Surgical Scheduler

Surgical Scheduler, Center for Women's Medicine

Valley Health Partners, Allentown, PA

Job Summary:

The Surgery Scheduler is responsible for coordinating and scheduling surgical procedures for patients in collaboration with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.  This role ensures that all necessary documentation, pre-operative requirements and insurance authorizations are completed in a timely and accurate manner to facilitate smooth surgical operations.  The Surgery Scheduler facilitates communication between staff, referral sources and physician offices regarding any concerns, issues, or questions related to scheduling.

The Surgery Scheduler at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) plays a vital role in ensuring timely and efficient coordination of surgical procedures for patients, often serving underserved and vulnerable populations. This position manages surgical scheduling, insurance authorizations, and patient education while upholding the mission and values of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center.

Qualifications:

Experience required:

• 1 year of previous experience in medical scheduling, healthcare administration, or direct patient care
• Familiarity with electronic health records and scheduling software

Education:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Associate's degree in business, Healthcare Administration, Public Health or related field preferred

Skills Needed:

• Knowledge of medical terminology and surgical procedures.
• Understanding of social determinants of health and barriers to surgical care.
• Strong communication, organizational, and administrative skills.
• Familiarity with EMR and scheduling software.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
• Ability to maintain strict level of confidentiality. ·
•  Ability to work in a challenging environment while handling multiple responsibilities.

Essential Functions:

• Schedule surgeries and procedures based on physician availability, operating room schedules, and patient needs.
• Collects clinical information, obtains insurance, and verifies patient demographics to ensure appropriate scheduling of screening and diagnostic tests.
• Communicate with patients regarding surgery dates, times, locations, and pre-operative instructions.
• Obtain and verify insurance authorizations and pre-certifications for procedures, verify insurance coverage including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding fee scale programs.
• Coordinate with pre-op, anesthesia, and surgical teams to ensure all necessary preparations are made.
• Work closely with referral coordinators, care managers, and external surgical centers to ensure continuity of care.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in the scheduling system and patient charts.
• Ensure compliance with hospital and other healthcare organization policies, HIPAA regulations, FQHC compliance standards, and other healthcare standards.
• Respond to inquiries from patients, physicians, and staff regarding scheduling issues, concerns, or questions.
• Monitor and manage surgical schedule changes, cancellations, and rescheduling as needed.
• Strives to reduce errors, minimize rework and detects inefficiencies through conscientious attention to detail.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Floats to other locations as assigned based on business needs.

Benefits:

• Choice of medical, dental, and vision plans with great coverage at VERY affordable rates.  
• 403b Retirement Plan with generous company match
• Paid Time Off for holidays, vacation, sick & personal days
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement