Unit Secretary (Emergency Department)

Quick Facts

• Role: Unit Secretary (Emergency Department)

Description

You will act as the receptionist for the patient care unit, greeting patients, visitors, and staff, and coordinating information at the nurses’ station in a positive and timely manner. The role supports physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers by assisting with patient stay coordination, phone and nurse-call communications, medical record preparation, and patient flow activities. You will also help maintain unit readiness, clerical organization, supplies, and EMR downtime procedures.

Responsibilities

• Customer service: assist patients/visitors/staff promptly; manage visitor/employee access and escalate as needed; handle difficult situations; answer and transfer calls using AIDET; respond to nurse call system calls within timeframe; escalate urgent requests; ensure communication needs are identified and handled.

• Medical records: prepare records for admission, discharge, and transfer; maintain patient medical record (paper and location awareness); place and scan forms into the electronic medical record (EMR); notify teams when documents are added; support EMR downtime readiness and procedures; report EMR issues to IT help desk; verify regulatory documentation and escalate missing documents; perform accurate charge entry.

• Patient flow: complete admission, discharge, and transfer tasks; notify nursing staff/physicians; coordinate consulting team arrivals; verify patient ID; assign caregivers in the nurse call system; prepare charts for records after discharge, transfers, and OR transfers; request will-call ambulance and Medicare; arrange patient escort when appropriate; track scheduling times for tests/procedures; monitor bed tracking and unit census accuracy; support additional patient-flow duties as assigned.

• Desk flow / clerical organization: receive and distribute unit deliveries; stock items appropriately; maintain clean nursing and tube stations; submit and follow up on equipment repair requests; maintain and track forms, clerical equipment, and nursing supplies; complete and submit supply requisitions; basic computer/printer maintenance (paper/toner, jams); maintain staff assignment and phone number lists; ensure unit signage is stocked; use online systems as required; attend training classes.

Benefits

• Wide range of benefits supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being and protection for unexpected life events (details available via the provided benefits information link).

• Benefits eligibility varies by employment classification.

Requirements

• Required: High school diploma or GED.

• Required: Excellent communication and customer service skills.

• Required: Computer experience.

• Preferred: One year of college or business school.

• Preferred: Unit secretary experience.

• Preferred: Medical terminology.