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Unit secretary vs surgery scheduler

The differences between unit secretaries and surgery 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 unit secretary and a surgery scheduler. Additionally, a surgery scheduler has an average salary of $34,472, which is higher than the $32,153 average annual salary of a unit secretary.

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

Unit secretary vs surgery scheduler overview

Unit SecretarySurgery Scheduler
Yearly salary$32,153$34,472
Hourly rate$15.46$16.57
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs69,54356,058
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 26%
Average age4949
Years of experience22

What does a unit secretary do?

Unit secretaries are administrative workers in a medical facility, usually a hospital or a clinic. They are in charge of religious activities in the unit or department they are assigned to. They manage incoming and outgoing mail, phone calls, and even appointments. They handle filing and recording of the documents of the department. They also take minutes of meetings and ensure that action plans are followed through. Unit secretaries should be familiar with the individuals in the department. They should also be accustomed to the schedule of members of the unit. Unit secretaries should be organized, dedicated, and trustworthy.

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.

Unit secretary vs surgery scheduler salary

Unit secretaries and surgery schedulers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Unit SecretarySurgery Scheduler
Average salary$32,153$34,472
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $40,000Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityPortland, MEDanbury, CT
Highest paying stateCaliforniaConnecticut
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between unit secretary and surgery scheduler education

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

Unit SecretarySurgery Scheduler
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 26%
Most common majorNursingHealth Care Administration
Most common college--

Unit secretary vs surgery scheduler demographics

Here are the differences between unit secretaries' and surgery schedulers' demographics:

Unit SecretarySurgery Scheduler
Average age4949
Gender ratioMale, 10.6% Female, 89.4%Male, 6.5% Female, 93.5%
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 unit secretary and surgery scheduler duties and responsibilities

Unit secretary example responsibilities.

  • Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management.
  • Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
  • Manage the medical unit by supervising its activities, accurately transcribing physician orders, and prioritizing tasks.
  • Conduct 6 mass vaccination campaigns, manage protein-calorie malnutrition, coordinate epidemiological surveillance, and direct health facility rehabilitation
  • Assist patients with their daily routine, including feeding, cleanliness and basic needs.
  • Post anesthesia recovery care for ophthalmology, ENT and plastic surgery patients
  • Show more

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

Unit secretary vs surgery scheduler skills

Common unit secretary skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Patient Care, 13%
  • Medical Terminology, 10%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Patient Charts, 4%
  • Physician Orders, 4%
Common surgery scheduler skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Medical Terminology, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Surgical Procedures, 4%
  • Surgery Scheduling, 4%

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