GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
Under the general direction of the Nursing Director, the Unit Coordinator (UC) provides administrative support to unit-based and hospital-wide clinicians and staff in an inpatient unit, functioning as the liaison between the patient, visitors and the clinicians. The UC is expected to effectively organize priorities, complete tasks on time and to manage confidential patient information. The UC is responsible for partnering with nursing to coordinate the day-to-day patient flow including communication to key players regarding patient admissions, discharges and transfers. The UC is expected to provide outstanding services for every customer interaction.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Communication and Customer Service.
Greets and interacts with patients, families, visitors and coworkers in person and via communication tools in a professional manner.
Responds to and/or triages requests.
Escorts patients when appropriate.
Receives, prioritizes, organizes and manages information at the central nursing station, and throughout the unit:
- Facilitates effective communication both directly and through utilization of communication tools- including telephone, paging, patient call system, fax, computer, and, using hand held devices in a timely manner
- Supports and resolves processes related to the securing of patient belongings and valuables
- Schedules consultations, tests, procedures, and patient transport to other departments
- Assures adequate supply of admission packets for incoming patients per unit protocol
- Maintains patient confidentiality at all times
- Monitors Patient Acuity system and sends reminders to staff via hand held devices to complete this work
- Schedules discharge follow up appointments (as per unit workflow)
Tasks Supporting Medications and Laboratory department (as per hospital policies and unit based workflow):
- Supports securing and storage of medications.
- Uses pneumatic tube to send and receive patient medications.
- Assembles medications for transferring patients.
- Returns unneeded medications to Pharmacy.
Tasks supporting management of the Patient Record.
Enters into electronic medical record accurate and timely information about admissions, discharges and transfers to facilitate efficient patient throughput.
Maintains patient records for ready access and in compliance with hospital standards for order, completeness, integrity, confidentiality .
Files/scans medical record components in designated locations.
Facilitates documentation associated with patient admissions, transfer, referral and discharge.
Successfully monitors and resolves fax machine for incoming/outgoing transmissions.
Assists with unit operations during periods of planned and unplanned Information System downtime.
Tasks supporting the environment of Care:
- Contacts ancillary service departments to obtain equipment, services and supplies; tracks status and location; uses designated process for identifying and facilitating repairs
- Supports responsible management of supplies, equipment, materials and services
- Orders, receives, unpacks and stocks unit supplies
- Monitors inventories and provides input into par level changes
- Assists in maintaining compliance with Environment of Care Standards
Maintains cleanliness and order of work space, and compliance logs for refrigerators in nourishment center, discards expired contents of refrigerator, and electronic device management:
- Oversees specialty equipment and tracks lost equipment
- Maintains conference room bookings (where applicable)
- Follows up on equipment returns/ borrowing of equipment
- Ensures infection control signs and other patient caution signs* are posted outside patient rooms
- Monitors secured and locked units and follows hospital security policy regarding entry to secured units
Professional Responsibilities: *
- Collaborates with the Nursing Director to identify and meet needs for continuing education.
- Completes required training in a timely manner
- Attends/views in-services to remain current with changes in policies, procedures and practices.
- Participates in and supports quality and process improvement initiatives.
- Participates in the orientation of all staff.
- Adheres to hospital, departmental and unit-based guidelines.
- Complies with timekeeping policies including proper use of Kronos
- Adheres to attendance standards and dress code standards
- Willingly performs other tasks as necessary