Reports to: Nurse Manager

Job Summary:

Reporting directly to the Nurse Manager, the Surgical Scheduler coordinates all aspects of scheduling surgical procedures in accordance with Federal, State and surgery center policies and procedures. The ideal individual will have surgical experience, the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, with strong written and verbal communication, administrative, and organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Schedules all procedures to be performed in facility
• Follows scheduling form to obtain all necessary patient demographic, health, and insurance information from physician's office accurately
  • Obtains day and time being requested
  • Obtains length of procedure
  • Records procedure to be performed
  • Determines type of anesthesia required and who will administer anesthesia
  • Records name, address, phone numbers, date of birth, weight, if there is a weight restriction, age, if there is an age restriction
  • Records insurance information, demographics of the policy holder
  • Determines date of injury if this is an accident or workman's compensation
  • Records name of parents or guardian if patient is under legal age
  • Obtains any special requirement for each procedure scheduled (i.e. medications, screws, plates, fluoroscopy, positioning, and any special equipment)
• Maintains copy of medical staff member's Delineation of Privileges to determine appropriateness of scheduled procedures; notifies clinical director if questions arise
• Considers priorities and patient/equipment special needs when scheduling surgical procedures
• Schedules appointments and procedures according to nursing and anesthesia staff availability, patient needs, and physician's block time
• Regulates schedule according to procedure and physician's time and staffing requirements
• Coordinates schedule with time and equipment availability; identifies conflicts and adjusts schedule as needed
• Prepares surgery schedule for review by the nurse manager so that adjustments may be made as necessary
• Accurately prepares final surgery schedule for timely distribution
• Distributes schedules to appropriate areas so that required staff and supplies are available
• Follows procedure for notification of changes in the schedule (e.g., cancellation, rescheduling)
• In collaboration the with nurse manager, networks with and markets to physician office schedulers
• Works with front desk coordinator to assure all insurance information including all information required by commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, workers compensation, and no fault is captured and recorded to facilitate insurance billing and collection of patient responsibility inclusive of deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
• Performs other miscellaneous office/clerical duties as needed
• Answers telephone as needed

Education and Experience:

• High School Graduate; some College preferred.
• Prior experience in surgical services.
• Prior scheduling experience preferred.
Computer literate in Microsoft word and excel.

Physical/Mental Requirements

• Ability to sit/stand for a considerable amount of time; ability to walk.
• Visual and auditory acuity for frequent use of computer, telephone, and occasional use of other office equipment.
• Ability to move quickly in response to center needs.
• Constant and frequent judgment and response.
• Occasional judgment and response to disasters or emergencies, actual events, or drills.


Working conditions (Environmental)

• Well-lit and ventilated, with non-hazardous and hazardous equipment.
• Category III: involves occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids and materials.