Unit Associate, full-time day 7a-3p, Mother/Baby, Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center

Unit Associate

The Unit Associate supports clinical staff and daily operations within a healthcare unit by providing administrative, clerical, and patient-support functions. This role ensures efficient workflow, timely communication, and accurate documentation to enhance patient care and unit performance.

Answers phones promptly and politely while directing customers appropriately and efficiently. Uses proper phone etiquette and AIDET. Politely greets visitors, patients, and staff, answering their questions and directing them as needed. Answers call lights promptly and delegates request to appropriate staff using approved communication devices (Vocera)

Acts as liaison between Nursing, Bed Management, Patient Access, Environmental Services and Transport to ensure appropriate patient placement and flow. Demonstrates knowledge and competency with computer systems to perform timely and accurate unit/floor admissions, transfers and discharges. Removes all discharged patients from the system within fifteen minutes or less. Maintains positive working relationships with ancillary/support departments to facilitate scheduling of diagnostic tests, procedures and services. Obtains patient supplies, results and medical records as appropriate. Conducts patient rounds. Maintains patient records and facilitates patient education. Prints patient labels and wristbands as appropriate. Organizes paper patient records to support timely HIM scanning. Provides document scanning as needed. Assists with admission packets and discharge/transfer paperwork and documentation and records transfer. Coordinates distribution of patient itineraries. Resource for hospital information systems and devices. Troubleshoots unit/floor computer problems (computer errors, printer jams, broken equipment, etc.). Identifies, reports (to Customer Support Center) and tracks problems with hospital information systems/devices. Serves as training support to nursing staff for non-clinical computer system functions such as printing labels, ADT. Participates in training of new unit associates. Business Continuity Access (BCA) Coordination: Ensures competency with BCA procedures. Completes daily check of BCA computer/devices. Maintains BCA forms. Organizes and participates in BCA drills. Assists clinical staff with BCA education and implementation during a downtime. Assists with back entry of orders after a downtime. Monitors unit/floor environment for cleanliness, safety and patient/staff comfort. Keeps workstation organized and uncluttered. Reports and follows up on cleaning needs, leaks, temperature adjustments, safety concerns to appropriate departments (EVS, Plant Engineering, etc.). Maintains unit associate Competency/Furthers Self Development. Attends Unit associate meetings and/or receives updates on meeting content. Reviews UA website, unit UA emails/notices. Follows all OSHA, Joint Commission, Dept. of Health, HIPAA and hospital/system policies. Performs payroll and API scheduling duties as applicable. Participates in unit-based rounding/audits, staff meetings, unit specific workflows and customer service initiatives as requested by unit/floor manager. Safely transports specimens and returns equipment to appropriate department as requested. Other duties as assigned. Observes and maintains isolation precautions. Follows hand washing protocol. Maintains a clean and clutter free work environment. Uses and stores equipment properly. Must work in a fast-paced environment with positive customer service skills.

Required: 1. HS Diploma or equivalent. 2. Six months of health care work experience, preferred. 3. Minimum 6 months of steady work history. Preferred: 1. Knowledge of and familiarity with hospital equipment, supplies and procedures. 2. Ability to identify clinical and environmental emergency/urgent situations and to follow established procedures. 3. Highly effective interpersonal communication skills to inter-professional staff, patients, families, visitors, and other hospital employees.