional standing and walking. Lifts supplies and equipment.

Responsibilities

Provides indirect patient care for the department.
Schedules all operative and invasive procedures.
Records statistics as requested.
Orders equipment for specific procedures.
Performs all secretarial duties as requested.
Maintains communication lines for department.
Handles delivery of mail daily to and from department.
Orders office supplies and printing, as required, and picks up orders.
Schedules all surgeries, as called in to department by physicians or physician’s offices, per policy and procedure.
Organizes and prepares the Surgery Schedule for the following day and delivers to all appropriate departments daily.
Delivers Surgery Schedule book to Chief Nursing Officer, if Unit Secretary is last person to leave at end of day.
Verifies the number of inpatients and outpatients from the previous day and communicates information to Information Management.
Batches patient charges and sends to data processing daily.
Maintains current surgery logbook daily.
Maintains implant logbook.
Checks in supplies from Materials Management and places items on cart, to be put away by responsible staff person.
Notifies Engineering Department of any equipment not in proper working order; completes necessary paperwork.
Orders intraocular lenses for cataract surgeries, per physician specifications.
Obtains purchase orders (PO numbers) for instruments, cell saver, implants, etc.
Assists in transport of patients to and from the OR/PACU.
Computes and reports monthly statistics to Medical Records, Performance Improvement and Surgical Services Nurse Manager.
Notifies Nurse Manager and anesthesia provider of any changes in surgery line-up. If schedule is already distributed, notifies appropriate departments.
Confirms daily surgical and PACU on-call schedule, places changes in schedule book and on master schedule before delivery to Chief Nursing Officer. Makes changes monthly by copying the surgery master schedule.
Communicates information about the surgical progress to the patient’s family/significant other in the waiting room, as directed. Takes and records messages and communicates to appropriate medical staff.
Answers telephone in a polite manner and communicates information to appropriate staff, using phone memo book.
Calls anesthesia providers daily for their next day’s assignments.
Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationships with co-workers for the patient’s benefit.
Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self-motivated. Organization and management of secretary’s activities reflects due consideration for the needs of the department and staff.
Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of facts and good judgment within the secretary’s scope of practice.
Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
Keeps informed of patient’s condition and whereabouts when patient is out of room
Completes other duties, as assigned.