Health Service Coordinator Job Description

Health care industry involves the contribution of various professionals or health care workers. Health service coordinators are important professionals in the health care system who help to process the smooth running of daily medical duties. They help doctors, nurses, patients and other staff members in carrying out their tasks related to immediate medical needs. Health service coordinator responsibilities must be carried out with dedication and compassion. They work in health care or medical centers like hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, pathology centers, public health agencies, or any health care organizations to provide support services to the staff and the management.

Much of the daily activities and functions in the health care facilities are dependent on the efficient performance of the health care coordinators. Some of the basic duties include maintaining patient records, assisting doctors by taking notes, giving patient feedback and history, scheduling appointments for patients, attending emergency cases, helping in laboratory tests, documentation, patient admission and discharge formalities, recording vital signs, etc., amongst many others. They also act as a liaison between the medical staff, the patients and their relatives.

An individual can become a successful health service coordinator, only if he/she has the passion to care and serve the community and its people. If you have the passion to become a heath service coordinator, you do not need to possess high educational degrees, but atleast have to complete the basic qualifications. Also, this position requires on-the job training to make yourself an expert in this field. To get a more detailed list of job responsibilities and other qualifications, you may refer to the sections of the article below.

Key Responsibilities of a Health Service Coordinator

Provide support to the medical staff including doctors, nurses and pathologists
Perform administrative and official duties
Take complete medical history of the patient and document the same
Help in the diagnosis of diseases or any other problems and report to the physician/s
Monitor and develop plans of action and emergency plans
Give daily patient feedback to the doctor and nurses and update the patient charts
Assist the surgeons during operations in the operation theater
Coordinate the process of patient admission and discharge including filling up forms, maintaining patient records, etc.
Verify insurance information of all patients and handle the payments
Schedule appointments for patient visits or diagnostic testing
Examine and record the vital signs like body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, weight, height, etc., accurately
Maintain a healthy and cooperative relation with the patients and their relatives
Educate the patients, relatives or other members on various information, rules and process
Check inventory of medical equipment or stock of medicines and place orders accordingly
Help the pathologists in the process of laboratory testing
Make reports and database of the patient, inventory and other necessary documentation on computers
Report to the health service manager and give feedback on the progress of his/her daily duties
Respond to emergency cases and attend the basic medical requirements
Work in adherence to the organization's standards, practices and policies
Work in collaboration with all the staff, members, visitors and patients
Perform other duties as assigned

Essential Skills and Proficiencies

Knowledge of various clinical techniques, diseases, medical terminologies and other medical functions
Experience in handling medical and administrative duties with minimum supervision
Ability to do medical transcription
Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills
Ability to understand and respond to emergency issues
Ability to perform duties with optimum utilization of resources
Possess knowledge of safety practices and procedures and adhere to the code of ethics
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to counsel patients and relatives of all ages and problems
Strong interpersonal and time management skills
Knowledge of latest trends in health care
Knowledge of basic computer skills like Microsoft Excel and Word
A well organized, detail oriented and confident personality

Educational Qualification

A health care coordinator usually needs to complete his/her high school diploma. An associate's degree in health services or the related field will have an added advantage. Usually, certification is a voluntary option, but some positions may require certifications from accredited universities or institutions. Additionally, on the job training and other technical trainings are also mandated.

Salary Details

The average salary of a health service coordinator is $43,000 approximately. The salary will vary according to the place of work (type of organization/health facility and its geographical location) coupled with the experience and skills of the respective candidate.

Work Timing

A health service coordinator works for more than 50 hours per week in an in-house (hospital, nursing homes, clinics, etc.) setup. The job may require irregular hours of work due to emergency situations and several critical medical duties.

The employment opportunities for these professionals are expected to increase by 13 percent by the end of 2018, according to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If an individual is confident of carrying out health service coordinator responsibilities in an efficient way, he/she can make this a promising career choice for themselves.