Central Scheduler

Job Description

Job Summary 

The Central Scheduler is responsible for coordinating and managing patient appointments for various healthcare services, including diagnostic tests, procedures, consultations, and follow-ups. This role ensures that scheduling is accurate, efficient, and aligned with provider availability, patient needs, and facility resources. The Central Scheduler works closely with patients, healthcare providers, and other departments to enhance operational efficiency and ensure a seamless patient scheduling experience. 

Essential Functions

• Coordinates and schedules patient appointments across multiple departments, including diagnostic tests, procedures, and specialist consultations.
• Ensures appointments are scheduled based on provider availability, patient needs, and clinical urgency while optimizing facility resources.
• Accurately inputs patient information and appointment details into the hospital’s electronic scheduling system or EMR (Electronic Medical Records).
• Works closely with physicians, nurses, and other medical staff to ensure appointments align with clinical priorities and medical requirements.
• Pre-registers scheduled patients and provides accurate preparation instructions for diagnostic tests.
• Verifies the medical necessity of scheduled tests for Medicare patients and ensures compliance with payer requirements.
• Refers uninsured and underinsured patients to financial assistance programs as appropriate.
• Reviews and verifies personal and insurance information for pre-certification orders, including CPT and ICD codes, obtaining clinical details from physicians as needed.
• Contacts insurance companies to secure prior authorization and logs all pre-certification orders in tracking systems and SOAP notes when necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• Coursework or certification in Healthcare Administration, Medical Office Management, or related fields preferred
• 0-1 years of experience in scheduling, administrative, or customer service roles, preferably in a healthcare setting required
• 1-2 years experience with electronic medical records (EMR) or scheduling software preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.
• Ability to handle high volumes of scheduling requests in a fast-paced environment.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and scheduling or EMR software.
• Knowledge of medical terminology is a plus.