Health Unit Coordinator

Job Description

Greet visitors and assist them as needed. Provides the clerical support to the clinical team in carrying out the daily functions of patient care.

This position provides the pivotal communication link for processing information / requests to and from patients, staff, visitors, physicians, and other departments or agencies.

Has responsibility for initiating and / or ensuring the data entry of patient related functions / processes, as well as the management (maintenance) of the medical record and its related forms, documents, from admission to discharge.

Communication is culturally based and age-specific.

HUC Trainer : Provides on-boarding for all TCH new hire HUCS.

Responsibilities

Communication

1. Keeps Clinical manager / staff informed of issues.

2. Receptionist - Meets and Greets Patients / Visitors / Staff.

3. Answer patient call light promptly & politely.

4. Uses appropriate communication systems.

5. Maintains Admit / discharge logs (census cards).

6. Obtain signature on the Consent to Hospital and Medical Treatment Form.

7. Make copies of Advanced Directives for the chart.

8. Facilitate communication with ancillary departments.

9. Communicates with various departments inside the hospital in a professional, cooperative manner.

10. Serves as a resource for location of supplies and medical records.

11. Communicates with physician offices regarding patient records.

12. Adheres to all departmental and hospital customer (ExCEL) service standards.

13. Call for STATs.

14. Appropriately complete consults in Epic.

Computer Responsibilities

1. Timely Admission of patient.

2. Timely transfer and discharge of patients.

3. Maintains a manual order entry system according to appropriate downtime procedure (SRO, BCA Web, and BCA Standalone Downtimes).

4. Prepare requisitions for services (i.e. maintenance requests, clinical engineering, etc).

5. Enters / records unit based charges as appropriate.

6. NAVICARE as department appropriate.

7. Resource for physicians in need of assistance with EPIC.

8. Will run audits / reports daily from EPIC that are directed by the manager of the department.

Chart Responsibilities

1. Chart maintenance-current & old charts.

2. Places forms and results to charts in timely manner.

3. Copy parts of medical records and retrieve as necessary.

4. Keeps all charts in designated order.

5. Stuffs charts as needed.

Environment / Supplies / Equipment

1. Monitor tube system.

2. Use fax, copier, printer.

3. Routine maintenance for fax, copier, printer, etc.

4. Order, verify, and put away supplies and equipment. Maintains an appropriate volume of departmental supplies per manager discretion.

5. Typing and filing for unit (not patient record).

6. Courier as needed (run errands).

7. Other duties as delegated by RN.

8. Enter Plant Maintenance Work Requisitions as needed.

9. Notifies Clinical Engineering for malfunctioning equipment as needed.

Unit Responsibilities / Accountability

1. Serves as a positive role model maintains a positive attitude.

2. Ensures interpersonal follow through of job functions in timely and appropriate manner.

3. Participates in unit governance activities.

4. Contributes to unit performance improvement activities.

5. In-services and unit meetings are attended or minutes read.

6. Maintains the integrity of unit equipment (cleaning, repairs).

7. Appropriately assists staff in patient medical emergencies.

8. Follows chain of command.

9. Completes all unit assignments as requested.

a. Obtain Respiratory Therapy & IV Team phone numbers to put on assignment sheet along with the staff’s phone numbers. Make copies of the sheet and place around nursing station.

b. Charge phone batteries.

c. Make charts for new patients and ensure face sheets are on every chart.

d. Place patient Thank You cards in appropriate location (i.e. clear pocket in front of chart, etc) and ensure signatures of staff at discharge.

Send the Thank you cards to the appropriate place to be mailed at time of discharge with the exception of deceased patients.

e. Ensure stickers and magnets are in appropriate locations (i.e. fall risk, isolation, core measure stickers on front of chart, fall risk magnets outside door, etc).

f. Ensure Discharge Summary Form faxed to PCP and sign and date that form faxed at bottom of page.

g. Break down charts of all discharged patients (ensure face sheet on top of pile).

h. Periodically check fax machine for incoming faxes (give stat results directly to the RN immediately).

i. Fill printers, copiers, and fax machines with 5-hole paper and the prescription printer with prescription paper.

j. Enter transport requests into Navicare.

k. Straighten up nurse’s station.

Population Served :

Evidence exists that The Christ Hospital Staff considers the special needs and behaviors of the specific patient populations served.

Evidence also exists that shows the staff demonstrates those competencies that address the unique characteristics related to developmental, physical, psychosocial, mental, emotional, and social needs of patients across the life span.

Associates should also be able to demonstrate those competencies that address the needs of patients with unique cultural norms, religious preferences, language / communication barriers and / or literacy limitations

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

If additional direct Patient Care Assistant (PCA) responsibilities are assigned, a) needs to complete (80) hours of state-tested nurse aide training, (40) hours of acute medical / surgical training, specialty, and hospital-specific training, or b) the Health Unit Coordinator may be a student from an NLN accredited program who has completed (1) medical / surgical rotation.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE : *HUC Trainer : Previous HUC experience of 3 years.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE : Competent in reading at the 9th grade level and in math at the 7th grade level as demonstrated on a nationally normed test.

Typing at 25 words per minute. Able to pass pre-hire basic computer literacy test. Skills with medical terminology preferred.

Ability and willingness to work within a team and accept delegated duties.

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS :

Health Unit Coordinator certification preferred. Certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers preferred.