Unit Administrative Assistant

Houston Methodist•Sweetwater, FL

About The Position

The Unit Administrative Assistant (UAA) supports the interprofessional team in delivering high-quality, cost-effective care. The role helps coordinate transfers and transport for procedures, communicates effectively with patients and team members, and promotes excellent customer service. The UAA provides prompt, personalized service to patients by responding to the nurse call system, contacting nursing personnel as appropriate, and following through on patient needs. The position oversees multiple priorities and uses organizational skills to maintain an orderly unit environment. It requires competency in computer applications, medical terminology, and other job-related functions, while supporting Patient and Family Centered Care and Houston Methodist’s ICARE values: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. The role is non-exempt and requires a high school diploma or equivalent and two years of secretarial/office, college/vocational training, or patient-care experience. The scheduled work shift is day shift. The role may require on-call availability during emergencies, although it is not otherwise designated as an on-call position.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent education.
Two years of secretarial/office, college/vocational training, or patient-care experience.
Demonstrated skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, as assessed through ongoing skills and competency assessments and performance evaluations.
English speaking, reading, and writing proficiency sufficient to perform essential job functions, particularly those affecting patient or employee safety or security.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients, physicians, family members, and coworkers in a customer-service-focused manner using positive language principles.
Ability to operate and troubleshoot equipment such as fax machines, PCs, printers, and telephones.
Highly proficient computer application skills.

Nice To Haves

Prior healthcare experience and/or medical terminology.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or BLS Instructor certification from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Responsibilities

Provide prompt, personalized service to patients; respond to the nurse call system, contact nursing personnel as appropriate, and follow through on patient needs.
Answer and appropriately transfer incoming unit telephone calls.
Facilitate effective patient throughput through timely communication.
Greet patients and visitors, providing directions, information, and guidance.
Communicate effectively with healthcare team members and report pertinent patient-care and family information comprehensively and without bias; escalate issues as needed.
Use time efficiently, assist team members, and contribute to unit-based turnover, retention, employee satisfaction, and patient satisfaction efforts.
Organize unit workflow and paperwork, proactively solve problems, anticipate needs, and manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
Pull or print daily reports according to unit standards, which may include shift, charge nurse, handoff, or My Daily Care Plan reports.
Coordinate Facilities Management/Maintenance and Biomed requests concerning department needs or broken equipment.
Round through the unit according to expectations to identify environmental or equipment needs and other assistance required.
Serve as an in-house courier, which may include retrieving blood, hand-delivering labs, and transporting tele boxes.
Assist with calls to physicians and their offices, bed management, transfer services, and other floors; coordinate with the Operations Administrator as needed.
Assist with patient transfers and transport for procedures and follow up on calls for tests and procedures as directed by a nurse.
Remove patients from the system upon discharge or transfer.
Monitor and address unit noise levels and respond promptly to patient calls.
Report patient observations, conditions, and problems to licensed personnel; protect patient and family privacy and patient safety.
Support initiatives to prevent pressure injuries, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections, and contribute to unit quality and safety goals.
Manage time and prioritize tasks independently, minimizing incidental overtime; use resources efficiently and avoid wasting supplies.
Monitor and order supplies to maintain par levels, including unit forms, and notify leadership when supplies are becoming scarce.
Assist with patient and staffing needs, including floating across the service line or hospital within the role’s scope and validated competencies.
Participate in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities, offer innovative solutions, and follow up on action items.
Identify learning needs, consult healthcare team experts, pursue continuing education, maintain an individual development plan, and ensure career discussions occur with appropriate management.