Health Unit Coordinator

Job Description

This role provides clerical support to the clinical team, helping with daily patient care tasks. It serves as a key communication link for processing information and requests between patients, staff, visitors, physicians, and other departments. Responsibilities include entering patient data, maintaining medical records, and managing related documents from admission to discharge. Additionally, the role supports patient care by running errands, cleaning, and ensuring a conducive environment for quality care. Communication is tailored to be culturally and age-appropriate.

Responsibilities

Communication

• Keep Clinical Manager and staff informed of any issues.
• Greet and assist patients, visitors, and staff as a receptionist.
• Answer patient call lights promptly and courteously.
• Maintain positive customer relations with physicians, visitors, and patients, using clear and respectful phone etiquette.
• Transfer calls to appropriate personnel efficiently. • Handle phone inquiries with accuracy, courtesy, and confidentiality.
• Facilitate communication with ancillary departments as needed.
• Collaborate professionally with hospital departments.
• Serve as a resource for locating supplies and medical records.
• Communicate with physician offices about patient consultations and records.
• Adhere to departmental and hospital customer service standards.

Computer/Chart Responsibilities

• Maintain admit/discharge logs (census cards).
• Ensure timely patient admission, transfer, and discharge.
• Enter transport requests into EPIC Bed Management.
• Obtain signatures for Consent to Hospital and Medical Treatment Forms as needed.
• Make copies of Advanced Directives for patient charts. • Complete consults in Epic accurately.
• Place calls for STAT requests.
• Follow downtime procedures for manual order entry (SRO, BCA Web, BCA Standalone).
• Prepare requisitions for services (e.g., maintenance, clinical engineering).
• Enter and record unit-based charges as needed.
• Run daily audits/reports in EPIC as directed by the department manager.
• Maintain current and old patient charts.
• Place forms and results into charts promptly.
• Copy and retrieve medical records as necessary.
• Keep charts organized and in designated order.
• Prepare charts for new patients, ensuring face sheets, labels, and armbands are included.
• Break down charts for discharged patients, placing the face sheet on top.

Environment/Supplies/Equipment

• Ensure all mobile phones have charged batteries.
• Monitor the tube system, emptying and distributing contents to appropriate nurses.
• Periodically check the fax machine for incoming faxes and forward to the correct personnel.
• Maintain and refill printers, copiers, and fax machines.
• Perform routine maintenance on fax machines, copiers, printers, etc.
• Order, verify, and store supplies and equipment, maintaining an appropriate inventory as directed by the manager.
• Handle typing and filing tasks for the unit (excluding patient records).
• Assist with unit-specific needs as directed by the manager or charge RN.
• Complete errands accurately and promptly.
• Submit Plant Maintenance Work Requisitions as needed.
• Notify Clinical Engineering about malfunctioning equipment.
• Regularly observe the functioning of equipment and report malfunctions to the appropriate personnel (charge RN, Clinical Engineering, Maintenance, Help Desk, POMS).
• Identify and report potential safety hazards.
• Be familiar with the locations of fire alarms, extinguishers, and hoses.
• Keep the nurses' station clean, tidy, and organized at all times

Unit Responsibilities/Accountability

• Serve as a positive role model, maintaining a positive attitude.
• Ensure timely and appropriate follow-through on job functions.
• Participate in unit governance activities.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Manager to develop, implement, and evaluate Process Improvement Plan initiatives to enhance outcomes.
• Advocate for High Reliability principles in patient care and operational efficiency.
• Use data to drive improvement efforts.
• Attend in-services and unit meetings or review meeting minutes.
• Maintain the integrity of unit equipment (cleaning, repairs).
• Train and orient new employees as requested.
• Respond to emergencies and follow directed actions.
• Adhere to the chain of command.
• Complete all unit assignments as requested.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Please describe any specialized knowledge or skills, which are REQUIRED to perform the position duties. Do not personalize the job description, credentials, or knowledge and skills based on the current associate. List any special education required for this position.

EDUCATION: High School graduate or GED

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS: None