Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required: 

Job Title: Hospital Ward Clerk

Department: Acute Care 

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Chief Nursing Officer 

Supervised: None

Position Summary: AS PART OF THE CARE TEAM, THE ACUTE CARE WARD CLERK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE WELLBEING OF PATIENTS BY ASSISTING NURSING STAFF IN THE CARE OF ACUTELY AND CHRONICALLY ILL PATIENTS. THE WARD CLERK WILL OBSERVE TELEMETRY MONITORING, COMPLETE ADMISSION PAPERWORK, ASSIST IN THE PATIENT TRANSFER PROCESS, AND ENSURE THAT PATIENT CARE EQUIPMENT AND PAPERWORK IS READILY AVAILABLE AND IN WORKING ORDER. THE WARD CLERK WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER PHONE CALLS, COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO NURSING AND ANCILLARY STAFF, AND ALLOW ADMITTANCE TO APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THE FACILITY IS LOCKED. THE WARD CLERK WILL CLEARLY COMMUNICATE WITH NURSING STAFF ANY ABNORMAL VITAL SIGNS, TELEMETRY TRACINGS, OR PATIENT-REPORTED SYMPTOMS TO ENSURE TIMELY CARE AND ASSESSMENT BY LICENSED STAFF MEMBERS. 

Essential Job Functions Duties and Responsibilities

Vital Sign Collection and documentation

• Obtains vital signs including blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse, temperature, and respirations. Maps Vital Sign monitors with patients in Cerner. Reviews and documents vital signs that have be scheduled and are automatically taken. Reports any abnormal vital signs to the appropriate nurse in a timely manner. 

Cardiac monitor/ Telemetry Patch placement

• Places telemetry or bedside monitor leads appropriately on patient’s body and ensures that a waveform is visible from the central station upon placement of leads. 
• Adds patient name to central monitoring station to ensure the correct waveform is associated with the appropriate patient. 
• Prints waveforms from central monitoring station to be placed on patient’s chart. 
• Interprets telemetry tracings in preparation for nurse co-signature. 

Intake and Output

• Delivers patient’s tray as needed. Documents percentage of meal eaten. Replenishes ice water and provides other food and snacks as needed throughout the shift. Documents amount of fluid/ food in and urine/feces out as ordered for patient’s plan of care.

Care Environment

• Assists in maintaining a clean environment for patient care. Assists in cleaning emergency room and patient rooms after discharge per room cleaning policy. Assists in removing trash from the patient care environment. Assists in frequent monitoring and emptying of patient urinals, hats, bed pans. Changes sheets and other linens as necessary for the daily care of patients. Replenishes bathroom linens for patient use.

Clerical Duties

• Obtains Drivers License and insurance information from ER and inpatients, and obtains electronic or written consent from patients or guardians. 
• Collects Admission paperwork for bedded patients, including but not limited to consent, MOON notice/ Medicare notice, PRAPARE tool, depression screening, advance directive paperwork.
• Notifies Prior Authorization staff of new admissions and those patients that are routinely seen by the VA. 
• Assists in putting together patient charts upon admission and tearing down charts upon discharge, as well as adding information to the chart throughout the patient’s stay. Creates worksheets to enhance work flows as needed using excel or other electronic documents. 
•  Compiles discharge and transfer packets in collaboration with nursing staff by printing information from the patient’s electronic medical record. 
•  Makes phone calls to providers, lab, radiology, or emergency transfer services as directed by nursing staff to ensure timely care for patients.
• Assign staff in patient care board
• Assign staff in Vocera
• Answer phones and doors—contact the appropriate person for follow-through.
• Maintain the ER Ledger

Supplies

• Outdates supplies located in the nurse’s station.
• Monitors patient refrigerator and cabinets to keep stocked supplies and outdates complete. 
• Ensures an adequate supply of admission packets, transfer packets, and copied forms are available for immediate use.
• Order supplies from Materials Management

General Requirements:

Personal Responsibilities

• Works in harmony with assigned co-workers and other department staff.
• Is punctual in attendance. Adjusts personal schedule to work as scheduled. Provides proper notification for absence as per hospital policy.
• Accepts and responds to constructive criticism, assigned duties and suggestions in a cooperative manner.
• Demonstrates the ability to accept and implement change
• Completes assignments accurately and on time.
• Participates in continuing education programs and staff meetings as evidenced by attendance records.
• Where applicable, floats to other areas as assigned; responds to floating requested with a positive attitude.
• Willingly accepts assignments to special projects.
• Attentive to detail, record-keeping and required paperwork inherent to the position.
• Demonstrates kindness, courteousness, and sensitivity to patients, families, physicians, co-workers and visitors at all times.
• Appears well groomed and observes established dress guidelines, visibly wearing the name identification badge.
• Displays self-respect and pride in KCHS.

Customer Service

• Assists all patients, family members/significant others, physicians, visitors and employees in a friendly manner.
• Introduces self and uses caring, thoughtful words either in person or on the telephone.
• Demonstrates ethical and appropriate behavior for a healthcare environment to include, but not limited to, dignity, patient’s rights and privacy, and the maintenance of confidentiality of patient information.
• Demonstrates caring. If unable to assist an individual in needs, offers to find someone who can.
• Demonstrate proper telephone etiquette. If transferring a telephone call, announces the caller and briefly explains the situation before ending the transfer.
• Always makes eye contact when speaking with patients, family members/significant others, visitors, employees, etc. Knocks before entering a room or office. Addresses all individuals courteously.
• Keeps voice down, does not shout or use improper language. Responds to all inquiries promptly and courteously. 
• Shares information so that the people who need to be aware of the facts are informed.

Infection Control

• Demonstrates adherence to infection control policies as evidenced by in-service attendance records and employee practices
• Demonstrates correct hand washing technique.
• Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and uses same in practice.
• Notifies the Infection Control Nurse of real or potential exposures.

Risk Management & Safety Program

• Demonstrates adherence to risk management and safety policies and codes as evidenced by in-service attendance records and employee practices.
• Maintains a clean and safe environment for patient and co-workers.
• Follows all general safety rules.
• Notifies the Safety Committee member, Department Director, and/or COO of incidents involving injury or having the potential for injury.  
• Submits incident reports according to hospital policy. 

Quality Improvement Activities

• Participates in Quality Improvement activities of their department and the facility.  
• Identifies areas of improvement and communicates quality improvement ideas to their manager in order to improve the quality of care delivered to patients in their care. 
• Is a stakeholder in improvement projects, PDSA process improvement, and Root Cause Analysis discussions.

Qualifications:

Education and/or Experience:

• High School Diploma
• CNA Certification preferred
• Valid driver’s license

Certificates, Licensure, Registrations:

• Basic Life Support (BLS)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively to maintain good working relationships with staff, healthcare providers, and patients
• Must be capable of communicating clearly (reading, writing and speaking) in the English Language.
• Must be proficient in the operation of a personal computer with Microsoft Office and the Internet
• Must be capable of reading and comprehending complex healthcare laws and regulations.