Position Overview
A surgery scheduler is hired particularly to schedule surgeries and handle all related duties.
They typically facilitate the paperwork involved in scheduling patients for surgeries.
The type of surgery involved is immaterial. But surgery scheduling is the goal that they work towards.
There are a lot of things that they have to do to make sure that this goal is met. This may mean ordering tests such as MRIs, CT scans, ESIs, and bone scans.
They also make sure that patients possess appropriate medical and cardiac clearances before they are scheduled for surgeries and that even a hint of complication is alerted to both primary care physicians and surgeons immediately.
See also: Surgery Scheduler Resume
Typical duties of a surgery scheduler include:
Surgery Scheduler Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities
• Confer with patients to derive medical history and previous surgery information from them
• Answer questions regarding paperwork involved for compliance with surgical procedures
• Take reservations for surgeries, invasive and non-invasive procedures and ascertain the smooth flow and progression of scheduled cases
• Schedule surgeries based on surgeons’ schedules and available dates
• Maintain patient time allotments according to test results feedback time
• Order patients’ tests such as bone scans, complete blood counts, MRIs, CT scans and ESIs
• Assess tests to determine if patients are ready for surgeries
• Keep patients up to date with the status of surgeons’ schedules and scheduled surgeries
• Assist patients in filling out forms and collect fees such as co-pays
• Provide assistance to patients in filling out insurance forms and verify insurance coverages
• Schedule surgery appointments and perform follow up and reminder duties
• Respond to patients’ queries regarding surgery times and what to ingest (or not) prior to a surgery
• Ensure that all consent forms are being filled out and signed prior to scheduled surgeries
• Walk patients and families through instructions about “things to do” before and after surgeries
• Schedule post-surgical appointments with doctors and necessary tests
Position Requirements
Typically, surgery schedulers do not need any formal education as they do not have anything directly to do with surgeries.
However, employers do prefer to hire people with scheduling experience in a healthcare facility and outstanding customer service skills.