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Health Unit Coordinators are members of
the supporting cast that helps maintain a health care facility's service
and performance. These trained individuals may also be known as unit
clerks, ward clerks, or unit secretaries. Some of their daily operations
include preparing special documents such as birth/death certificates,
maintaining patient charts and records, coordinating patient activities
for the unit, ordering supplies, and communicating with the dietary
department. They may also perform other duties such as graphing the
temperature, pulse, and blood pressure readings for patients, as well as
transcribing medical orders and completing admission and discharge forms.
Health unit coordinators usually work under the supervision of the
registered nursing staff or the health information administrator. One of
their main responsibilities is to act as a liaison between the patients
and staff. They must have excellent communication skills in order to serve
as this vital link between the physicians, nursing staff, various
departments, patients, and visitors. Since these unit coordinators may
serve as receptionists on patient floors, they must possess a pleasant and
professional disposition in dealing with the public. Anyone interested in
this health related profession should pay close attention to detail, be
reliable and dependable, and have the ability to follow instructions and
procedures.
Work Environment:
Health unit
coordinators work in a variety of health care settings such as hospitals,
clinics, public health care agencies, health maintenance organizations
(HMOs), nursing homes, home health agencies, and government agencies.
Working conditions vary greatly with hours ranging from full-time to
part-time.
High School Preparation:
Individuals interested in a career as a health unit coordinator should
take high school courses in algebra, biology, chemistry, computer skills,
data processing, psychology, English, composition, social studies,
literature, foreign language, sociology, and health occupations/medical
professions education.
College Requirements:
Individuals entering a health unit coordinator program should have a high
school diploma or equivalent. Community colleges and vocational-technical
schools may offer programs or training through continuing education
departments. Some hospitals and other health care facilities may offer
on-the-job training for this position. The majority of employers require
formal training or previous experience as a health unit coordinator.
Certification can be obtained by passing an examination given by the
National Association of Health Unit Coordinators. Students interested in
becoming a health unit coordinator should contact schools for information
on admission and course of study.
There are no degree programs specifically
for health unit coordinator, but several schools offer programs in health
information technology.
For educational institutions in
Mississippi
offering this course of study
click here.
Career Outlook:
Employment opportunities for health unit coordinators are expected to
expand rapidly over the next decade. There is expected to be an increase
of over 25% in the number of positions for health unit coordinators
through the year 2010. This growth is primarily due to overall growth in
all health related professions. As the population gets increasingly older,
the need for unit coordinators will be enhanced because of the need for
efficiency and cost effectiveness in hospitals and clinics. Many other
health care facilities such as health maintenance organizations, nursing
homes, and home health agencies will also be utilizing health unit
coordinators because of the need to keep accurate and secure medical
records.
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Salary:
Average Annual Salary
$25,400
Salary Range
$21,600-$33,300
Professional Organizations:
National Association of Health Unit Coordinators
1947 Madron Road
Rockford, IL 61107
Phone:(888) 22-NAHUC
Web: www.nahuc.org
American Health Information Management Association
919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1400
Chicago, IL
60611-1683
Phone: (312) 787-2672
Web: www.ahima.org
Download our Health Unit Coordinator brochure
here.
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