What is a Health Unit Coordinator?
A Health Unit Coordinator, also known as a unit secretary or ward clerk, is a pivotal administrative role within healthcare facilities responsible for coordinating unit activities, managing patient information, and facilitating communication between healthcare providers, patients, and families. Health Unit Coordinators ensure the smooth flow of operations in hospital units, clinics, or long-term care facilities by managing administrative tasks and supporting interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Health Unit Coordinator Job Description
We are currently seeking detail-oriented and organized individuals to join our healthcare team as Health Unit Coordinators. As integral members of our clinical support staff, successful candidates will play a vital role in facilitating efficient operations and communication within our healthcare unit.
As a Health Unit Coordinator, you will have the opportunity to oversee unit logistics, maintain patient records, and provide administrative support to healthcare professionals, contributing to the delivery of high-quality patient care and positive patient experiences.
The ideal candidates will possess excellent communication skills, multitasking abilities, and a commitment to patient-centered care.
What Does a Health Unit Coordinator Do?
- Coordinate Unit Activities: Manage unit schedules, appointments, and patient admissions, transfers, and discharges using electronic health record (EHR) systems and scheduling software, ensuring accurate and timely coordination of unit activities and patient flow.
- Communicate with Healthcare Providers: Serve as the primary point of contact for healthcare providers, patients, and families, relaying messages, requests, and information between interdisciplinary team members, facilitating effective communication, care coordination, and collaboration.
- Maintain Patient Records: Update and maintain patient health information, including demographic data, medical histories, treatment plans, and diagnostic test results, in electronic medical record (EMR) systems and health information management (HIM) databases, ensuring confidentiality, accuracy, and accessibility of patient records.
- Assist with Administrative Tasks: Perform clerical duties, such as answering phones, responding to inquiries, scheduling appointments, and filing paperwork, to support unit operations and ensure efficient workflow in compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
- Provide Customer Service: Greet patients, visitors, and staff in a courteous and professional manner, providing assistance, directions, and information as needed to enhance the patient experience and promote patient satisfaction with unit services and facilities.
- Facilitate Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with nurses, physicians, allied health professionals, and support staff to coordinate patient care activities, facilitate interdisciplinary rounds, and address patient needs, concerns, and preferences, promoting teamwork and continuity of care.
- Monitor Unit Supplies: Order, stock, and distribute unit supplies, equipment, and materials, such as medical supplies, office supplies, and patient education materials, to ensure adequate inventory levels and support efficient unit operations.
- Ensure Compliance: Adhere to healthcare regulations, privacy laws, and institutional policies governing patient confidentiality, health information management, and administrative practices, maintaining compliance with accreditation standards and quality assurance requirements.
How Much Do Health Unit Coordinators Make?
The expected annual earnings for a Health Unit Coordinator are approximately $49,267, with an average yearly salary of around $46,845.
Skill Requirements
- Communication Skills: Health Unit Coordinators must possess strong verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with healthcare providers, patients, families, and visitors, conveying information clearly, accurately, and empathetically to promote positive communication and patient satisfaction.
- Organizational Skills: Health Unit Coordinators should have excellent organizational skills and attention to detail in managing unit schedules, patient records, and administrative tasks, prioritizing responsibilities, and multitasking efficiently to support unit operations and workflow.
- Customer Service Skills: Health Unit Coordinators must demonstrate excellent customer service skills and interpersonal abilities in greeting patients, providing assistance, and addressing inquiries and concerns promptly and courteously to enhance the patient experience and promote patient satisfaction.
- Computer Skills: Health Unit Coordinators should be proficient in using computer software applications, such as electronic health record (EHR) systems, scheduling software, and Microsoft Office Suite, to input, retrieve, and manage electronic data and documents accurately and efficiently.
- Medical Terminology: Health Unit Coordinators should have a basic understanding of medical terminology, abbreviations, and clinical procedures to interpret and communicate medical information effectively and accurately in administrative and patient care contexts.
- Interpersonal Skills: Health Unit Coordinators must possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary healthcare teams, patients, families, and visitors, fostering positive relationships, teamwork, and effective communication in a healthcare setting.
Example KPIs for a Health Unit Coordinator
- Patient Satisfaction and Experience: This KPI measures Health Unit Coordinators’ effectiveness in promoting patient satisfaction and positive patient experiences by assessing patient feedback, surveys, and service ratings related to communication, responsiveness, and assistance provided by unit coordinators.
- Unit Efficiency and Workflow: This KPI evaluates Health Unit Coordinators’ efficiency and productivity in managing unit schedules, patient admissions, transfers, and discharges, as evidenced by turnaround times, patient flow, and unit occupancy rates.
- Communication and Collaboration: This KPI assesses Health Unit Coordinators’ communication skills and collaboration with healthcare providers, patients, families, and visitors, based on feedback, observations, and interdisciplinary team evaluations of communication effectiveness and teamwork.
- Accuracy and Compliance: This KPI measures Health Unit Coordinators’ accuracy and compliance in maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, and performing administrative tasks, as evaluated through audits, reviews, and error rates related to data entry, documentation, and regulatory requirements.
- Professional Development and Training: This KPI evaluates Health Unit Coordinators’ engagement in ongoing professional development, training, and certification programs to enhance administrative skills, expand medical knowledge, and stay updated on changes in healthcare regulations and technology.
How Can Glider AI Help You with Hiring a Health Unit Coordinator?
Glider’s recruitment platform is designed to prioritize competency over credentials, enabling organizations to assess candidates’ skills objectively and efficiently. Utilize Glider AI Skill Intelligence™ to streamline the hiring process, identify top-quality Health Unit Coordinator candidates, and ensure a mobile-first, candidate-friendly experience.
Glider AI’s Unique Features
- Verify Medical Licenses
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Go ahead and spotlight your Health Unit Coordinator with Glider AI today!
Schedule a Demo or contact us at info@glider.ai
