JOB SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
The Booking Clerk, Medical Imaging reports to the Clerical Supervisor or designate and performs scheduling and booking functions for a variety of patient appointments for designated areas within Radiology. The role applies multi-tasking skills when performing scheduling, reception and booking functions for a variety of patient appointments for designated areas within Medical Imaging. The Booking Clerk performs duties that include arranging times with patients, doctor’s offices, nursing units, physicians, technical staff and surgical/medical daycare, making follow up appointments, locating applicable images/films prior to appointments and rearranging schedules to meet changing demands/requests. The role prepares and confirms patient information, enters booking, patient and image/film information into radiology and hospital computerized and/or manual booking and patient information systems and fills requisitions for all bookings. The Booking Clerk acts as receptionist and practices in accordance with the standards of professional practice to support the delivery of patient care and ensure client/family needs are met above all other concerns.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training and Experience

• Grade 12, two years’ recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to keyboard at 40 wpm.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment.

1. Schedules and books inpatient/outpatient/daycare appointments in accordance with established priority level and medical/technical staff schedules by receiving requests/requisition, responding to patient arrivals, checking schedules for appropriate times, identifying pre-test instructions such as pre-test diet, contacting patients, units/physician offices to confirm appointments and relay instructions. Poses questions from established questionnaire or as directed by medical staff to screen patient for contra indicators. Follows up with referring physician(s) for requisitions not yet received, adjusts schedules and makes alternate arrangements for appointment cancellations or changes in facility operations to ensure optimum booking time is used and patients’ appointments are scheduled in a manner that meets their needs. Notifies patient of pre-examination payment requirements where applicable.
2. Arranges daycare beds for various procedures including emergency appointments when required by noting daycare requirements on requisition, obtaining consult letter from referring physician, contacting designated daycare staff for pre-determined booking space and checking times coincide with Radiologist’s schedule. Reschedules appointments when notified daycare beds are not available.
3. Pre-registers daycare patients when required by obtaining patient information, entering information into computerized patient database including establishing new patient entries and updating existing files, completing a variety of standard forms as required and forwarding relevant information to applicable daycare area.
4. Locates relevant patient information such as images/films and consultation histories by communicating with a variety of physicians’ offices, nursing units or other hospitals and requesting appropriate items be forwarded. Processes patient data by receiving applicable documentation, checking information is complete including receipt of pre-examination payment where applicable, following up on information not received, completing applicable requisitions/forms according to information provided and forwarding documents to appropriate areas in accordance with standard policies and procedures.
5. Enters booking and image/film information into applicable computerized and/or manual booking system by referring to patient documentation, keying in demographic patient data and relevant previous image/film information in on-line mode and prompting screen for next booking appointment time. Checks information entered for accuracy, locating errors and/or omissions and correcting as required in accordance with standard procedures.
6. Registers patients by obtaining essential or changed information from patients and/or patient documentation, completing a variety of forms and entering patient demographic information into the hospital’s computerized patient information system in accordance with established procedures.
7. Maintains requisitions for all inpatient/outpatient bookings by making labels, filing requisitions according to procedure/test received and alphabetical order and creating hard files when required.
8. Provides patient waiting list information to supervisor by recording number of appointments scheduled for various procedures, identifying number of patients waiting to be scheduled and forwarding information for departmental, facility and Ministry reporting purposes. Provides up to date scheduling information upon request including totaling number of patient seen and procedures performed for various periods.
9. Acts as receptionist by performing duties such as greeting and directing patients and visitors to appropriate areas, assisting staff, answering telephones, taking and/or relaying messages and responding to general enquiries related to patient appointments and/or release of patient information in accordance with established policies and procedures.
10. Arranges transportation for patients required for transfer and/or appointments by completing transportation slip for pick up by patient escort and/or contacting family members or designated drivers/ambulance dispatch pursuant to appointments as required.
11. Orients new and relief staff to the scheduling and booking procedures of the assigned area through informal sessions by providing an overview of the work area, demonstrating use of various equipment and/or software packages such as online booking system, photocopiers and electronic mail system and providing information about policies and procedures to promote effective resource utilization.
12. Performs clerical functions such as operating a facsimile and/or photocopier, opening, date stamping and forwarding mail to appropriate areas, signing out/in images/films for exams or other facilities, printing out from the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) radiology images by following set procedures for image generation and completing requisitions for approval of replacement stationary items as required.
13. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel.
14. Performs other duties as assigned.