There are many online health unit coordinator
certificates and diplomas available. The programs offered at the
undergraduate level and prepare students for administrative careers in
healthcare. Read on to learn more.
In these online programs students are trained to work as a clerk in a
healthcare setting. Health unit coordinators transcribe physicians'
orders and communicate with nursing staff and patients. Health unit
coordinators work for hospitals,
medical
labs, nursing homes and insurance agencies. Skills developed in the
program include ability to read patient charts, process medical orders
and communicate using medical terminology.
Students can expect to complete these certificate and diploma
programs in about six months. The programs are generally around 25
credit-hours in length. Some schools offer a hybrid program, but most
programs can be taken entirely online. Upon completion of the program,
students are often required to enroll in an internship program and gain
on-site training at the school's chosen medical facility.
Online coursework can be accessed from any computer that has an
Internet connection. It is helpful if the computer has an up-to-date Web
browser and operating system.
Common Online Health Unit Coordinator Certificate and Diploma Program Courses
There are no general education courses required in these programs. In
most programs, course material is presented asynchronously, meaning
that students can access it at a time that is convenient for them.
Pharmacology Course
This course focuses on the side effects of drugs, pharmaceutical drug
classifications, and commonly prescribed drugs and their uses. Upon
completion of this course students will have an understanding of
pharmacological terms and abbreviations, be able to identify different
types of drugs, understand prescription labels and understand safe drug
administration practices.
Health Unit Coordinator Basics Course
Students in this course receive a general overview of all the tasks
that a health unit coordinator will be in charge of during an average
day. Course topics include scheduling patient procedures, transcribing
physicians orders and consent form preparation.
Medical Terminology Course
Basic knowledge of medical terms that relate to human anatomy and
physiology are essential to effective communication as a health unit
coordinator. This course covers topics like terminology comprehension,
defining different body parts and term abbreviations.
Upon completion of these programs students will be eligible for an
entry-level position as a health unit coordinator or medical secretary.
According to
PayScale.com health unit coordinators could expect
to make about $13 per hour in September of 2010. Pay-rates can vary
based on location and local economy.
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