Unit secretary vs unit coordinator

The differences between unit secretaries and unit coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a unit secretary and a unit coordinator. Additionally, a unit coordinator has an average salary of $43,688, which is higher than the $32,153 average annual salary of a unit secretary.

The top three skills for a unit secretary include patients, patient care and medical terminology. The most important skills for a unit coordinator are patients, customer service, and medical terminology.

Unit secretary vs unit coordinator overview

	Unit Secretary	Unit Coordinator
Yearly salary	$32,153	$43,688
Hourly rate	$15.46	$21.00
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	69,543	85,294
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	2	2

What does a unit secretary do?

Unit secretaries are administrative workers in a medical facility, usually a hospital or a clinic. They are in charge of religious activities in the unit or department they are assigned to. They manage incoming and outgoing mail, phone calls, and even appointments. They handle filing and recording of the documents of the department. They also take minutes of meetings and ensure that action plans are followed through. Unit secretaries should be familiar with the individuals in the department. They should also be accustomed to the schedule of members of the unit. Unit secretaries should be organized, dedicated, and trustworthy.

What does a unit coordinator do?

A unit coordinator is responsible for providing quality care services to patients by supporting the daily operations of a health care facility under the supervision of medical professionals. Unit coordinators perform administrative and clerical tasks as needed, including responding to patients' inquiries and concerns, scheduling appointments, sorting medical records, verifying insurance details, and assisting the physician on the care plans and patients' activities. They also monitor the medical supply inventory, coordinate with suppliers, and ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility by adhering to safety standards and protocols.

Unit secretary vs unit coordinator salary

Unit secretaries and unit coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Unit Secretary	Unit Coordinator
Average salary	$32,153	$43,688
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $40,000	Between $29,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	Portland, ME	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Ohio's Hospice
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between unit secretary and unit coordinator education

There are a few differences between a unit secretary and a unit coordinator in terms of educational background:

	Unit Secretary	Unit Coordinator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	-	-

Unit secretary vs unit coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between unit secretaries' and unit coordinators' demographics:

	Unit Secretary	Unit Coordinator
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 10.6% Female, 89.4%	Male, 20.7% Female, 79.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between unit secretary and unit coordinator duties and responsibilities

Unit secretary example responsibilities.

Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management.
Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Manage the medical unit by supervising its activities, accurately transcribing physician orders, and prioritizing tasks.
Conduct 6 mass vaccination campaigns, manage protein-calorie malnutrition, coordinate epidemiological surveillance, and direct health facility rehabilitation
Assist patients with their daily routine, including feeding, cleanliness and basic needs.
Post anesthesia recovery care for ophthalmology, ENT and plastic surgery patients

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Unit coordinator example responsibilities.

Manage inpatient transfers to rehabilitation and medical facilities, along with preparing and monitoring outpatient billings insurance verification and referrals.
Demonstrate care and compassion toward all patients and family members at all times.
Receive all incoming phone calls; triage calls from the hospital emergency room.
Display ability to identify and prioritize degree of urgency via assignment of triage.
Review all patients EMR to ensure all appropriate power plans and quality measure consoles have been initiate.
Coordinate the daily events in an ICU setting and all other secretarial duties, including but not limit to maintaining equipment.

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Unit secretary vs unit coordinator skills

Common unit secretary skills

Patients, 25%
Patient Care, 13%
Medical Terminology, 10%
Customer Service, 7%
Patient Charts, 4%
Physician Orders, 4%

Common unit coordinator skills

Patients, 26%
Customer Service, 12%
Medical Terminology, 8%
CPR, 3%
Patient Flow, 3%
Physician Orders, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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