A medical facility’s appointments are coordinated by a central scheduler. Medical personnel who need to schedule testing or other procedures for patients can contact this member of the team to schedule multiple appointments with various services. This saves time spent on administrative tasks while providing patient care, such as diagnosis and follow-up. It can also improve patient satisfaction and staff utilization by streamlining medical testing and related procedures. Most jobs in this field require at least a year of experience working in a medical setting.
Providers discuss the nature of the testing they require when they call central scheduling. An electrocardiogram, blood tests, and a stress test may be required for a patient being evaluated for a cardiac problem. The central scheduler can look over the tests that the doctor has requested and determine when they can be scheduled with the various departments involved. This includes coordinating personnel in those departments so they are aware of the comprehensive testing and scheduling the tests close together so the patient does not have to wait long.
Doctors or nurses can be given information about the testing date and time to pass on to the patient. A patient reminder can also be set up by the central scheduler to ensure that patients are informed about their testing so that they can prepare. This could include sending patients a card or brochure with information about any special preparations they need to make before the test, such as fasting the night before, taking a specific medication, or temporarily stopping medications so they don’t interfere with the results.
The job may also entail checking insurance coverage in addition to scheduling. Patients’ insurance status can be determined by central schedulers, who can also find out if tests and procedures are covered. They can help patients who are concerned about the cost of testing by providing information and assisting them in applying for authorization ahead of time by contacting the insurance company to obtain permission to perform a specific procedure. The central scheduler wants to make certain that all procedures are covered.
The central scheduler must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with patients and medical personnel, which necessitates phone skills. Because confidential information can be included in scheduling documentation, knowledge of computer systems is usually required, as is an understanding of medical privacy laws. Understanding basic medical terminology and the types of procedures available at a facility is also beneficial, as it can assist the central scheduler in ensuring that patients are scheduled for a full battery of tests.