AMBULATORY SURGICAL SERVICES OR SCHEDULER

UNM HOSPITALS; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

UNM Hospitals in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a Medical Assistant for Orthopaedics Faculty Clinic. The role coordinates surgery block time, handles tissue, implants, and equipment needs, and interfaces with financial offices for funding and prior authorizations.

The position emphasizes patient advocacy, coordination with the healthcare team, and adherence to hospital policies. The candidate supports scheduling, registration, and communications across surgical teams, patients, and external

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Associate degree or formal training preferred.
• Medical terminology knowledge with 2 years of related experience.
• No preferred clinical experience mandated.
• Physical ability for sedentary work with limited lifting.
• Travel may be required to various sites.

Responsibilities

• SCHEDULING - Assist surgeons with prioritization and scheduling of surgeries within block time allocation or other system
• SCHEDULING - Maintain surgery schedule within the ambulatory setting, including the release of unscheduled block time
• COORDINATE - Coordinate, schedule, and process all surgical paperwork, orderables (for prior auth), and notification into electronic systems; assigns CPT and ICD 9 codes
• SCHEDULING - Schedule pre- and post-op clinic appointments; coordinate pre-anesthesia clearance including planned pre-op lab tests and diagnostics
• COORDINATE - Monitor receipt of prior authorization for pending surgeries and funding options; obtain insurance card when required
• COORDINATE - Communicate with healthcare team and patient regarding all aspects of surgery scheduling and coordination
• REGISTRATION - Verify patient demographics and surgical details
• REGISTRATION - Identify and enter ICD9 and CPT codes for planned procedures or diagnostics
• COORDINATE - Coordinate special equipment, implants, tissue, and devices for surgery
• COORDINATE - Manage emergent/urgent scheduling with teams and financial screening
• CONTACT - Serve as main point of contact for patients and families
• CONTACT - Liaise with Hospitals and external parties for referred patients
• QUALITY SERVICE - Deliver quality service and seek continuous improvement opportunities
• CUSTOMER RELATIONS - Build rapport with patients, families, physicians and staff
• LEAD - May supervise lower level staff
• PATIENT SAFETY - Follow safety policies and procedures
• PATIENT SAFETY - Proactively improve patient safety by questioning current policies
• PATIENT SAFETY - Report safety concerns and errors promptly
• PATIENT SAFETY - Encourage patient participation in care
• PATIENT CENTERED MED - Uphold Patient-Centered Medical/Home standards

Skills

Medical terminology

Education

High School or GED

Associate Degree

Training

Job description

*** Medical Assistant Preferred ***

Compensation Disclaimer

Compensation for this role is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to experience, education, and other business and organizational considerations.

Department: Orthopaedics Faculty Clinic

FTE: 1.00
Full Time
Shift: Days

Position Summary:
Responsible for the coordination of surgery block time schedules and services required for an organized, interdisciplinary, patient centered team approach to surgery throughput, according to provider preferences. Coordinate tissue, implants, and special equipment needed for surgery. Interface with financial offices to secure patient funding source and ensure prior authorizations are in place. Code procedure and diagnosis for anticipated surgery. Ensure quality, cost effective care for surgical patients, and function as a contact person for the patient, family, healthcare team members and community/state resources. Assist in resolving patient problems, concerns and complaints; serves as patient advocate and liaison, interfacing patients, families, staff and department/physicians. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and department policies and procedures. No patient care assignment.

Detailed responsibilities

• SCHEDULING - Assist surgeons with prioritization and scheduling of surgeries within block time allocation or other system
• SCHEDULING - Maintain surgery schedule within the ambulatory setting, including the release of unscheduled block time
• COORDINATE - Coordinate, schedule, and process all surgical paperwork, orderables (for prior auth), and notification into electronic systems (blue card); assigns CPT and ICD 9 codes to system
• SCHEDULING - Schedule pre and post-op clinic appointments; coordinate pre-anesthesia clearance including planned pre-op lab tests and diagnostics; ensure paperwork is signed and processed to the appropriate entities; provide copy of surgery packet to patient and other entities of the healthcare team
• COORDINATE - Monitor receipt of prior authorization for pending surgeries, self-pay down payments, and referral of patients to financial counseling for funding options; obtain copy of insurance card when required
• COORDINATE - Communicates effectively with all members of the healthcare team and the patient, including release of block time and all changes as appropriate to Admitting, Patient Access, Main/OSIS OR Scheduler, Pre-anesthesia, surgeon, patient, and case managers
• REGISRATION - Verify accuracy of patient demographics, alternative contact phone number, funding source, and all surgical information/surgical forms, inclusive of surgery date, procedure(s), site and side
• REGISTRATION - Identify and enter ICD9 diagnosis and CPT procedure codes for planned procedures or diagnostics
• COORDINATE - Communicate verify and order special equipment, implantation devices, tissue from tissue for transplants by working with tissue banks, surgeons, OR staff, and the blood bank in preparation for surgery
• COORDINATE - Coordinate emergent/urgent surgical scheduling through electronic and manual systems to ensure all members of the healthcare team are notified and financial screening occurs; to include entry of stat orderables, faxes, and phone calls, and notification to Bed Control if patient is to be admitted
• CONTACT - Serve as the main point of contact for surgical patients, family members, and members of the healthcare team regarding all aspects of surgery scheduling and coordination
• CONTACT - Engage in a variety of contacts outside the department and the Hospitals in order to obtain information on referred patients or patients pending surgery
• QUALITY SERVICE - Deliver quality service and act in a positive way with all customers to complete assigned functions; identify, recommend and implement opportunities for continuous improvement
• CUSTOMER RELATIONS - Establish and maintain good rapport and effective working relationships with patients, visitors, physicians and Hospitals employees
• LEAD - May exercise functional and technical lead over lower level staff
• PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
• PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
• PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
• PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
• PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"
• PATIENT CENTERED MED - Adhere to and promote the core expectations of the Patient Centered Medical Home or Patient Centered Specialty Practice as applicable

Qualifications

Education:

Essential:

• High School or GED Equivalent

Nonessential:

• Associate Degree
• Training

Education specialization:

Nonessential:

• Related Discipline
• Medical Terminology and ICD

Experience:

Essential:

• Medical terminology knowledge 2 years directly related experience

Nonessential:

No preferred experience

Credentials:

Essential:

• Not Applicable/Not Required

Physical Conditions:

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Working conditions:

Essential:

• Minor Hazard - physical risks, dirt, dust, fumes, noise
• May be required to travel to various work sites
• May perform subordinate tasks in high census/vol