Patient Access Surgical Scheduler I

Forefront Dermatology is seeking to appoint a Patient Access Surgical Scheduler I to join their remote team. This crucial role focuses on streamlining the patient journey by expertly coordinating surgical procedure scheduling. The successful candidate will be instrumental in ensuring a seamless experience for patients and providing essential support to the medical team, contributing to the delivery of excellent dermatological care.

About the Role

In this position, you will act as a central point of contact for coordinating surgical appointments. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure that patients are scheduled efficiently and effectively for their procedures. This involves interacting with patients directly to confirm details, provide necessary pre-operative instructions, and manage their appointment timelines. You will also liaise closely with the clinical team, ensuring all preparatory steps and documentation are in order before a surgical date. This role demands meticulous attention to detail and a proactive approach to patient care, aiming to reduce any potential anxieties associated with surgical processes.

The day-to-day responsibilities of a Patient Access Surgical Scheduler I are varied but centred around efficient workflow management and excellent patient communication. You will be expected to:

• **Schedule Surgical Procedures:** Organise and book patient appointments for surgical interventions, ensuring optimal use of operating room time and resources.
• **Patient Communication:** Serve as the primary point of contact for patients regarding their surgical appointments, including confirming dates, times, and providing clear instructions for preparation and post-operative care.
• **Medical Staff Collaboration:** Work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to synchronise surgical schedules and ensure all team members are informed of patient appointments and requirements.
• **Documentation Management:** Meticulously review and maintain patient records, ensuring all necessary pre-operative documentation is complete, accurate, and filed correctly.
• **Follow-up and Reminders:** Manage and schedule follow-up appointments after surgical procedures and proactively send reminders to patients to enhance adherence to treatment plans.

What They're Looking For

Forefront Dermatology is looking for an organised and communicative individual who can thrive in a dynamic remote environment. Essential qualifications and attributes include:

• **Prior Experience:** Previous experience in a scheduling, administrative, or patient coordination role is highly desirable.
• **Organisational Prowess:** Exceptional organisational abilities are paramount to manage multiple schedules and tasks effectively.
• **Strong Communication Skills:** Clearly and empathetically communicate with patients and medical professionals, both verbally and in writing.
• **Fast-Paced Environment Adaptability:** The capacity to manage a high volume of tasks and adapt to changing priorities in a busy healthcare setting.
• **Technical Proficiency:** Competence in using scheduling software and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• **Medical Terminology Knowledge:** While not always essential for entry, a foundational understanding of medical terminology would be a significant advantage in understanding procedure requests and patient histories.

In South Africa, patient access and scheduling roles are often found within private hospitals, day clinics, and specialist medical practices. The remuneration for such positions can vary widely based on experience, the specific employer, and the complexity of the scheduling involved. However, individuals in similar administrative and patient-facing roles within the healthcare sector typically earn between R12,000 and R25,000 per month, with opportunities for growth into more senior administrative or supervisory positions.

• Previous experience in a scheduling or administrative position.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in using scheduling software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of medical terminology is a plus.