Health Unit Coordinator - Observation Unit

Parkland Health•Parkland, FL

About The Position

The Health Unit Coordinator coordinates clerical activities and supports patient services using clinical information systems. The role ensures accurate preparation and processing of patient documents, verifies status information, and confirms communications for doctors, nurses, patients, and family members to support effective unit operations. This is a full-time, night-shift position in the Observation Unit. The coordinator supports patient admissions, transfers, and discharges; maintains patient files; processes orders and paperwork; coordinates procedures; and responds to information requests as the unit’s primary contact. The role also helps maintain the care environment and patient rooms, assists with safety monitoring and charge entry, supports patient comfort, transports patients when needed, and helps train employees. The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and one year of healthcare or related clerical experience. A current Heartsaver CPR course completion card from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross is required upon hire. SAMA certification is required within 30 days of hire or placement for specified behavioral health, inpatient psychiatry, and psychiatric ED cost centers. NAHUC certification is preferred.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of healthcare experience or one year of related clerical experience.
Upon hire, a current Heartsaver CPR course completion card from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
For cost centers 60593 (Behavioral Health Ext. Observation Unit), 60610 (Inpatient Psychiatry), and 62340 (Psychiatric ED), SAMA certification, levels 1–4, must be obtained within 30 days of hire or placement.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital staff.
Ability to complete the Health Unit Coordinator checklist within three months of employment.
Ability to demonstrate patient-centered and patient-valued behaviors.

Nice To Haves

National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC) certification.

Responsibilities

Transcribe, prioritize, process, and communicate orders to support patient services.
Admit, transfer, and discharge patients by creating charts, checking rooms, and receiving, logging, and storing patient valuables and nonvaluables.
Prepare and process hardcopy and computerized patient files by entering, sorting, and updating information to maintain accurate and complete records.
Coordinate special procedures by processing legal paperwork, X-rays, and test data to appropriate sources; arrange follow-up appointments when needed.
Order and pick up or deliver medical and non-medical supplies, laboratory requisitions, and other items in response to routine requests.
Act as the unit’s primary contact and respond to information requests from doctors, nurses, patients, families, and others.
Monitor and maintain the environment of care, including assigned cleaning and organization tasks in refrigerators, nurses’ stations, and MD areas, and cleaning phones and keyboards.
Monitor and maintain patient rooms, including cleaning whiteboards, stripping linens after discharge, checking privacy curtains and window shades, and notifying appropriate personnel of cleaning or repair needs.
Assist with safety monitoring, including checking patient identification and allergy bands, verifying fall precaution prompts, and performing baby watch in WISH units when applicable.
Assist with charge entry or charge-entry audits and ensure accurate charge capture or professional billing as required by the unit.
Advocate for patients by responding to comfort needs, such as providing blankets and ice water, passing meal trays, and notifying nurses of other needs.
Transport patients to other departments or for discharge when the transportation department is unavailable.
Assist in training employees on unit-specific operations.
Complete other work reasonably related to the position, qualifications, and competencies, as requested.
Identify opportunities to improve work processes and customer satisfaction; make recommendations, implement changes, and monitor results as appropriate.
Stay current with developments and trends in the field through activities such as seminars, workshops, professional journals, professional organizations, or maintaining certification or licensure, and apply relevant knowledge to current work practices.
Maintain knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines; support effective internal controls and seek guidance as needed.