Melanie Cosco Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Reporting to the Nurse Manager at St. Joseph's Healthcare, my primary responsibilities as Administrative Assistant are providing organizational support and patient tracking to the health care team and liaising between the hospital's department head, unionized workers, and other inter-departmental staff.I was promoted to the position of Administrative Assistant after honing my time-management, organizational, and administrative skills as a Dietic Assistant in St. Joseph's deadline-oriented, demanding, and ever-changing food service department. Since that time, I have been integral to the hospital's ability to manage the additional administrative pressures brought about by the Covid19 pandemic. Before Covid19 hit North America, my team and I recognized the need to ensure that our protocols and systems, including patient tracking and staff scheduling software, were maximized for efficiency. By considering the worst-case scenarios and communicating with the teams and management, we implemented those measures and were ready to handle whatever came our way. During the pandemic's peak, those systems were tested when thirty Covid19 patients arrived at the hospital at the same time, taxing the operation, staff, and other primary care resources. By the end of the evening, every patient received proper care, records were administered correctly, and the health care workers were appreciative of our efficiency, planning, and support.I thrive in the role due to the attributes I possess that are needed to be effective. These include:✅ Attention to detail✅ Ability to prioritize, manage time, and work well under pressure✅ Critical thinking✅ Outstanding interpersonal skills✅ Empathy✅ Highly developed organizational ability✅ Fluency in software programs including spreadsheet managementSpecialties: Excel | Word | Conflict Resolution | Union Contract Interpretation | Document Control

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

In the role of Dietetic Assistant, I supported the dieticians, nutritionists, and kitchen staff in meal planning for the hospital's 700+ patients. The position required exceptional organizational and time-management skills and the ability to remain calm while multi-tasking in a high-pressure environment. Complex and health-care compliant orders arrived via fax, telephone, and in-person, so my exceptional memory and aptitude for quick thinking were an asset to the position. I simultaneously answered ringing telephones and pinging faxes while juggling kitchen, dietician, and requests from other administrators who needed immediate attention.As orders came in, I immediately input them into the hospital's software program, which directed those orders to the kitchen and other critical departments. Because one error could severely impact a patient's ability to recover or even their life, the job also demanded a keen eye for detail. My greatest reward was the thank you's I received from everyone I worked with for my leadership, willingness to help, and approachability. I am proud that my hard work, positive attitude, and dedication to exceptional patient care led to the promotion of Administrative Assistant.Excel | MS Word | Diet Software | Spreadsheets

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

As an IT Support Specialist, my primary responsibility was to assist the IT development team in identifying errors, flaws, and faults (bugs) in the computer's online charting system and other related platforms. Understanding that computer glitches in a hospital setting directly and negatively impact patient care and the teams providing it, I was determined to get to the heart of the matter as quickly as possible, which meant efficiently! I used all my problem-solving skills – in fact, everything within my power - to accomplish this.The problem-solving sequence effectively broke down, interpreted, and often required a probing inquiry with the caller to determine the most appropriate avenue needed to ensure the right team received the request.It was crucial to document all support interactions for future reference and provide a basis for furthering knowledge.I left this role to take a permanent position as a Dietic Assistant at St. Josephs.Information Technology | Technician

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Décor on a Dime is a furniture store retailing gently-used home décor on consignment. As the store's Assistant Manager, I supervised the retail team, supporting them and offering training and guidance. They told me often how much they welcomed my collaborative spirit and the times when I used to say, "let's get this done together!"I was also responsible for Sales, Marketing, cash handling, and security.I firmly believe employees work best when they feel appreciated and respected. On one particular occasion, for example, a newer associate found herself in a confrontation with a customer due to an oversite that she herself had made. Instead of embarrassing my staff member, I defended her by stepping in and taking personal responsibility for the error. Next, I apologized to the customer and discussed options that eventually led to a win-win solution.When the customer left, my associate thanked me for considering her feelings and for maintaining her dignity. She also learned a valuable lesson about customer care, which will serve her for years to come.I enjoyed the role of Assistant Manager at Decor on a Dime but left to begin a career in healthcare.Cash | Retail | Marketing | Sales