Unit Secretary, T14 Oncology

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Altoona, PA

Full-time

Altoona, PA

Hospitals

About the position

The Unit Secretary in the T14 Oncology department at UPMC Altoona plays a crucial role in providing indirect patient care within a medical/surgical setting. This position is designed to meet the communication needs of patients and their families, as well as departmental and medical staff. The Unit Secretary is responsible for preparing and compiling records in the nursing unit, initiating directions from physicians and nursing staff, and participating in performance improvement activities. Additionally, the role requires maintaining compliance with regulatory agency requirements, nursing, and hospital policies and procedures, as well as adhering to established standards of care. In this full-time position, the Unit Secretary will work day and evening shifts with rotation, including weekends and holidays. The responsibilities include ensuring the timely delivery of interdepartmental mail and patient mail, supporting unit-based Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI) activities, and understanding the special needs of consumers with co-occurring disorders. The Unit Secretary will also be responsible for obtaining information for records, assisting in patient transfers, and maintaining accurate communication by answering phone calls and delivering messages promptly. The role requires greeting and assisting patients, families, visitors, and hospital personnel, as well as processing requests for patient services from other departments. In emergency situations, the Unit Secretary must demonstrate thorough knowledge of their role and assist as needed. Other responsibilities include attending unit staff meetings, ordering and distributing forms, assembling patient information on charts, and maintaining the overall organization of patient records. The Unit Secretary is also tasked with ensuring a satisfactory physical environment for patients by reporting safety hazards and necessary repairs to the appropriate personnel.

Responsibilities

• Assures the delivery of interdepartmental mail and patients' mail and flowers by alerting them of the arrival.
• Supports unit-based Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI) activities by actively participating in the CPI Process.
• Understands the special needs of consumers with co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance abuse) and utilizes appropriate assessment and intervention techniques.
• Completes ongoing age-specific competency validation via defined mechanisms.
• Obtains information for records and assists in the transfer of patients by preparing records for other facilities.
• Answers the telephone promptly and courteously and maintains free-flowing and accurate communications. Takes and delivers messages promptly.
• Greets and assists patients, families, visitors, co-workers, physicians, and other Hospital personnel. Responsible for unlocking and securing the door to a unit on arrival of same and registering visitors.
• Processes requests for patient services from other departments as required.
• Assists during emergencies such as crises on the unit, cardiac arrest, disasters, etc. by thorough knowledge of own role.
• Attends unit staff meetings.
• Responsible for ordering all forms, keeping them up to date, and distributing them as needed.
• Assembles and records patient information on charts, files, laboratory and x-ray reports on patient charts, and checks discharge charts for completeness.
• Functions as a unit receptionist and coordinates clerical tasks essential to the operation of the unit.
• Maintains patient records including labeling, incorporating appropriate forms, ensuring completion, overseeing general appearance, and monitoring their location.
• Maintains a satisfactory physical environment for the patient by reporting potential safety hazards and needed repairs to appropriate personnel.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Completion of a medical secretary program is preferred.
• Experience as a unit secretary or medical office secretary is preferred.
• Must satisfactorily pass the medical terminology exam administered by the Education Department of Altoona Regional Health System within the orientation period.