Health Unit Coordinator

Program DescriptionThe Health Unit Coordinator certificate program prepares persons to perform secretarial and management skills in the hospital, long-term care facilities or out-patient clinics. Transcribing doctors’ written orders, typing, ordering supplies, answering the telephone, working with computers and communicating with patients, visitors and staff are typical activities.
The 13-week program has eight weeks of classroom theory and five weeks of clinical practice in local hospitals.

Career and Advancement Opportunities
Job placement after graduation is 100% in various locations such as hospitals and physicians offices.

Special Requirements
There is a $37 program fee that covers the cost of a uniform top, hospital parking permits, nametag and health tests. Neutral-colored slacks or skirts are required for clinicals but are not covered by the fee. Students may be required to undergo routine drug screening and a criminal background check prior to beginning their clinical experience. Students enrolled in this program may not be eligible to receive financial aid or Veterans Administration benefits.
All Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division career and technical courses required for graduation must be taken for a traditional grade of A, B or C. For Health, Wellness & Public Safety career and technical courses offered only for credit/no credit, a grade of credit (CR) must be earned. All students will be required to have a PPD and current immunizations (including MMR and DTP) prior to clinicals.
Students with a criminal background may have limited employment opportunities in healthcare and public service. Those who have a felony conviction should refer to the relevant New Mexico legislation (NMSA, Section 29-17-5 for healthcare employees available at http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/05%20Regular/final/HB0627.pdf). Students should also contact appropriate credentialing or licensing agencies and local or regional industry for hiring and employment practices. Contact the HWPS Division Office at (505) 224-4111 for more information.
Students interested in certain Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division programs must be in good physical and psychological health. Some programs require documentation of a recent health screening from a licensed healthcare provider confirming the ability to safely perform program specific activities and lift a minimum of 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations are made for those students with disabilities. However, some disabilities may prohibit students from completing program specific competencies or gaining employment. Students with a disability that may interfere with completing program competencies, which may include providing safe patient care, are advised to contact the HWPS Division Office at (505) 224-4111 for more information.

Graduation Policy
Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division students must graduate under the current catalog.
Pre- and corequisites are listed in course descriptions and are subject to change with each new catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the pre- and/or corequisites in effect for the term in which a course is taken, regardless of the catalog under which the student entered or will graduate. Students may be stopped from enrolling or may be disenrolled if pre- or corequisites are not met.
Students who have successfully completed courses that no longer exist from previous catalogs will be accommodated. Contact the division at (505) 224-4111 for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Information is available from June Vermillion, program director, at (505) 224-5069, junev@cnm.edu, or from Academic Advisement and Career Development at (505) 224-5056 (South Valley) or (505) 224-4321.