What is a health unit coordinator?
Health unit coordinators, also known as unit secretaries or ward clerks, serve as a liaison between patients, visitors and medical personnel. Under the supervision of the registered nursing staff, health unit coordinators handle all clerical tasks for the floor.ResponsibilitiesHealth unit coordinators answer phone calls, deliver messages, schedule diagnostic tests and answer visitors’ questions. They also maintain medical records, transcribe medical orders, complete insurance forms and purchase supplies.EducationHealth unit coordinator training is obtained by enrolling in a one-year certificate program through a community college. Students study such areas as medical terminology, medical record management, word processing, computer applications and medical insurance.CertificationOnce training is complete, students can obtain their Certified Health Unit Coordinator (CHUC) credential through the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC).
