Health unit coordinator

General Position Summary :

Responsible for operations of the nurses’ station involving multiple simultaneous tasks to ensure the smooth and safe flow of information.

Serves as the unit receptionist, switchboard operator, and general go-to person for nurses, patient care technicians, physicians, ancillary staff, outside agencies, and visitors.

Essential Functions / Major Responsibilities :

Down Time procedures :

oTranscribes physician and nursing orders accurately.

oEnsures orders have all required elements : date, time, signature, supporting diagnosis, etc.

oFlags charts needing physician or nursing attention, such as completion of orders, and noting of orders.

oEnsures that patient lab work, radiology report, etc., are filed correctly Ensures compliance with HIPAA policies and procedures.

oFaxes medication orders to pharmacy.

• Maintains patient medical record in proper order.
• Prints patient labels, wristbands, and face sheets.
• Print forms from Forms on Demand.
• Pages, calls, texts physicians and other care givers as needed or requested.
• Obtains medical records for physicians and nurses from outside facilities as requested.
• Prepares patient medical records for patient transfers and transports.
• Admits, discharges, and transfers patients accurately in the computerized medical record.
• Maintains the census board.
• Updates the patient call system.
• Pages emergency codes over the intercom system.
• Maintains outpatient observation times and updating OPO record (for departments with Observation services).
• Communicates with appropriate personnel regarding hand-off of care : patients being transported off unit for procedures.
• Monitors telemetry (ICU and M / S 1, 2 and 3 only) and updates admits / discharges / patient status.
• Updates Pulse Oximetry monitor (MS2 only).
• Answers departmental incoming calls; transfers calls to other departments and patient rooms.
• Update care providers in EMR Patient Info tab.
• Upon discharge, send CCD reports to primary care and consulting providers.
• Upon discharge, make follow-up appointments as ordered on discharge instructions.
• Maintain department logs : daily census sheet, telemedicine rounding log, patient register, etc.
• Order unit office supplies.
• Send and receive fax documents via Right Fax.
• Participates in educational offerings, including in-services, competency activities, etc.
• Displays proper etiquette and mannerisms that reflect the SHINE Behavior Guidelines.
• Promotes the Patient Safety Standards as a core value of the organization.
• Complete department skills delineation checklist.

Secondary Functions :

• Participates in departmental and association wide informational meetings and in services, including staff meetings, association wide forums, and seminars.
• Reviews department and association wide policies and procedures annually.
• All other duties as assigned.

Additional / Seasonal Responsibilities :

None.

Job Scope : This job involves :

This job involves :

• Regular and recurring work situations.
• A moderate level of complexity.
• Operation from established and well-known procedures.
• Performance of duties under moderate supervision.

Supervisory Responsibility :

None.

Interpersonal Contacts :

Contacts :

• Are normally made with others both inside and outside the hospital.
• Are made with own department, staff, and supervisor as well as other departments and locations.
• Frequently contain confidential / sensitive information necessitating discretion at all times.
• Include contact with patients and physicians.

Specific Job Skills & Mental Activities :

This position requires knowledge of general office equipment (including the nurse call system, telephone system, fax machine, copy machine, computer, and commonly used hospital programs) as well as medical terminology, telemetry monitoring, and knowledge of hospital equipment and programs, including all Hospital Information Systems and department specific equipment.

This position requires excellent computer, communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.

Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.

Education and / or Experience :

• High School diploma or equivalent (required).
• Current CPR Certification (required within 30 days of hire date).
• Medical terminology (preferred).
• Telemetry monitoring (preferred).
• Computer experience (preferred).
• One year previous experience in a clinical setting (preferred).
• Health Unit Coordinator Certification (preferred).

Physical Demands & Job Conditions :

Exert up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally, and / or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently, and / or up to 10 lbs. of force constantly to move objects.

The worker is exposed to moderate lifting and usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. The worker is subject to contact with chemicals, contact with infectious fluids, and constant standing.

Physical motions include finger dexterity, standing, walking, stooping, crawling, talking, reaching, feeling, sitting, bending, kneeling, climbing, grasping, listening / hearing, handling, lifting 10-25 pounds, and repetitive motions of the hands, wrists, and feet.

This is considered a safety-sensitive position.

OSHA Exposure Category :

Involves exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues.

Last updated : 2024-04-08