Medical Scheduler Jobs

Summary:

Responsible for coordinating and scheduling patient appointments for office visits. Answer incoming calls and schedules patients for initial evaluations, exams, tests, consultations or other procedures. Maintain and update patient information in data base. Perform work with a focus on effective communication with the patient, coworkers and the physician. Demonstrate cooperation with coworkers while striving to ensure the highest level of patient care and “customer service,” representing EHN in a professional manner at all times.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility but will provide guidance to employees and/or assist with orientation and training of new employees of the work group.

Essential Functions:

• Determine patient status, i.e. new, established, or inactive and schedule appropriately; register new patient in data base.
• Gather patient information from patient and ensure information is thorough, accurate and updated in practice management system; verify patient information such as personal information, insurance provider and benefits, benefit plan sponsor, and primary physician.
• Receive incoming calls and schedule, change, cancel and confirm patient appointments for initial evaluations, exams, tests, consultations or other office visits, taking into consideration the patient’s needs and physician’s availability.
• Research and follow up on scheduling discrepancies and conflicts; coordinate work with front desk staff, back office staff, bookkeeping department and physicians as needed to resolve scheduling issues.
• Complete and fax medical record requests to provider upon receipt of appropriate authorization.
• Act as resource to patients by responding to inquiries; confirm and verify pre-scheduled appointments; assist patients who are responding to recall notification.
• Maintain efficient flow of time on calls to ensure minimal wait time for calls in queue.
• Ensure all necessary documentation and preparatory activities have been completed; verify type of appointment needed, whether vision or medical; ensure a referral/authorization is obtained as needed.
• Monitor and respond to scheduling voice mail messages in a timely manner and in accordance to department procedures.

• Maintain a neat, clean and orderly work area.
• Protect confidential patient information, and use good judgment in sharing patient information in a manner that is consistent with patient care and current laws and regulations, including HIPAA.
• Effectively communicate with coworkers, doctors and patients; share information appropriately and complete the communication circle with follow-up as needed; communicate in a positive, upbeat manner while refraining from complaining, gossiping, or engaging in conversations of a negative tone.
• Perform work in compliance with company policy, department procedures and regulatory requirements, including State and Federal laws and regulations.
• Adhere to all safety standards as established by company policy and OSHA requirements.
• Ensure that services and products are appropriate to meeting patient needs and work is performed in an efficient, timely and accurate manner.
• Demonstrate team values through cooperation and consideration of coworkers; foster goodwill among coworkers by providing assistance when needed and sharing information that helps others do their jobs; interact with tact, courtesy and diplomacy.

Secondary Functions:

• Other duties which may be necessary or desirable to serve the patient and support the success of the department or the company overall.
• May assist with Patient Coordinator and/or Scheduler function as needed.
• Request, receive and transfer medical records to and from other EHN locations as necessary to ensure accurate and timely medical information is provided to ophthalmologists, optometrists and technicians.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Manual/finger dexterity as necessary to perform daily job duties.
• Occasionally required to stand and/or walk for extended periods of time.
• Visual acuity adequate to perform job duties, including reading information from printed sources and computer screens.
• Occasionally required to sit for extended periods of time.
• Majority of work is performed in a general office environment. Exposure to moderate levels of noise in a well-lit, well-ventilated and moderately paced environment.
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; lift, push, pull and/or carry objects up to 20 pounds.

Reasonable Accommodations:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience; Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations (Minimum Requirements):

• An equivalent combination of education, experience and training that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the successful performance of the essential job duties.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year experience preferred.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must be computer literate with proficiency in Windows based programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with all persons contacted in the course of performing duties.
• Must be highly organized with the ability to effectively prioritize duties.
• Must be detail oriented.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a genuine desire to help people.
• Knowledge and understanding of medical terminology and procedures relating to the eye.
• Ability to address patient complaints and effectively resolve problems.
• Ability to complete basic mathematic equations.
• Skill in handling difficult patients successfully and respectfully.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends, and a willingness to rotate to various worksites as needed.
• Knowledge and understanding of different types of insurance coverage and eligibility.