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What does a scheduling specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a scheduling specialist do

A scheduling specialist is responsible for managing the department's meeting, conference, and event schedules, as well as negotiating with suppliers and third-party vendors for appointment and program needs. Scheduling specialists may also perform administrative and clerical duties as needed, especially on communicating with clients and informing them of meetings, and responding to their concerns and inquiries. A scheduling specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as knowledge of the data processing procedures to maintain the organization's database, updating clients' information, and tracking business transactions.

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Scheduling specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real scheduling specialist resumes:

  • Manage clinic visit schedules, rehabilitation conferences, medical exams, trial appearances, depositions, etc.
  • Treat all patients with compassion and dignity no matter what their socioeconomic status is.
  • Job entail becoming familiar with medical insurance carriers, which include Medicaid and Medicare programs.
  • Schedule patients for radiology procedures, including complicate scheduling for multiple exams in one patient visit.
  • Register patients into EMR system, ensuring accuracy when updating patient information, demographics and insurance.
  • Schedule outpatient appointment for radiology patients, verify insurance, obtain authorization from insurance companies for special procedures.
  • Schedule and register patients for radiology, cardiology, respiratory, physical therapy and other evaluations, examinations and procedures.
  • Research for ICD and CPT codes.
  • Schedule appointments for several Dr.
  • Attend numerous trainings with insurance companies and ICD-10 trainings.
  • Enter data into CHCS system to schedule patients for appointments and medical procedures.
  • Provide personal contacts with the public demonstrates efficiency, competence, compassion and courtesy.
  • Verify insurance through the internet or via telephone using diagnosis codes and ICD-10 codes.
  • Verify all insurance for incoming appointments and make sure all patients with HMO insurance have a referral.
  • Obtain medical records for EMR system and serve as liaison between referring facility and patient for upcoming appointments.

Scheduling specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 25% of Scheduling Specialists are proficient in Patients, Medical Terminology, and Home Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Writing skills, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Scheduling Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 25%

    Scheduled and registered patients for radiology, cardiology, respiratory, physical therapy and other evaluations, examinations and procedures.

  • Medical Terminology, 8%

    Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.

  • Home Health, 7%

    Provided customer service to home health clients, hospital case managers and skilled nursing home social workers.

  • Patient Care, 5%

    Assigned float pool, agency and staff nurses to patient care units on a daily basis.

  • Insurance Verification, 4%

    Assisted Dermatologist with start up of her practice doing scheduling; including patient demographics and insurance verification.

  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

    Possess strong client/goal orientation, and excellent interpersonal, communication and computer skills.

Common skills that a scheduling specialist uses to do their job include "patients," "medical terminology," and "home health." You can find details on the most important scheduling specialist responsibilities below.

Organizational skills. The most essential soft skill for a scheduling specialist to carry out their responsibilities is organizational skills. This skill is important for the role because "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." Additionally, a scheduling specialist resume shows how their duties depend on organizational skills: "placed outbound calls to engage new members in health coaching and wellness programs health coach calendar management and organizational assistance"

Writing skills. Another essential skill to perform scheduling specialist duties is writing skills. Scheduling specialists responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." Scheduling specialists also use writing skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated effectively verbally and in writing and placed high emphasis on customer service. "

Interpersonal skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of scheduling specialists is interpersonal skills. This skill is critical to many everyday scheduling specialist duties, as "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "ensured that the needs of the patient were met efficiently, accurately, and with exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills. "

See the full list of scheduling specialist skills

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Compare different scheduling specialists

Scheduling specialist vs. Registration coordinator

A registration coordinator is in charge of organizing and overseeing the registration procedures in programs and projects. Their duties primarily depend on their industry or place of employment. Still, it typically includes coordinating staff, managing the budgets and schedules, setting goals and guidelines, liaising with external parties, and developing strategies to optimize operations. Furthermore, a registration coordinator must monitor the progress of all efforts, resolve issues and concerns, and enforce the company's policies and regulations.

If we compare the average scheduling specialist annual salary with that of a registration coordinator, we find that registration coordinators typically earn a $2,372 higher salary than scheduling specialists make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between scheduling specialists and registration coordinators are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like patients, medical terminology, and patient care.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, scheduling specialist responsibilities require skills like "home health," "excellent interpersonal," "insurance coverage," and "appointment scheduling." Meanwhile a typical registration coordinator has skills in areas such as "patient registration," "powerpoint," "registration process," and "corporate accounts." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Registration coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than scheduling specialists. In fact, registration coordinators are 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Scheduling specialist vs. Medical scheduler

A medical scheduler typically works with patients to coordinate appointment dates and times with health care professionals. Medical schedulers often work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other medical practices. They perform other duties aside from managing patients' schedules that includes providing patients the information they need about the hospital and its policies, providing patient support, and handling and managing questions from patients. Medical schedulers also act as a link between patients, clinical staff, and referral sources.

A career as a medical scheduler brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a scheduling specialist. In fact, medical schedulers salary is $5,068 lower than the salary of scheduling specialists per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both scheduling specialists and medical schedulers have skills such as "patients," "medical terminology," and "home health. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that scheduling specialist responsibilities requires skills like "excellent interpersonal," "patient appointments," "insurance coverage," and "surgery." But a medical scheduler might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "triage," "scheduling patient appointments," "office equipment," and "medical appointments."

On average, medical schedulers earn a lower salary than scheduling specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, medical schedulers earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $32,016. Whereas scheduling specialists have higher pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $51,929.medical schedulers earn similar levels of education than scheduling specialists in general. They're 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Scheduling specialist vs. Prior authorization specialist

Prior Authorization Specialists are individuals responsible for the entire process of prior authorization for a client. They manage communication between stakeholders of clients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies to request for prior authorizations. Their duties include ensuring complete and updated patient and claim documentation, performing daily billings, auditing accounts for accurate submissions claim, and making sure patient treatment reimbursements are processed effectively. Prior Authorization Specialists also review outstanding accounts and handle reimbursement or billing issues to ensure clean billing claims.

On average, prior authorization specialists earn lower salaries than scheduling specialists, with a $1,149 difference per year.scheduling specialists and prior authorization specialists both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "patients," "medical terminology," and "home health," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from scheduling specialist resumes include skills like "excellent interpersonal," "patient appointments," "compassion," and "patient demographics," whereas a prior authorization specialist is more likely to list skills in "clinical judgment," "clinical resource," "authorization process," and "utilization management. "

Prior authorization specialists make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $34,460. On the other hand, scheduling specialists are paid the highest salary in the transportation industry, with average annual pay of $51,929.prior authorization specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to scheduling specialists. Specifically, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Scheduling specialist vs. Insurance verification specialist

An insurance verification specialist is responsible for confirming a patient's insurance details and eligibility to receive medical care services. Insurance verification specialists review the insurance documents of the patients, including its coverage and limitations, and escalate concerns to the supervisor for immediate resolution. They process paperwork accordingly upon coordinating with the patients and attending health professionals. An insurance verification specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, finishing administrative tasks efficiently under minimal supervision.

Insurance verification specialists average a lower salary than the annual salary of scheduling specialists. The difference is about $4,226 per year.According to resumes from scheduling specialists and insurance verification specialists, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "patients," "medical terminology," and "home health. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "patient care," "excellent interpersonal," "insurance coverage," and "compassion" are skills that commonly show up on scheduling specialist resumes. On the other hand, insurance verification specialists use skills like patient insurance coverage, medical procedures, insurance carriers, and authorization process on their resumes.In general, insurance verification specialists earn the most working in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $35,651. The highest-paying industry for a scheduling specialist is the transportation industry.insurance verification specialists reach similar levels of education compared to scheduling specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 2.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of scheduling specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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