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Surgery scheduler vs medical scheduler

The differences between surgery schedulers and medical schedulers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a surgery scheduler and a medical scheduler. Additionally, a surgery scheduler has an average salary of $34,472, which is higher than the $32,201 average annual salary of a medical scheduler.

The top three skills for a surgery scheduler include patients, medical terminology and customer service. The most important skills for a medical scheduler are patients, customer service, and medical terminology.

Surgery scheduler vs medical scheduler overview

Surgery SchedulerMedical Scheduler
Yearly salary$34,472$32,201
Hourly rate$16.57$15.48
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs56,05867,831
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 26%Associate Degree, 30%
Average age4949
Years of experience22

What does a surgery scheduler do?

A surgery scheduler is responsible for organizing medical information, coordinating with doctors and other health professionals, and reaching out to patients to inform them of scheduled medical procedures and appointments. Surgery schedulers perform clerical and administrative duties, such as processing patients' payments, verifying insurance details, and updating their account information on the database. They also monitor the adequacy of inventory for medical operations and create purchase requests as needed. A surgery scheduler must have excellent communication skills, especially in responding to patients' inquiries and concerns and resolving complaints.

What does a medical scheduler do?

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.

Surgery scheduler vs medical scheduler salary

Surgery schedulers and medical schedulers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgery SchedulerMedical Scheduler
Average salary$34,472$32,201
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $26,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityDanbury, CTSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateConnecticutWashington
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBeacon Hill Staffing Group
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between surgery scheduler and medical scheduler education

There are a few differences between a surgery scheduler and a medical scheduler in terms of educational background:

Surgery SchedulerMedical Scheduler
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 26%Associate Degree, 30%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationHealth Care Administration
Most common college--

Surgery scheduler vs medical scheduler demographics

Here are the differences between surgery schedulers' and medical schedulers' demographics:

Surgery SchedulerMedical Scheduler
Average age4949
Gender ratioMale, 6.5% Female, 93.5%Male, 8.0% Female, 92.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between surgery scheduler and medical scheduler duties and responsibilities

Surgery scheduler example responsibilities.

  • Manage medical records and patient information within HIPPA guidelines
  • Manage patient pre-op responsibilities, and generate all necessary paperwork.
  • Request financial screening services for patients with limit Medicaid packages, as well as the uninsured.
  • Provide patients with information that explain hospital admission policies, time of admission and HIPPA privacy guidelines.
  • Execute administrative tasks such as ordering supplies and working with CPT and DX codes relate to accurate patient billing.
  • Maintain HIPAA and confidentiality standards.
  • Show more

Medical scheduler example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pre-op responsibilities, and generate all necessary paperwork.
  • Schedule patients for any testing that is necessary including MRI's, EMG's and Doppler's.
  • Transcribe physician orders including schedule labs, testing and screening/specimens and occasionally transport patients to various location of the hospital.
  • Prepare class for transition techniques to transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10.
  • Perform basic medical assistant duties such as triage, vitals, administer IM injections.
  • Answer multiple phone lines simultaneously, schedule patient appointments, and interact with physicians and triage patient calls.
  • Show more

Surgery scheduler vs medical scheduler skills

Common surgery scheduler skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Medical Terminology, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Surgical Procedures, 4%
  • Surgery Scheduling, 4%
Common medical scheduler skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • EMR, 5%
  • Data Entry, 3%
  • Insurance Verification, 3%

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