Unit Clerk - Surgery

Job Summary:  

Provides direct and indirect patient care for the department. Schedules operative and invasive procedures. Records statistics as requested. Orders equipment for specific procedures. Performs all secretarial duties as requested. Maintains communication lines for department.  

Standards of Behavior:

William Newton Hospital’s Standards of Behavior allow a mechanism for holding each employee accountable and encourages us to "raise the bar". All employees are expected to familiarize themselves with the Standards and practice them daily.

i - Integrity

We act with unwavering moral principle, transparency, and sincerity in every interaction.

P - Patient-Centered

We meet patients where they are, ensuring the are active participants in their care journey. We prioritize the patient's physical and emotional well-being over all else.

A - Accountability

We own our actions. We set clear expectations and hold all team members to the same high standards.

C - Compassion

We treat every patient, family member, and colleague with kindness, empathy, and dignity.

E - Excellence

We approach every task, large or small, with enthusiasm. We continually pursue mastery and best practices in our field.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Interacts professionally with staff, patients, and family. 
• Responds to inappropriate behavior in a therapeutic manner. 
• Obtains licensed nurse when family requests communication regarding   patient’s condition beyond the unit secretary’s scope of practice.
• Handles delivery of mail to and from daily. 
• Orders office supplies and printing as required.
• Schedules surgeries as called in to Department by physicians or physician’s offices, per policy and procedure.
• Organizes and prepares the Surgery Schedule for the following day and delivers to all appropriate departments daily.
• Delivers Surgery on-call Schedule to switchboard
• Verifies the number of inpatients and outpatients from the previous month for QI.
• Enters patient charges to patient accounts daily. 
• Maintains current surgery logbook daily. 
• Obtains purchase orders (PO numbers) for instruments, implants, etc. from materials management. 
• Assists in transport of patients to and from the department.  
• Computes the reports monthly statistics. 
• Notifies nurse manager and anesthesia-provider of any changes in surgery lineup. If schedule is already distributed, notifies appropriate departments. 
• Communicates information about surgical progress to the volunteer or patient’s family/significant others in the waiting room as directed. Takes and records messages and communicates to appropriate medical staff.
• Answers telephone in a polite manner and communicates information to appropriate personnel.
• Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationship with coworkers for the patient’s benefit
• Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self- motivated. Organization and management of secretary’s activities reflect due consideration for the needs of the department and staff.
• Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of facts and good judgment within the secretary’s scope of practice. 
• Completes other duties, as assigned. 

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Meets dress code standards for the department; adheres to policy for “Attire in the Operating Room”. 
• Completes annual educational requirements 
• Maintains regulatory agency requirements, hospital and nursing policies, procedures and standards.
• Wears identification while on duty; uses computerized time system correctly. 
• Reports to work as scheduled 
• Consistently completes and maintains assigned duties.  
• Attends monthly staff meetings. 
• Maintains and ensures patient confidentiality and patient’s records at all times.    
• Works at maintaining a good rapport and a cooperative working relationship with physicians, departments and staff.  
• Actively participates in Surgical Services QI activities.   
• Communicates the mission, vision, core values, goals and ethics of the Hospital, as well as the focus statement of the Department.  
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner. 
• Ensures compliance with policies and procedures regarding department operations, fire, safety and infection control.   
• Complies with William Newton Hospital's Standards of Behavior.
• High school graduate or equivalent is preferred.
• Understanding of medical terminology.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

Skills:

• Basic knowledge of computers.
• Ability to type minimum of 20 wpm.
• Knowledgeable in skills of patient/guest relations.

Working Conditions: Work is conducted in a clinical setting requiring extended periods of time walking and standing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care. Employee may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases, exposed to hazardous cleaning agents, body fluids and waste, occasional exposure to an unpleasant patient or unit elements. Employee will be required to exert 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10-25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly. Employees may be required to exceed these levels and are also provided lift assists in patient care areas. These are baseline requirements for adequate performance of this job. Job duties are based on an average 8-hour shift but are subject to change dependent upon staffing volumes or other variables determined by the Director of Surgical Services or Chief Nursing Officer.