What does a unit assistant do?

A unit assistant is responsible for performing administrative duties within a department of a health care institution, ensuring that the patients receive the highest quality care services for their concerns and needs. Unit assistants assist the patients and the visitors, confirm their appointments, and direct them to the correct personnel or medical department. They also manage the adequacy of medical supplies and report defective equipment and machine to the maintenance for immediate repairs or replacements. A unit assistant must be highly organizational, especially on storing medical records and updating patients' information on the database.
Unit assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real unit assistant resumes:
- Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
- Carry out necessary duties for post surgery patients which result in quicker test results and recovery time for patients.
- Follow HIPAA laws and assist patients.
- Qualify in 12 lead EKG's, and applying 6 lead telemetry monitors.
- Report any personal or medical complaints and concerns of the patients to the supervising nursing and rehabilitation staff members.
- Assist patients in activities of daily living, assist in rehabilitation of patients, doctors & nurses in ER department.
- Order labs, EKG's, other tests as needed.
- Discontinue blood donations by removing needles from donors with accuracy and compassion.
- Prepare medical hard charts in accordance to HIPAA and departmental policy and procedures.
- Respond to code blue alerts: perform CPR and other lifesaving first aid functions.
- Answer phone calls, call consults assist with printing schedules and faxing staffing to central telemetry and nursing office.
- Stock medical supplies/ transporting patients/ CPR certify
- Maintain cleanliness, organize equipment storage area.
- Train in telemetry monitoring on a high-volume cardiovascular floor.
- Initiate and involve in resuscitation measures of multiple patients.
Unit assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 37% of Unit Assistants are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and HIPAA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Technical skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Unit Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 37%
Supported non-clinical services required by patients in surgical area by providing a clean, well-organized and adequately stocked patient care area.
- Customer Service, 8%
Provide rewarding customer service though effective customer interaction and satisfaction by reaching out to each unit and providing personalized group training.
- HIPAA, 6%
Prepared medical hard charts in accordance to HIPAA and departmental policy and procedures.
- Vital Signs, 5%
Conducted vital signs and reported any irregular vitals to corresponding nurse.
- Medical Terminology, 5%
Transcribed doctors' orders ensuring proper interpretation of medical terminology.
- ADL, 4%
Assisted with basic ADL's throughout shift.
Most unit assistants use their skills in "patients," "customer service," and "hipaa" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential unit assistant responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a unit assistant to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what unit assistants do because "medical assistants must be able to understand and follow medical charts and diagnoses." Additionally, a unit assistant resume shows how unit assistants use analytical skills: "designed and performed data entry and computerized reproductions of client worksheets. "
Technical skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling unit assistant duties is technical skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "medical assistants should be able to use basic clinical instruments so they can take a patient’s vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure." According to a unit assistant resume, here's how unit assistants can utilize technical skills in their job responsibilities: "assisted with the administrative and technical needs of a plastic surgery unit. "
Interpersonal skills. unit assistants are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to unit assistant responsibilities, because "medical assistants need to be able to discuss patient information with other medical personnel, such as physicians." A unit assistant resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "utilized interpersonal skills to establish and maintain good customer service with donors, volunteers, sponsors, and staff. "
Detail oriented. Another common skill required for unit assistant responsibilities is "detail oriented." This skill comes up in the duties of unit assistants all the time, as "medical assistants need to be precise when taking vital signs or recording patient information." An excerpt from a real unit assistant resume shows how this skill is central to what a unit assistant does: "position required excellent time management skills, attention to details and organization as well as excellent customer service. "
The three companies that hire the most unit assistants are:
- Genesis HealthCare34 unit assistants jobs
- McLaren Health Care22 unit assistants jobs
- The Center for Health Care Services20 unit assistants jobs
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Unit assistant vs. Certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant
A certified medical assistant (CMA) or certified nurse assistant (CNA) is a healthcare professional who performs clinical and administrative duties in clinics or medical facilities. Certified medical assistants provide excellent customer service to patients arriving and departing from the medical facility and administer injections or medications to their patients. In administrative duties, certified medical assistants are tasked to help clients submit insurance claims and encode medical records to the computer system. They also can work with specialized physicians such as ophthalmologists and podiatrists.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a unit assistant are more likely to require skills like "surgery," "patient safety," "clerical support," and "computer system." On the other hand, a job as a certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant requires skills like "quality care," "phone calls," "infection control," and "exam rooms." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Certified medical assistants/certified nurse assistants earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $34,559. On the other hand, unit assistants are paid more in the non profits industry with an average salary of $34,283.The education levels that certified medical assistants/certified nurse assistants earn slightly differ from unit assistants. In particular, certified medical assistants/certified nurse assistants are 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a unit assistant. Additionally, they're 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit assistant vs. Student medical assistant-externship
Student Medical Assistant Externship is a broad term for catering students for short, reliable, and practical work experience. Once you graduate, you can get a chance to meet contacts that may be useful for your career. You can have a better chance to work in a clinic, hospital, and any medical platform after going through this kind of externship.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real unit assistant resumes. While unit assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "adl," "direct patient care," and "compassion," student medical assistant-externships use skills like "urinalysis," "venipuncture," "exam rooms," and "phlebotomy."
Student medical assistant-externships earn similar levels of education than unit assistants in general. They're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit assistant vs. Medical assistant/phlebotomist
Medical assistants/phlebotomists are medical personnel who execute administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare facilities or units. They are responsible for providing healthcare to patients such as immunization administration, orthopedic supplies, and wound care. It is part of their job to take the blood of patients for blood testing. They also take charge of handling other medical tests for the upkeep of patients' health. These professionals should exhibit compatibility, initiative, and cohesiveness within the team.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a unit assistant is likely to be skilled in "medical terminology," "adl," "direct patient care," and "compassion," while a typical medical assistant/phlebotomist is skilled in "office procedures," "venipuncture," "strong customer service," and "phlebotomy procedures."
Medical assistant/phlebotomists make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $35,745. On the other hand, unit assistants are paid the highest salary in the non profits industry, with average annual pay of $34,283.medical assistant/phlebotomists typically earn similar educational levels compared to unit assistants. Specifically, they're 2.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit assistant vs. Registered nursing assistant
The main role of a certified nurse assistant is to provide basic care to patients and help them with daily activities they might have trouble doing on their own, such as bathing and getting dressed. Their responsibilities include taking vital signs, providing food to patients and helping them eat, and lifting and moving patients who cannot move by themselves. Cleaning patients and maintaining a clean and sanitized environment is also important in this role.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between unit assistants and registered nursing assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a unit assistant might have more use for skills like "medical terminology," "data entry," "patient safety," and "clerical support." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of registered nursing assistants require skills like "bls," "quality care," "rnfa," and "infection control. "
In general, registered nursing assistants earn the most working in the health care industry, with an average salary of $38,970. The highest-paying industry for a unit assistant is the non profits industry.In general, registered nursing assistants hold similar degree levels compared to unit assistants. Registered nursing assistants are 0.5% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Updated January 8, 2025











