Unit Secretary-Urology & Vascular Surgery… at Northwestern… · Chicago

Summary: Northwestern Memorial Hospital is a leading healthcare provider committed to delivering world-class care. The Unit Secretary role involves coordinating information flow at the nurses' station, assisting healthcare providers, and ensuring a positive patient experience. Responsibilities: - Extends courtesies to patients, staff, and visitors in a prompt and responsive manner in all communications - Assists in monitoring visitor/employee access including the presence of badges in all patient care areas including the visitor waiting areas and alerts security as necessary - Recognizes difficult patient, staff and visitor situations, facilitates communication and escalates appropriately - Assists and directs patients, staff and visitors according to hospital policies - Answers the phone promptly and transfers calls according to NMH phone standards using AIDET - Effectively coordinates calls on multiple lines simultaneously - Promptly and accurately answers and responds to all patient calls within identified timeframe via the nurse call system using AIDET - Recognizes patient care requests requiring urgent attention and escalates to appropriate staff - Assures patients with communication needs are identified at the nurse call system and calls are handled appropriately - Prepares medical records on admission, discharge and transfer - Responsible for the maintenance of the patient medical record including but not limited to: - Assisting the care team in obtaining and releasing medical records - Maintains paper record and remains informed of the location - Places forms in the medical record including but not limited to discharge paperwork, outpatient records, home health orders, advanced directives and POLST - Scans appropriate forms into the electronic medical record (EMR) and notifies appropriate team members when additional documents are added to paper chart - Ensure nurse coverage is appropriately identified in EMR - Facilitates unit readiness for EMR downtime including but not limited to knowledge of downtime procedures and maintenance of appropriate forms - Assists in promptly reporting problems with EMR to the IT HELP desk - Verifies regulatory documentation at the point of care and escalates to the appropriate care team of any missing documents - Performs charge entry accurately - Performs admission, discharge, and transfer activities in a timely manner - Notifies the appropriate nursing staff and physician upon patient admission - Notifies appropriate nurse staff and physician when consulting teams arrive to the unit - Obtains patient identification if needed - Assigns appropriate caregivers in the nurse call system - Prepares patient chart: to be sent to medical records after patient discharge, for discharge to another healthcare facility, for transfer to another inpatient unit or the OR - Requests time for will-call ambulance and Medicare - Requests patient escort when appropriate - Tracks patient scheduling for tests and procedures and informs care providers of anticipated time - Tracks patient activity on and off patient care unit - monitors and updates bed tracking as appropriate - Verifies and reconciles unit census for accuracy in collaboration with charge nurse and/or Clinical Coordinator - Receives and distributes patient care unit deliveries to patients and staff - Accepts deliveries and stocks in appropriate place - Maintains a clean, uncluttered nursing station and tube station - Places service requests for equipment and repair and follows up to ensure repair is complete - Maintains and tracks an adequate supply of forms, clerical equipment, and nursing supplies according to patient care unit standards - Accurately completes and submits supply requisitions - Performs basic computer/printer maintenance: add paper, toner, fix printer jams - Maintains list of staff assignments and phone numbers, and distributes as appropriate - Ensures unit signage is stocked - Demonstrates ability to use online systems as required - Attend appropriate training classes necessary to perform job Required Qualifications: - High School or GED - Excellent communication and customer service skills - Computer experience Preferred Qualifications: - One year of college or business school - Unit secretary experience - Medical terminology Required Skills: Medical Records Management, Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems, Medical Terminology, Computer Experience Benefits: A wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events, Comprehensive training and development opportunities, Mentorship programs, Educational support, Student loan repayment, Flexible work options, A Reimbursable Well-Being Fund, A Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being, Volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities, Workforce-led resource groups