Hospital Unit Coordinator

Hospital Unit Coordinator

4-Month Certificate Program

**The HUC program has been approved for a CEWIL grant for Fall 2023! Students will be able to access a grant of $1,670 to put toward tuition. Details to be announced shortly.**

Become part of the health care administration team, working in a fast paced, demanding and rewarding environment. This non-credit, blended format program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills required to work in the medical administration field. The focus is on preparation for employment as a Hospital Unit Coordinator or Nursing Unit Assistant in hospitals and other medical settings. The program will also benefit staff currently employed in the medical field who require cross training, professional development, or retraining.

See our VIU blog to find out about recent changes to the program

Career Opportunities

The Hospital Unit Coordinator (HUC) performs a variety of non-clinical tasks at the communication centre at the nursing station of a hospital, continuing care centre and other medical facilities. 

The Hospital Unit Coordinator Certificate Program prepares students for the following positions:

• Nursing Unit Assistant/Coordinator
• Hospital Unit Coordinator/Clerk
  
• Health Unit Coordinator/Clerk
• Surgical Procedures Booking Clerk
• Patient Placement Clerk
• Admitting Clerk
• Booking Clerk & Modality Assistant - Medical Imaging
• Clerk - Reception & Image Service Centre - Medical Imaging

View this short video from the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators for more on what the job entails. 

Program Content

The program consists of the following non-credit courses:

• Orientation & Skills For Student Success
• Hospital & Unit Communications
• Non-Clinical Pharmacology
• Unit Coordinator Procedures & Observation
• Observational Practicum
• Unit Coordinator Practicum

Course Delivery

Courses are offered on a full-time basis starting in September with a combination of online and face-to-face classes. 

The full-time practicum is individually scheduled during the last three weeks of the program. Practicums will be held face-to-face and may be located across Vancouver Island. We do our best to place you in your "home", or preferred, location.

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent
• Medical Terminology and Anatomy & Physiology (OSME 002) or equivalent within the last 2 years. Next online course runs from May 1 to August 13, 2023.  Note that if you have taken a Medical Terminology and Anatomy & Physiology course more than 2 years ago, you can take an assessment. Please see https://services.viu.ca/assessments/medical-terminology for more information. Proof of successful completion of the assessment will be considered equivalent to OSME 002.
• Keyboarding speed of 50 cwpm or greater.
• Computer Skills: successful completion of computers course (i.e. COST 030) or a letter that details computer systems and programs that you use and know. Basic computer literacy is required. If you have not recently taken an introductory computer course but are comfortable using computers, please provide a letter outlining the programs you can use, your capability of setting up files and sub-files, saving and printing documents, performing internet searches, etc.

Notes on Admission

Please note that although there are no English requirements for this program, it is strongly recommended that you have English Studies 12 with a minimum grade of "C" or Communications 12 with a minimum grade of "A" or meet the English Language Requirements for Undergraduate Academic and Vocational Programs for those applicants with English as a second language.

Other Program Requirements

Proof of successful completion of the following is required in order to participate in the practicum. Once you have been accepted to the program, it is strongly recommended that you have these required documents completed before the program start date.  Please email this documentation to pdt.hhs@viu.ca on the first day of class. It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they have the correct credentials and meet all of these requirements prior to the deadlines outlined in their offer letters.

• Criminal Record Check
  • Fieldwork and/or practica will require a satisfactory criminal record check prior to placement. Criminal Record Checks are requested through VIU. Further information on obtaining your CRC through VIU will only be sent if you are accepted to the program, and will be sent with your acceptance letter from the Registrar's Office. Criminal Record Checks are processed through the Ministry according to the Criminal Records Review Act. A check completed through the RCMP is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act.
• Immunization Requirements Form with a recent TB skin test report within 12 months of entering the program is required. (If the TB skin test is positive, a negative chest x-ray is required.) Please note that some immunizations are given in a series and may take several months to complete.
  

• HSPnet Student Consent Form
• Island Health Confidentiality Form
• Please review the personal Suitability checklist

Admission Assessments

To meet the Keyboarding admission requirement, or for any other assessments you may need, please contact VIU Student Affairs Assessment and Exam Invigilation Services. Assessments are available at Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan.

Important Program Dates*

Schedule is subject to revision.

*Dates are subject to change

**Applications must be submitted with all required documentation.  If pre-requisites are in-progress, conditional acceptance may be granted as long as courses / assessments are completed before program start.  Late applications will be considered if seats are available.  

Program Fees

Tuition and fees subject to final approval

• Tuition: $5,186.31
• Application Fee:  $45 (approx.)
• Criminal Record Check Fee: $45 (approx.)
• Student Union Fees and Student Activity Fees: $300 (approx.)
• Textbooks: $300 (approx.)

This program is eligible for students loans. For more information, please see Student Financial Aid & Awards. 

Graduation Requirements

Students must successfully complete all six courses in the program in order to be eligible for the program certificate.

Students are required to attend all scheduled lectures, observations, examinations, and practicum hours.  If you do not meet the attendance requirement, you may not qualify for the program certificate.

How to Apply

It's fast and easy to Apply Online.   

An application fee is required.

Useful Links

• Accuplacer
• Island Health

Contact Information

We are happy to answer any questions you may have.  Please feel free to contact us!

Yan Li, Program Assistant
Professional Development & Training
Faculty of Health Sciences & Human Services
Email: pdt.hhs@viu.ca