Administrative Assistant III - Ophthalmology, Santa Monica

University of California - Los Angeles Health; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Los Angeles Health in Santa Monica seeks a Surgery Coordinator for ophthalmology to manage surgical scheduling, pre-operative testing, and patient liaison activities within our multi-specialty clinic.

The role emphasizes accurate documentation in the EMR, effective communication with patients and staff, and adapting to urgent scheduling needs while maintaining high service levels.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience in a medical practice (ophthalmology or surgical specialty preferred).
• Experience with patient billing, managed care, Medicare, Medi‑Cal, and commercial insurers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and schedule surgical and laser procedures for assigned physicians.
• Schedule pre-operative testing and appointments.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Prioritization

Attention to detail

Customer service

Tools

EMR system

Appointment scheduling software

Job description

Description

We are seeking a highly organized and patient-centered Surgery Coordinator to coordinate all aspects of surgical coordinating for ophthalmologists in our multi-specialty ophthalmic clinic in Santa Monica. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinate and schedule patient surgical and laser procedures for assigned faculty physicians
• Schedule required pre-operative testing and appointments
• Verify patient insurance coverage and obtain necessary prior authorizations, and provide guidance on billing
• Serve as a patient liaison, guiding patients through the pre- and post-operative process
• Maintain accurate documentation and patient records within the electronic medical record system
• Provide general clinic and administrative support as needed to ensure smooth daily operations

Salary Range: $31.88-45.66 Hourly

Qualifications

Required:

• 2 years of experience working in a medical practice, preferably in ophthalmology or another surgical specialty.
• Experience with patient billing practices, managed care plans, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and commercial insurance carriers.
• Ability to explain complex surgical scheduling and authorization processes to patients in a clear and supportive manner.
• Experience scheduling patient
  appointments in computerized appointment scheduling system.
• Excellent organizational skills to assure consistently effective and accurate scheduling of surgeries, communications with patients, co-workers and surgeons.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to deal effectively and in a positive manner with patients of varying backgrounds and temperaments, physicians and staff.
• Excellent verbal communication skills to facilitate the scheduling process and instructing patients about the process.
• Ability to prioritize work effectively and follow-through on tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational skills in maintaining records to facilitate sharing records with co-worker.
• Flexible personality and the ability to function well despite numerous interruptions.
• Ability to work well under the stress of occasional emergencies that need immediate scheduling.

Highly Preferred

• Experience working in an ophthalmic office, especially Cataract & Refractive Surgery to include premium intraocular lenses.
• Experience working in a medical teaching institution.