Medical Unit Clerk

Under supervision, to perform a variety of general and specialized clerical support tasks in a busy and stressful inpatient care unit of an acute care facility.

Please Note: Applicants who meet the employment standards will be invited to take the ONLINE examination tentatively scheduled for 11/04/24 through 11/07/24. The exam date(s) may change based on the number of applicants. The established list may be used for full-time/part-time/extra help/pm shifts/weekends vacancies as they occur.      

(Positions may perform any of the following tasks, depending on the area of assignment.  No single position will encompass all the tasks listed, nor is the list below exhaustive.)

• Acts as unit receptionist, assisting visitors, screening phone calls, and giving information with discretionary regard for rules and patient confidentiality;

• Acts as a focus of communication within the unit, receives, screens, coordinates, and transmits messages, including technical patient care data on a stat basis, to and from nurses, physicians, patients, therapists, nursing assistants, operating room, laboratories, Medical Records, Pharmacy, Admitting, specialized medical departments, and other nursing units;

• Subject to review by the charge nurse, transcribes physician's orders from patient charts to nursing errands and medication sheets;

• Greets incoming patients and shows them to assigned room and bed;

• Calls for existing medical records, assembles current admission chart and forms, and prepares I.D. strips for incoming patients;

• Prepares admission charts for patients;

• Makes entries into the unit log books, patient census log and screening logs;

• Maintains unit census board;

• Stamps patient prescriptions for physicians;

• Prepares specimens for submission to the lab by filling out labels and lab order forms;

• Maintains patient charts by adding new forms, records, notes, and test results; thins charts by deleting non-current items for inclusion into the permanent chart;

• Systematically monitors patient charts to insure that physicians' orders have been transcribed;

• Maintains and prepares a variety of other records, files, rosters, schedules, statistical and acuity reports, and assists in maintaining time card information;

• Prepares patient records and charts for retention by the Medical Records Department and performs a variety of other tasks necessary for the discharge and/or transfer of patients from the hospital, including scheduling follow up clinic and test appointments;

• Enters test and diet change orders, service charges, and queries for patient-related data on computer terminals;

• Receives and communicates lab test results to physicians and nursing personnel;

• Verifies surgery schedules, prepares patient charts for submission to the Operating Room, and verifies adequacy of blood units available prior to surgery; types and distributes daily surgery schedule throughout the hospital;

• Verifies staffing for shifts and may communicate staffing needs to the staffing office;

• Prepares updated and accurate worksheet for nurse shift reports;

• Orders clerical and medical supplies, submits work order requests and coordinates equipment maintenance and repairs;

• May type schedules and forms;

• Assists in orienting new employees to clerical systems and procedures of a unit;

• Arranges for transportation of patients via Taxi, Medicar, Hospital Transportation Service, Outreach or in emergency situations with ambulance services;

• Performs other related duties as required.

Education, training, or work experience sufficient to acquire the following knowledge, skills and abilities.

Experience Note: A candidate would normally acquire the qualifications listed below through one year of clerical, or other patient care work experience in a medical setting, i.e. a clinic or a hospital; or through successful completion of a recognized two semester Medical Unit Clerk course program, including an externship; or completion of nine units of courses offered in a Medical Unit Clerk course program and six months of the above experience.

Knowledge of:

• (Familiarity with) standard hospital organization and services and inpatient care unit functions and practices;

• General medical terminology and standard abbreviations used in medical notations;

• Basic patient chart procedures and medical record systems;

• Telephone courtesy;

• Modern office practices and procedures including basic computer skills.

Ability to:

• Carry out oral and written instructions;

• Perform clerical work of moderate to above average difficulty;

• Recognize and spell medical terms;

• Learn and transcribe physicians' orders within a reasonable time on the job;

• Prioritize conflicting tasks while working under stressful circumstances with multiple distractions;

• Work and communicate effectively with hospital staff, patients, and the general public;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of medical, professional, administrative and support personnel contacted in the course of work.