Covenant Health

Health Unit Coordinator, Transitional Care

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Fort Sanders Regional Overview:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is an award-winning, certified, and accredited facility with 541 beds. As a Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, Fort Sanders offers state-of-the art care that maximizes recovery from stroke.  We are also the region’s leader in technology in areas such as bariatric surgery, robotic surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. Our door-to-balloon times for heart attack patients are below the national average, and our hip fracture center offers advanced diagnosis, surgery and recovery procedures for hip patients.

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a member of Covenant Health, a locally-owned, non-profit health system based in Knoxville, TN, with a “patient-focused” culture. It has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as its 2020 “Best-in-State-Employer” for Tennessee. The CEO of our company, Jim VanderSteeg, attends every new employee orientation and will ask you to sign our pledge of excellence to always put patients first, strive for excellence in everything we do, and make Covenant Health the first and best choice for patients in our region. As you’d expect, we offer our employees a robust benefits package, including: offering unmatched medical insurance, tuition reimbursement; student loan repayment assistance, certification bonuses; leadership and professional development programs; an employer-matched 401(k); and a generous Combined Time Off (CTO) program.

Department Description:

The Transitional Care Unit (9 North / TCU) is a short-term care facility located on the 9^th floor of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. TCU is a 24 private bed unit providing extended physical or occupational therapy or skilled nursing care to patients transitioning from hospital to home.

Most patients stay in the TCU 14 to 20 days at most. Patients on our unit have varied diagnoses which include cardiac, respiratory and oncology comorbidities and most are over the age of 65. Some patients come to TCU to receive wound care, or after they have had and joint replacement procedures. All patients on our unit benefit from our Therapy Department and have full access to the medical doctors in our facility.

9 North has a registered nurse on duty around the clock. Skilled caregivers on this unit also include licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, case managers, therapists and activities coordinators. In addition to having excellent critical thinking skills, our ideal candidate will also possess outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

As an organization, we want to grow our employees by promoting a culture of excellence and professionalism. Fort Sanders Regional has achieved NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders) Exemplar status every year since 2013. Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center was the first NICHE-certified facility in our region and now joins other hospitals and a team of nationally recognized researchers, educators, nurses, and doctors in a vision of sensitive care for patients 65 and older. Exemplar status is the highest of four possible program levels, recognizing our commitment to providing the highest level of geriatric care.

If you are passionate about the geriatric patient population and strive to always put your patients first, apply for our Transitional Care Unit today!

Position Summary:

Provide clerical and secretarial services to the nursing unit.

Recruiter: Jennifer Gordon || jgordon2@covhlth.com || 865-374-8107

• Performs clerical duties related to procedures such as admission, discharge, transfer, and death.
• Ensures STAT orders are brought to the attention of licensed nursing personnel.
• Transcribes physician’s orders accurately and in a timely manner and notifies consults as ordered.
• Requisitions supplies and equipment, maintenance and repair services, and prepares related forms. Keeps unit stock and equipment inventories at appropriate levels.
• Answers telephone and intercoms; relays and documents messages. Helps to ensure that follow-up to patients request is timely.
• Assists physicians in obtaining reports from lab, radiology, etc.
• Schedules patient tests, diagnostic procedures, and doctors appointments for patients as requested.
• Organizes patient charts in proper sequence. Labels and replenishes all necessary forms.
• Employ all established infection control policies including standard precautions, transmission based isolation precautions, OSHA standards, safety measures and proper body mechanics in performance of job.
• Act as preceptor to HUC I.
• If not a CNA, must demonstrate competency as a Patient Care Assistant by completing the Patient Care Assistant training class within Covenant. Must also have six or more (6+) months of full time work in a HUC I role.
• Obtains patient records from other facilities.
• Manages patient flow via flowboard if applicable.
• Assures appropriate discharge disposition in electronic medical records
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:           

None specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED. Preference may be given to individuals possessing a HS diploma or GED.

Minimum Experience:         

Must be a CNA, MA, or EMT at the time of hire or be a HUC I, PCA, CNA, MA, or EMT with six or more (6+) months of experience at a Covenant Health facility and complete the Covenant Health’s Patient Care Assistant training protocol OR For HUC II working in Cardiac Areas- completion of Apex modules 1-6 and/or telemetry class completed prior to hire or placement in a HUC II role.

Licensure Requirement:         

External new hires must have CNA, MA, or EMT Certification.