What role does the unit secretary play in the emergency department?

The unit secretary in the emergency department plays a vital role in the administrative and organizational aspects of patient care. Their responsibilities often include coordinating patient flow, ensuring that the necessary paperwork is completed, and managing communication between various healthcare providers. While they do not perform clinical tasks such as starting IVs, documenting patient visits, or administering medications, their position is crucial for placing physician's orders.

Placing physician's orders refers to the administrative procedure where the unit secretary inputs or relays the orders given by the physician into the electronic record or communicates them to specific departments for action. This facilitates efficient patient care by ensuring that the treatment process is streamlined and that all necessary orders are accurately conveyed and processed. Understanding the scope of the unit secretary’s role highlights the importance of administrative duties in supporting clinical staff and optimizing patient management in a busy emergency department environment.