Hospital Unit Support Specialist, AM (EastPointe)

EastPointe Hospital is a private, free-standing psychiatric hospital for adults and adolescent males (ages 12 – 18) located in Daphne, Ala. EastPointe’s clinical and medical professionals assess and evaluate adults and adolescents in psychiatric crisis. Treatment focuses on stabilizing psychiatric symptoms and preventing psychiatric commitment. Adults and/or adolescents admitted to EastPointe will have exhibited life-threatening, destructive or disabling behavior or symptoms. Each patient completes a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation and receives 24-hour clinical care for the duration of their stay. The goal is for each patient to return to home or to the least restrictive level of care.

Primary Job Functions:

Office professional responsibilities:

• Reviews documentation for any improper corrections, missing signatures, dates, times, etc. and monitors for completeness.
• Completes daily chart checks.
• Runs Orders Needing Validation report and notifies appropriate doctors.
• Returns incomplete documentation to the program supervisor.
• Files documentation in the appropriate section of the consumers’ records as needed.
• Performs basic clerical functions.
• Completes census maintenance on a daily basis accurately and completely, including the “head in the bed check” completed at midnight.
• Completes Compliance Checklists on a daily basis.
• Makes copies and faxes information as needed and checks fax regularly.
• Assembles charts and checks records for availability of forms.
• Notifies nurses of e-signature changes.
• Notifies applicable staff of emergency situations in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Ensures the cleanliness and orderliness of the units.
• Assists with pulling and locating charts and with other requests.
• Maintains the chart tracking (charge-out) system to track the location of each record.
• Ensures all charts are accounted for and filed on the chart rack at the end of each shift and all signatures have been obtained on progress notes/orders. Restraints and Seclusion observation sheets.
• Distributes office supply orders for the unit and places supply orders with supervisor and storekeeper as needed.
• Accesses labs on a daily basis, prints reports and places on appropriate charts for review.
• Keeps Dietary informed of admissions and prints dietary tickets as needed.
• Ensures that all unit copiers are working appropriately and reports issues to supervisor.
• Assist with facilitating hospital phone time in professional, organized, and quiet manner.
• Support Front Desk Support Specialist as needed.

Admissions responsibilities:

• Ensures all releases are obtained, fully completed and into the physical chart timely and accurately.
• Ensures that all admission paperwork is filled out completely, upon admission, and filed in the chart.
• Accurately populates all fields as related to the admission process in the Avatar system.
• Maintains the Hospital/Residential Visitation List
• Complete Medicare Certifications of Need and Two-Midnight Rules for all admissions requiring documentation.

Other duties that may be performed depending on facility:

• Runs census.
• Checks for weekend admissions.
• Checks all room assignments.
• Discharges packets for receiving facilities including include Psychiatric evaluation, H&P, Labs and X-rays.
• Creates forms needed for the next shift such as the vital sign sheet, etc.
• Does not leave without letting nurse know.

Supervision and consultation:

• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed.
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvements.
• Actively works to enhance skills.

Customer Service Driven Care:

• Treats consumer with care, dignity, and compassion
• Respects consumers’ privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Works in a cooperative manner with other AltaPointe employees.
• Assists consumer and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences.
• Is gentle and calm with consumers, families and others as appropriate
• Works pro-actively to problem solve issues for family and consumers prior to involving supervisor or program management.
• Utilizes hospitality skills as the facility representative during all consumer and guardian encounters.
• Courteous and respectful towards consumers, visitors, and co-workers

Administrative and other related duties as assigned:

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures.

Physical Requirements of the Job: 

• Continuous sitting (extended sitting) up to 2 hours at a time until break or lunch.
• Reaching forward to place paperwork on a document stand.
• Grasping to turn keys in doors throughout facility, grabbing files/paperwork
• Lifting and carrying up to 15 pounds to transport small quantity of charts various distances in facility.
• Fine manipulation/dexterity for data entry, writing and handling paperwork.
• Standing and walking frequently throughout shift and to various locations in the facility to file charts and put-up supplies.
• Sitting can be in frequent bursts up to 10 minutes.  Extended sitting can be up to but limited to 1 hour.
• While filing in the medical records department, the employee may bend forward squat/lunge stoop or crouch to access the levels that are at floor waist level.  Forward bending while sitting or crouching to access safe in office may be needed.
• Forward reaching, reaching out to front, and overhead reaching with up to 5 pounds to 15 is performed when filing records and charts.
• Forward reaching, overhead reaching, and reaching down while filing medical record that can range up to 15 pounds.
• Lifting various ranges from the floor to overhead throughout the day with up to 15 pounds (medical records and supplies).
• Frequent pushing/pulling with a force up to 25 pounds (medical record cart) and doors throughout the facility (5 pounds).
• Step ladder climbing frequently to access higher shelves for filing and stocking/retrieving supplies.
• Strong grasp/pinch grip needed to use keys in doors and to handle medical records.
• Fine manipulation/dexterity to use computer, write and handle medical records paperwork.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time, continuously bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach and lift at least 10 pounds.
• Must have visual acuity in at least one eye and manual dexterity.
• Any additional duties as assigned by management.

High school graduate or equivalent; Preferred applicants have experience in healthcare field, with experience relative to admissions and discharges.