What are the responsibilities and job description for the Surgery Scheduler (General Surgery) position at External Brand?
ABOUT AUSTIN REGIONAL CLINIC
Austin Regional Clinic has been voted a top Central Texas employer by our employees for over 15 years! We are one of central Texas’ largest professional medical groups with 35 locations and we are continuing to grow. We offer the following benefits to eligible team members: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, PTO, 401(k), EAP, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Tuition Reimbursement, Child Care Assistance, Health & Fitness, Sick Child Care Assistance, Development and more. For additional information visit https://www.austinregionalclinic.com/careers/
PURPOSE
Schedules surgeries for physicians at local surgery centers and hospitals. Creates and maintains surgery schedules for physicians. Obtains insurance authorizations and verifies benefits. Carries out all duties while maintaining compliance and confidentiality and promoting the mission and philosophy of the organization.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Coordinate with physician and clinical team to schedule patient surgeries at local surgery centers and hospitals, pre op, and post op appointments.
- Coordinate necessary surgical devices/implants with vendor representatives
- Coordinate surgical assistant coverage when applicable.
- Meets and/or communicates with patient prior to surgery to go over pre surgical instructions, consents, surgical estimates, insurance authorization information, and answer any questions.
- Complete surgery checklist with appropriate information and knowledge of each physician’s schedule and surgery guidelines.
- Ensures all pre-op orders are created and faxed to the facility along with H&P, patient insurance, and demographic information.
- Facilitate surgery cancellations, time changes, date changes, and changes with orders, and communicate to all parties involved.
- Update EPIC and Outlook calendars with any changes or additions to the physician’s schedule.
- Code surgery orders prior to sending them to the facility.
- Obtain insurance benefits and authorization requirements for procedures (set up peer to peer reviews in the event authorizations are denied).
- Request estimates from financial counselor, anesthesia, and facility for patients cost of surgery.
- Initiate charity process with hospital or surgery center for uninsured patients when applicable.
- Review patient history and medications to insure accuracy in EPIC and verify medical and or specialist clearance prior to surgery.
- Make outgoing calls in a timely manner to patients that need to schedule a procedure, and check voicemails frequently to return patient calls.
- Assist other surgery schedulers as needed.
- Adheres to all company policies, including but not limited to, OSHA, HIPAA, compliance and Code of Conduct.
- Regular and dependable attendance.
- Follows the core competencies set forth by the Company, which are available for review on CMSweb.
- Works holiday shift(s) as required by Company policy.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist front desk and business office staff as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
Required: High school diploma or GED. Experience working in a medical office setting.
Preferred: Three (3) or more years of experience working in a surgical setting, to include surgery scheduling.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of ICD and CPT coding methodology.
- Ability to engage others, listen and adapt response to meet others’ needs.
- Ability to align own actions with those of other team members committed to common goals.
- Excellent computer and keyboarding skills, including familiarity with Windows.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities.
- Ability to perform job duties in a professional manner at all times.
- Ability to understand, recall, and apply oral and/or written instructions or other information.
- Ability to organize thoughts and ideas into understandable terminology.
- Ability to apply common sense in performing job.
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday; 8am-5pm (two half-days during the week)