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Surgery scheduler vs scheduling coordinator

The differences between surgery schedulers and scheduling coordinators 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 scheduling coordinator. Additionally, a scheduling coordinator has an average salary of $36,493, which is higher than the $34,472 average annual salary of a surgery scheduler.

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

Surgery scheduler vs scheduling coordinator overview

Surgery SchedulerScheduling Coordinator
Yearly salary$34,472$36,493
Hourly rate$16.57$17.54
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs56,05866,114
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 26%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
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 scheduling coordinator do?

A scheduling coordinator is responsible for arranging the calendars and managing the appointments of a senior employee. Scheduling coordinators keep a record of meetings, reminding the key personnel as well as other participants of any schedule adjustments and cancellations. They are also responsible for booking venues for events and processing travel arrangements, following the specifications of the head personnel. A scheduling coordinator must be detail-oriented, as well as having excellent communication and organization skills to answer schedule queries and perform administrative tasks as needed.

Surgery scheduler vs scheduling coordinator salary

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

Surgery SchedulerScheduling Coordinator
Average salary$34,472$36,493
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $28,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityDanbury, CTPortland, ME
Highest paying stateConnecticutMaine
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyLos Alamos National Laboratory
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between surgery scheduler and scheduling coordinator education

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

Surgery SchedulerScheduling Coordinator
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 26%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common college--

Surgery scheduler vs scheduling coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between surgery schedulers' and scheduling coordinators' demographics:

Surgery SchedulerScheduling Coordinator
Average age4949
Gender ratioMale, 6.5% Female, 93.5%Male, 15.9% Female, 84.1%
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 scheduling coordinator 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

Scheduling coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage medical records entering data with CPT and ICD-9 codes preserving an environment of thoroughness and accuracy.
  • Manage payment postings, verify insurance coverage prior to patient appointments and advise patients of insurance referrals or authorizations require.
  • Manage inpatient transfers to rehabilitation and medical facilities, along with preparing and monitoring outpatient billings insurance verification and referrals.
  • Perform patient registration, insurance verification, and assist patients with scheduling radiology and chemotherapy appointments in a demanding environment.
  • Enter all patient information in EMR system, scan all of patients medical record into EMR system and classify by sections.
  • Check patient insurance coverage, determines if referral or authorization for surgery is needed.
  • Show more

Surgery scheduler vs scheduling coordinator skills

Common surgery scheduler skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Medical Terminology, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Surgical Procedures, 4%
  • Surgery Scheduling, 4%
Common scheduling coordinator skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Surgery, 4%

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