Unit Coordinating Skills

This article discusses the new things learned during a course on unit coordination, the application of this knowledge in working as a Health Unit Coordinator (HUC), areas that could have been expanded upon, valuable takeaways from the course, and future goals in the field of Medical Office Administration.

Unit coordinating skills
Name of Student:
Name of College:
Authors Note:
Running head: UNIT COORDINATION

UNIT COORDINATION
What new things did I learn?
Over last couple of months I had learnt several new things like I explored my personal skills
when I was introduced to lessons of psychiatry. This new learning took me by surprise as I
was unaware that I was sensitive. During the course program I got opportunity to explore
different cultures which helped me develop sensitivity to new cultures and assertive
behaviour. Also I developed in-depth knowledge and skills to cope with emergencies and
execution of infection control process which related to my previous experiences. In addition I
also learnt better communication skills which are essential for excellence in HUC job where
understanding of effective verbal and noon-verbal communication is must (Marsan,
Audebrand, Croteau & Magnin 2017). My course also covered introduction to different
ethical concerns related to working in a health unit and gave me an overview of mental health
dis-orders. Initially while reading about metal disorders I got confused as I was not aware of
knowhow on psychiatry. Due to which I felt lack of confidence in understanding techniques.
But during the course my lecturers helped me learn and understand every aspect and
eventually I was introduced to learning sessions which made me clear about psychiatry and
metal health disorders. This new learning was interesting as I was introduced to new subject
and learning. Before enrolling into course I thought life as HUC would include preparing
patient charts, taking doctors’ orders and transcribe them but after the course my perspective
has changed entirely. I have now understood that HUC job is far more than preparing and
transcribing notes. Infact it is more of patient management and implementing treatment
procedure and protocols which were covered in this course.
Will I apply this knowledge to working as a HUC? If so, why? If not, why?
Yes I would apply my learning and knowledge of working as HUC in real job as program
from course has helped me learn about different health administration roles, departments and
equipped me with skills to handle and process medical orders between departments. HUC
program even helped me learn various process like admission, transfer, discharge, recording
vitals and interpretation of treatment protocols (Mallidou et. Al. 2018). The learning sessions
during the course helped has helped me gain wide knowledge so that I could apply them
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UNIT COORDINATION
practically at work as a HUC. Also I will apply my knowledge to practical working as HUC
because I have always aspired to become part of health care administration team and to work
in demanding as well as rewarding environment. And working as HUC would offer me this
opportunity and the course has prepared me with knowledge and skills required to work in
medical administration field. The course covered different learning sessions focused on
orientation and skill development, hospital and unit communication, non-clinical
pharmacology, unit clerk process and observation, observational practicum and unit
coordinator practicum which had given me complete learning and understanding to
strengthen my career as HUC and apply my learning in different scenario for better process
and patient management (Nyland, Morland & Burns 2017).
As I have this new information to coordinate the hospital unit I am mostly anxious about
being “centre of all” as HUC sounds like hub spot job in health care as it will offer me
interface to work with multi-disciplinary teams. I am most excited about working as HUC as
it is ideal job for me as it will offer me perspective on different healthcare roles and it might
become a job that I would continue and never leave. Yes I think I to work as hospital unit
and may not prefer to work in nursing home.
What could have been expanded upon? What was lacklustre?
The learning sessions during the course of HUC could have expanded upon overview of
health care today related to identification of different healthcare delivery systems, values of
national interconnected EMR systems associated to hospital scenario. Also as HUC is allied
health career course so understanding of current change in healthcare systems, new
modification in health unit coordinating sector could have extended a bit more during the
course (Naccarella, Osborne & Brooks 2016). Moreover, interpretation of interdisciplinary
teamwork and functioning, clinical procedures and hospital functions, interpretation of
nursing unit supplies and related management to HUC task performance could have also
expanded. Report on emergency management, infection control and special services like
identifying emergency response codes, understanding of nursing interventions and treatment
orders such as respiratory care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, interpretation of
intestinal, urinary orders, intravenous therapy, healing, safety and comfort could have
expanded.
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UNIT COORDINATION
The most valuable piece of information that I can take after completion of my course is
learning about psychopathology of mental disorder. These learning sessions have helped me
recognise and interpret psychiatric clinical symptoms and disorder, pervasive development
disorder, mood disorder, therapeutic procedures and treatment which have added extra
benefit to my knowledge and have strengthened it further for holistic clinical management
and practice (Dadich, Jarrett, Robards & Bennett 2015). This knowledge can be applied in
my personal life to understand interpersonal response and in professional setting knowledge
of phycology and behaviour will help me use my learning in intercultural communication
practices and during response and management to patients assertive behaviour. Resources on
patient positioning and nursing as well as articles on component of medication orders,
controlled substances and medical stock supplies will be helpful for me to refer to my
practise. Also books on laboratory order and recording as well as laboratory process,
recording of vitals, diagnostic tests will be helpful to be referred during practise.
During the course I found understanding workplace behaviour, recognising factors that
impact behaviour, ethics consideration, workplace appearance and medial malpractices was
lacking to some extent which could have been improved.
What did I take away from this experience?
From the course program I would take away different integral and valuable experiences
which will help me strengthen my career and help me deliver better clinical and health care
management services related to transcribing medical order, arranging diagnostic test and
studies, scheduling appointment and follow up care, maintaining and procuring supplies and
recording patient records (Gotlib et al. 2012). This course has helped me learn from realistic
training about different activities of unit clerks both in classroom and clinical setting which
has given me wide practical understanding and experience on responsibilities of health unit
coordinator. Moreover learning from this course has even expanded my competencies and
improved my experiences related to communication, human interrelations, physiology,
psychology and unit management. As HUC these learning and experiences which I have
taken would help me assist patient, maintain administrative support, schedule coordinators
and communicate instructions in hospital setting (Chamberlain, Hoben, Squires & Estabrooks
2016).
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UNIT COORDINATION
What are my future goals?
My future goal is to pursue a career in Medical Office Administration that will give me wider
exposure in medical, technical management after completion of HUC program that is in large
demand in clinics, hospitals and resident care services. Another goal is to become an integral
member in medical team and develop a full range career as professional staff.
Do I feel differently about my chosen career now than when I started the program?
Yes I feel different about my chosen career now than when I started the HUC program as
after this practical course my learning and understanding on medical practices, patient
management, coordination has improved and developed further than when I started. I learnt a
lot about HUC tasks that involved not only scheduling and recording but a wide facet of
different administrative responsibilities which will give me more potential exposure in
different hospitals, insurance firms, health clinics etc. Also after completion of program I
became aware of high demand of HUC in employment which has changed my perspective
and I can say the program has yielded better results.
References
Chamberlain, S. A., Hoben, M., Squires, J. E., & Estabrooks, C. A. (2016). Individual and
organizational predictors of health care aide job satisfaction in long term care. BMC
Health Services Research, 16 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1815-6
Dadich, A., Jarrett, C., Robards, F., & Bennett, D. (2015). How professional identity shapes
youth healthcare. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 29(3), 317-342.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-06-2012-0096
Gotlib C, L., Reeves, S., Dainty, K., Kenaszchuk, C., & Zwarenstein, M. (2012).
Interprofessional communication with hospitalist and consultant physicians in general
internal medicine: A qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research, 12, 437.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-12-437
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UNIT COORDINATION
Mallidou, A. A., Atherton, P., Chan, L., Frisch, N., Glegg, S., & Scarrow, G. (2018). Core
knowledge translation competencies: A scoping review. BMC Health Services
Research, 18 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3314-4
Marsan, J., Audebrand, L. K., Croteau, A., & Magnin, G. (2017). Healthcare service
innovation based on information technology: The role of social values
alignment. Systèmes d'Information Et Management, 22(1), 97-127,129. Retrieved from
https://search.proquest.com/docview/1910473297?accountid=30552
Naccarella, L., Osborne, R. H, & Brooks, P. M,. (2016). Training a system-literate care
coordination workforce. Australian Health Review, 40(2), 210-212.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AH15014
Nyland, K., Morland, C., & Burns, J. (2017). The interplay of managerial and non-managerial
controls, institutional work, and the coordination of laterally dependent hospital
activities. Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, 14(4), 467-495.
Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1969767169?accountid=30552
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