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 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, preparing special documents such as birth/death certificates, 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.  

PURPOSE:

The program is designed to prepare students for employment as health unit coordinators, unit clerks, ward clerks, or unit secretaries 

PROGRAM CONTENT: This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of Theory, laboratory and clinical experiences. The following are the course requirements:

·          Health Careers Core (Basic Health Care Worker)

·          Interpret and apply medical terminology specific to health unit clerks.

·          Organize and maintain efficient work practices.

·          Perform clerical duties.

·          Practice safety/security.

·          Operate computers.

·          Read, interpret and transcribe physicians' orders.

·          Monitor EKG results. 

ENTRANCE/CLINICAL NEEDS

·          Proof of a High School Education

·          Successfully complete Background Check

·          Basic Skills Test

·          Attend Orientation 

LENGTH OF PROGRAM:

500 hours approximately 6 months.

TIME:

Days Class              8:00 AM-2:30 PM M-R

Evening Class         5:00 PM-10:30 PM M-R

UNIFORMS:

Students are required to wear the official school Uniform during the entire program (Class and Clinical). 

TRANSPORTATION:

Students must provide their own transportation to and from the campus as well as all clinical settings 

BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education)

Reading                   10 D/A Level

Math                        9.0 D Level

Language                                10.0D/A Level

*Must be achieved for program completion. 

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES:

Laboratory activities will be correlated with classroom activities and reinforced in the clinical area. 

CLINICAL ACTIVITIES: Students must provide their own transportation to the clinical sites.  Student s will receive clinical training in hospitals and other health care facilities 

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE

National certification is part of the program curriculum. During the course of studies the student will take and pass the National Examination given by the National Examination Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC)

Certification allows the person to work anywhere in the United States as a health unit coordinator