Health Unit Coordinator Certificate

Program Information

The Health Unit Coordinator (HUC) provides exceptional customer service to patients and visitors through welcoming behaviors, effective communication, and information sharing. HUCs work as part of a team often under the supervision of a physician or nurse manager to ensure that documentation of patient care and progress in electronic health records software is completed accurately and efficiently. The Health Unit Coordinator certificate program at Anoka Technical College prepares students to perform the duties of a unit coordinator in a health care facility.

Upon graduation, students will be prepared to work in this position through completion of coursework in introductory computer applications, medical terminology as used in health information, and electronic health records software. Medical Office Procedures coursework provides students with more in-depth learning in HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations and applications, abbreviations for various physician specialists, health care organizations, and hospital departments as well as concepts of effective communication. Through critical thinking curriculum, students will develop an understanding of the workplace behaviors necessary to be a positive team member in a professional workplace and how timemanagement and prioritizing skills are crucial to effectively managing workflow. Practice Management software training takes students through a complete cycle of scenarios from entering new patient information through batch-cycle billing.

The credits in this program can be applied towards the Medical Office Specialist Diploma and Medical Office Specialist AAS Degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Define and recognize business etiquette and professionalism in the workplace and exhibit these skills in class interactions and communications such as e-mail and the discussion board.
2. Show basic keyboarding competency.
3. Utilize software applications necessary for business office operations including file management, e-mail, calendaring, search engines, word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
4. Use medical practice management software (scheduling, billing, and insurance) to enter front office, clinical care, and coding information, as well as claim forms, financial policies, and collections.
5. Define legal and ethical standards and principles of patient confidentiality within the healthcare community and as defined by federal, state, and local guidelines and regulations and recognize what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is and the consequences for non-compliance with the law.
6. Understand the history and standards of electronic health records and utilize electronic health records software.
7. Identify and define prefixes, roots, and suffixes to develop a vocabulary of medical terms and abbreviations. Identify major body structure and functions that reinforces knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology.

Industry and Career Outlook

The Health Unit Coordinator (HUC) is responsible for coordinating non-clinical operations and facilitates communication between staff, patients, families and care providers, and between the unit and other departments. Potential locations for employment include hospitals, nursing homes, medical clinics, insurance companies, private physician practices, public health clinics, rehab centers, and more. The HUC role involves a wide range of responsibilities that vary based on the medical setting. A HUC must possess professionalism in both appearance and interaction with others as well as provide exceptional customer service to patients and visitors. They must demonstrate the ability to work quickly in a fast-paced patient care setting and work accurately and efficiently with attention to details while maintaining patient confidentiality. HUCs must be able to utilize computer software including Electronic Health Records software, possess knowledge of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) rules and patient confidentiality requirements, and knowledge of medical terminology as used in health information. They must also demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills with ability to focus on keeping effective work flow. Possessing strong interpersonal skills and attributes of a team player are a must for a Health Unit Coordinator position.

Wage information is available from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Program Start Dates

Fall Semester: August
Spring Semester: January

Graduation Requirements

Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.

Faculty Contact

Darla Cullen: 763-576-4018
Deb Catlett: 763-576-4025

For information on how to apply, to schedule a tour, or for service during summer hours, contact Enrollment Services at 763-576-7710 or EnrollmentServices@anokatech.edu