Health Unit Coordinators support medical professionals by maintaining a health care facility's service and performance. Health unit coordinators in some health care facilities are known as unit clerks, ward clerks or unit secretaries. Health unit coordinators work under the supervision of an RN or health information administrator. The main responsibility of the health care coordinator is to act as a liaison between patients and staff. Health care coordinators should be reliable, dependable and pay close attention to detail.
Instructions
1. Start your training in high school if possible. If a person knows in high school that they desire to be a health care coordinator they can begin to prepare with the courses they take. It will be beneficial to take courses in biology, health, algebra, English and foreign language.
2. Locate a health care unit coordinator program. In order to enter a health unit coordinator program, a person needs to have a high school diploma or GED. Many programs can be found at community colleges, or vocational technical schools offer health unit coordinator programs through their continuing education department. Also programs can be found in local hospitals, as hospitals do occasionally offer on-the-job training.
3. Enroll in health care coordinator courses. Courses last six months to one year, depending upon whether you are getting a certificate or a diploma. In health unit coordinator programs, you will receive a combination of classroom and clinical training. The training includes medical terminology, legal and ethical responsibilities, clerical skills and hospital organization.
4. Decide if you will become certified. If you desire to become a certified health unit coordinator then you will need to take an examination that is given by the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators. National certification is optional but many employers now require you to be certified.
5. Get familiar with your possible work environment. The work environment health unit coordinators work in includes hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and public health care agencies. Health unit coordinators can work part time, full time, overnight, day hours, and sometime 12-hour shifts. Medical professionals are always on call and health care coordinators are no different.
