Communication Operator

PeaceHealth; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan (403b)

Paid time off

Life and disability insurance

Education reimbursement

Wellness benefits

Job summary

PeaceHealth seeks a Communication Operator to manage the switchboard, physician answering service, overhead paging, and pager systems in a hospital setting. This full-time role involves directing calls, handling codes, and providing information to lobby visitors.

Ideal candidates bring medical office or hospital experience, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to perform under pressure. The position includes benefits and a competitive total rewards package.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma preferred or equivalent.
• Experience in a medical office/hospital setting preferred.
• Previous operator or switchboard and clerical experience required.

Responsibilities

• Operate a telephone console (switchboard) and direct calls to the appropriate person or department.
• Respond to emergency codes and dispatch security when needed.
• May operate physician’s answering service and handle trouble reports with physicians.
• Perform clerical/data entry tasks and generate daily telephone statistics.
• Report console status to relief and communicate system issues to technicians.
• Provide backup support to other departments and operate other communication systems.
• Dispatch requests for multiple services as required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication under pressure

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Typing/keyboard skills

Decision making

Spelling and penmanship

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Switchboard systems

Job description

Job Description

PeaceHealth is seeking a Communication Operator for a Full Time, 1.00 FTE, Variable position.

The salary range for this job opening at PeaceHealth is $20.97 – $31.45.

The hiring rate is dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to education, training, work experience, terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement, seniority, etc.

This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement. There may be more than one opening on this posting.

Job Summary

This position is responsible facilitating communications through appropriate operation of one or all of the following: the telephone console (switchboard); physician answering service; overhead paging; two-way radios; and pager system.

Details of the Position

• Operate a telephone console (switchboard), directing incoming operator-assisted and outgoing calls to appropriate individual, departments and outside contacts; respond to emergency codes; dispatch security; provide information to people in lobby. May also be required to notify by overhead, two-way radio and beeper system. Overhead paging as requested.
• Extend and respond appropriately to all calls, codes, alarm panels and disaster plans wherever needed.
• May be required to operate physician’s answering service and handle trouble reports by working directly with the physicians.
• Additional duties may include: announcements as needed, assisting with directories, keying in daily telephone statistics, saying the evening prayer, announcing visiting hours are over, receiving house census from nursing supervisors, other routine clerical/data entry tasks as requested.
• Report status of console operation to relief when leaving switchboard, including pertinent information about hospital staff and events. Report system trouble to telephone technician as directed.
• Provide back‑up assistance to other departments as directed.
• Operate other communication and emergency systems as required.
• Dispatches requests for multiple services as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• High School Diploma Preferred: or equivalent
• Preferred: Experience working in a medical office/hospital setting
• Preferred: Previous operator or switchboard and clerical experience

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills including high degree of courtesy (Required)
• Ability to maintain professional level of communication in a high stress fast paced environment (Required)
• Exceptional attention to detail (Required)
• Ability to multi‑task with strong organizational skills (Required)
• Proficient computer/keyboarding skills required. (Required)
• Ability to make decisions without direct supervision (Required)
• Good spelling and penmanship (Required)

Working Conditions

• Consistently operates computer and other office equipment.
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Sedentary work.
• Predominantly operates in an office environment.
• Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information.
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

For additional information or questions, please email Jen Worthington at or call 360-448-0542.

PeaceHealth is committed to the overall wellbeing of our caregivers: physical, emotional, financial, social, and spiritual. We offer caregivers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package.

Benefits

• full medical/dental/vision coverage
• 403b retirement plan employer base and matching contributions
• paid time off
• employer‑paid life and disability insurance with additional buyup coverage options
• tuition and continuing education reimbursement
• wellness benefits
• expanded EAP and mental health program

See how PeaceHealth is committed to

EEO Aff... in accordance with applicable local, state, or federal laws.