Health Unit Coordinator - Trauma

Parkland Health

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 position scheduled Friday through Sunday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The coordinator supports patient admissions, transfers, discharges, orders, records, procedures, supplies, billing, safety monitoring, and patient comfort. The role serves as a primary information contact for the unit and helps maintain the care environment and patient rooms. The coordinator may also transport patients and assist with training 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 is required upon hire. SAMA certification is required within 30 days only for employees assigned to the specified behavioral health and psychiatric cost centers. NAHUC certification is preferred.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of healthcare experience or one year of related clerical experience.
Current Heartsaver CPR course completion card upon hire from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
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 for 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 accordance with established standards.
Serve as the primary unit 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 refrigerator, nurses station, and physician areas.
Monitor and maintain patient rooms, including cleaning white boards, stripping linens after discharge, checking privacy curtains and window shades, and reporting cleaning or repair needs.
Assist with safety monitoring, including checking patient identification and allergy bands, fall precaution prompts, and baby watch in WISH units when applicable.
Assist with charge entry or audits and support accurate charge capture or professional billing as required by the unit.
Advocate for patients by addressing comfort needs and notifying nurses of other patient needs.
Transport patients to other departments or for discharge when transportation services are unavailable.
Assist with training employees on unit-specific operations.
Perform other work reasonably related to the position, qualifications, and competencies.
Identify process-improvement and customer-satisfaction opportunities, make recommendations to a supervisor, and implement and monitor results as appropriate.
Stay current with developments and trends in the field and integrate relevant knowledge into work practices.
Maintain knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines; support effective internal controls and seek guidance as needed.