New 
Unit Secretary - Days - 32 hours
 Cooley Dickinson Hospital | |
 United States, Massachusetts, Northampton | |
| 30 Locust Street (Show on map) | |
 May 24, 2025 | |
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Summary
The Unit Secretary is responsible for performing a variety of administrative tasks to record, verify, and receive patient, unit, and hospital information reflecting admissions, transfers, discharges, patient data, patient census, and related data. The Unit Secretary participates in maintaining necessary supplies and equipment and supports patient care on the unit by participating in hourly rounding, assisting with answering call bells, communicating specific care needs to the clinical staff, passing meal trays, and setting up meal trays. The Unit Secretary may function as patient care observer to monitor for patient safety in situations where 1:1 observations are required. When in this role, patient care needs will be communicated and met by other members of the clinical care team. This position is part of the 1199SEIU Bargaining Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. This position reports to the Nurse Manager and operates within established organizational and departmental policies and procedures. Must be able to interact effectively and appropriately to an individual's intellectual level and physical ability. 1Infants1Pediatric1Adolescent1Adult1Geriatric Does this position require Patient Care? No Essential Functions -Receive incoming communications and take appropriate action to relay information to the necessary person(s). -Receive and direct Medical Staff, personnel, patients and visitors. -Notify patient's nurse of scheduled appointments. -Inform next shift Unit Secretary, Shift Charge Nurse, or Nurse Manager of problems needing attention. -Notify Case Management of the need for consultation at the request of physician or nurse. -Notify consulting physician, physician's office, or answering service of need for consultation as ordered by attending physician. -Contact religious personnel on behalf of patient as directed by nursing staff, patient or patient's family. -Contact receiving unit when patient is being transferred to assure patient unit is ready. -Receive telephone Lab reports, record appropriately, then communicate all phone reports to the appropriate nurse or physician as soon as possible. -Communicate problems and information to appropriate persons. -Participate in staffing the unit under the direction of the Nurse Manager. Place calls to staff to communicate needs of the unit. -Transcribe doctor's orders onto appropriate records accurately. -Report any STAT orders placed or written by physician to the appropriate staff immediately. -Enter any written orders into computer. -Schedule tests and x-rays around patient's needs and testing requirements (e.g. timing requirements, procedural protocols, etc.). -Enter diets into computer. -Communicate with pharmacy via fax or phone as appropriate. -Perform non-clinical duties related to the admission, hospitalization, discharge, transfer, death and leave of absence of patients. -Prepare and update patient medical record for each admission. -File forms in individual patient's medical record. -Prepare discharged patient's medical record and review the record for completion of charting, checking for signatures as appropriate. -Copy medical records as ordered for patient transfer to another facility. -Send patient's medical record to Medical Records after charting is completed, the chart is checked, and patient is discharged. -Retrieve old patient medical records. -Prepare appropriate paperwork for patient needs: i.e. surgical packets / Universal Protocol / EMTALA / Medical Necessity form / Discharge. -Ensure that appropriate stock items and equipment are available to the unit (this is in conjunction with the Unit Aide if that particular unit has a Unit Aide). -Order and maintain unit supplies. Enter appropriate charges for storeroom supplies for each patient. -Contact telephone maintenance for prompt repair if equipment malfunctions or presents a safety hazard and fill out maintenance requisition. -Participate in cost containment by efficient utilization of resources. -Complete or maintain appropriate forms, records, requisitions, etc. -Greet new patients with friendly professionalism and escort patient to room and notify appropriate nurse when needed. -Greet and direct visitors to appropriate room and inform them of hospital regulations as appropriate. -Issue correct information to patients and families. -Respect the dignity and confidentiality of the patient and family. -Participate in the orientation of new personnel. -Assist in emergency situations as directed. -Make trips to other hospital departments for patient and unit supplies (i.e. equipment, blood, storeroom, etc.) and deliver specimens, etc. -Set up chart packets (regular and pre-operative). -Make unit rounds to pick up and transport lab slips, census sheets, patient activity sheets, etc (11 pm - 7 am shift). -Functions as patient observer when 1:1 observation for patient safety is required -Delivers meal trays to patients using safe tray passing techniques (verify with RN if NPO, patient going for a test, patient with swallowing issues, etc) -May perform non-clinical tasks as directed by the patient's nurse. -*For secretary staff with Monitor Technician (MT) training: oProvides breaks for MT oMaintains competency for arrthymia recognition oRotates to MT role as needed -*Patient Observation Role: oRemain in constant attendance with assigned high risk patient until relieved by shift charge nurse. oMaintain safety for patients with suicidal ideation. oImmediately notify nursing staff of any unusual circumstances or obtain assistance with any restrained patient who needs attention or assistance. oImmediately report any changes in patient's condition to the patient's nurse. -May interact with patient as directed by the patient's nurse. This could mean reading the newspaper, magazine or book to the patient, playing cards or talking with the patient. -Maintain established hospital and departmental policies and procedures, objectives, confidentiality, quality improvement program, compliance, safety, infection control and environmental standards. -Maintain professional growth and development through attendance at seminars, workshops, conferences or in-services, professional affiliations or journals to stay abreast of current trends in field of expertise. -Meet annual competency and retraining requirements. -Attend meetings as required. -Perform other functions/duties as requested. Education High School Diploma or Equivalent required Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? No Licenses and Credentials Experience One (1) to three (3) years secretarial experience preferred Health care experience preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology required. - Demonstrated typing skills and computer experience required. - Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills required. - Demonstrated positive customer service skills and ability to work as a team required. - Demonstrated ability to focus and provide attention to detail required. - For Unit Secretaries on the Behavioral Health Unit, de-escalation training required within 30 days of hire or transfer into another department. Physical Requirements Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. | |