© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 0 © 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

Slide 1 Introduction to Health Unit Coordinating Major events in the evolution of health unit coordinatingMajor events in the evolution of health unit coordinating Tasks included in the health unit coordinator job descriptionTasks included in the health unit coordinator job description Advantages of belonging to the National Association of Health Unit CoordinatorsAdvantages of belonging to the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators Advantages of being certifiedAdvantages of being certified Major events in the evolution of health unit coordinatingMajor events in the evolution of health unit coordinating Tasks included in the health unit coordinator job descriptionTasks included in the health unit coordinator job description Advantages of belonging to the National Association of Health Unit CoordinatorsAdvantages of belonging to the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators Advantages of being certifiedAdvantages of being certified

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 2 Floor Secretary - World War II - Shortage of Nurses - on the Job Trained

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 3 Ward Clerk

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide First Educational Program Voc-Tech School Minneapolis

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 5 August 23 rd Formation of the National Association of Health Unit Clerks/CoordinatorsAugust 23 rd Formation of the National Association of Health Unit Clerks/Coordinators Date has been set aside as National Health Unit Coordinator DayDate has been set aside as National Health Unit Coordinator Day August 23 rd Formation of the National Association of Health Unit Clerks/CoordinatorsAugust 23 rd Formation of the National Association of Health Unit Clerks/Coordinators Date has been set aside as National Health Unit Coordinator DayDate has been set aside as National Health Unit Coordinator Day First Meeting for the Formation of The National Association

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 6 First certification exam offered by the National Association of Health Unit Clerks/Coordinators First certification exam offered by the National Association of Health Unit Clerks/Coordinators 1983 First Certification Exam

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide “Clerks” Was Removed from National Association’s Name

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 8 Health Unit Coordinator Job Description

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 9 The HUC: Communicates all new doctors’ orders to the patient’s nurseCommunicates all new doctors’ orders to the patient’s nurse Maintains the patient’s chartMaintains the patient’s chart Performs the non-clinical tasks for admission, discharge, and transfer of patientsPerforms the non-clinical tasks for admission, discharge, and transfer of patients Prepares the patient’s chart for surgeryPrepares the patient’s chart for surgery Handles all telephone communication for nursing unitHandles all telephone communication for nursing unit The HUC: Communicates all new doctors’ orders to the patient’s nurseCommunicates all new doctors’ orders to the patient’s nurse Maintains the patient’s chartMaintains the patient’s chart Performs the non-clinical tasks for admission, discharge, and transfer of patientsPerforms the non-clinical tasks for admission, discharge, and transfer of patients Prepares the patient’s chart for surgeryPrepares the patient’s chart for surgery Handles all telephone communication for nursing unitHandles all telephone communication for nursing unit HUC Responsibilities to Nursing Staff

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 10 The HUC: Transcribes the doctors’ written ordersTranscribes the doctors’ written orders Places calls to and receives calls from the doctors’ officesPlaces calls to and receives calls from the doctors’ offices Obtains information for the physician as to whether previously ordered procedures have been completedObtains information for the physician as to whether previously ordered procedures have been completed The HUC: Transcribes the doctors’ written ordersTranscribes the doctors’ written orders Places calls to and receives calls from the doctors’ officesPlaces calls to and receives calls from the doctors’ offices Obtains information for the physician as to whether previously ordered procedures have been completedObtains information for the physician as to whether previously ordered procedures have been completed HUC Responsibilities to Doctors

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 11 The HUC: Schedules diagnostic procedures and treatmentsSchedules diagnostic procedures and treatments Requests services from maintenance and other service departmentsRequests services from maintenance and other service departments Coordinates discharge/admitting/transfer activities with admitting departmentCoordinates discharge/admitting/transfer activities with admitting department Orders food and supplies for nursing unit as requiredOrders food and supplies for nursing unit as required The HUC: Schedules diagnostic procedures and treatmentsSchedules diagnostic procedures and treatments Requests services from maintenance and other service departmentsRequests services from maintenance and other service departments Coordinates discharge/admitting/transfer activities with admitting departmentCoordinates discharge/admitting/transfer activities with admitting department Orders food and supplies for nursing unit as requiredOrders food and supplies for nursing unit as required HUC Responsibilities to Hospital Departments

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 12 The HUC: Greets upon arrival in nursing unitGreets upon arrival in nursing unit Answers call light - intercomAnswers call light - intercom Relays messages - transfers calls to roomRelays messages - transfers calls to room Coordinates their receiving mail - flowers (volunteers)Coordinates their receiving mail - flowers (volunteers) The HUC: Greets upon arrival in nursing unitGreets upon arrival in nursing unit Answers call light - intercomAnswers call light - intercom Relays messages - transfers calls to roomRelays messages - transfers calls to room Coordinates their receiving mail - flowers (volunteers)Coordinates their receiving mail - flowers (volunteers) HUC Responsibilities to Patients

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 13 The HUC: Finds and advises visitors of patient locationFinds and advises visitors of patient location Provides information on location of bathrooms, visitors’ lounge, cafeteria, etc.Provides information on location of bathrooms, visitors’ lounge, cafeteria, etc. Informs visitors of visitation rules and any special precautions regarding their visit to a patient’s roomInforms visitors of visitation rules and any special precautions regarding their visit to a patient’s room Receives telephone calls from patients’ relatives or friendsReceives telephone calls from patients’ relatives or friends Is often the first to handle visitor complaintsIs often the first to handle visitor complaints The HUC: Finds and advises visitors of patient locationFinds and advises visitors of patient location Provides information on location of bathrooms, visitors’ lounge, cafeteria, etc.Provides information on location of bathrooms, visitors’ lounge, cafeteria, etc. Informs visitors of visitation rules and any special precautions regarding their visit to a patient’s roomInforms visitors of visitation rules and any special precautions regarding their visit to a patient’s room Receives telephone calls from patients’ relatives or friendsReceives telephone calls from patients’ relatives or friends Is often the first to handle visitor complaintsIs often the first to handle visitor complaints HUC Responsibilities to Visitors

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 14 Professional representationProfessional representation Format to share ideas and challengesFormat to share ideas and challenges National networkingNational networking National directoryNational directory Opportunity to develop leadership skillsOpportunity to develop leadership skills Professional representationProfessional representation Format to share ideas and challengesFormat to share ideas and challenges National networkingNational networking National directoryNational directory Opportunity to develop leadership skillsOpportunity to develop leadership skills Five Reasons to Become a Member of NAHUC

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 15 Increased credibilityIncreased credibility Gain a broader perspective of health unit coordinating (not just your own specialty)Gain a broader perspective of health unit coordinating (not just your own specialty) Increased mobility, geographically and/or verticallyIncreased mobility, geographically and/or vertically Peer and public recognition and respectPeer and public recognition and respect Improved self-imageImproved self-image Increased credibilityIncreased credibility Gain a broader perspective of health unit coordinating (not just your own specialty)Gain a broader perspective of health unit coordinating (not just your own specialty) Increased mobility, geographically and/or verticallyIncreased mobility, geographically and/or vertically Peer and public recognition and respectPeer and public recognition and respect Improved self-imageImproved self-image Five Reasons to Become Certified

© 2004 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 16 To receive a NAHUC or certification test application: Phone: Toll-free: NAHUC (62482) Locally: Locally: Fax: Address: 1947 Madron Rd Rockford, IL Rockford, IL Web site: To receive a NAHUC or certification test application: Phone: Toll-free: NAHUC (62482) Locally: Locally: Fax: Address: 1947 Madron Rd Rockford, IL Rockford, IL Web site: NAHUC Membership Information