Surgical Coordinator

The US Oncology Network•Frederick, MD

About The Position

The Surgical Coordinator schedules surgeries from physician orders and coordinates the related patient-care, facility, and authorization processes. The role works closely with physicians and communicates surgical information and preparation instructions to patients. It coordinates operating room time, anesthesia, surgical assistants, outside representatives, equipment, pre-operative testing and clearances, and required documentation. The coordinator also supports continuity of care, acts as a liaison among patients, payors, the office, and surgical facilities, and may help orient, train, and assign work to lower-level employees. The role supports and adheres to the US Oncology Compliance Program, including its Code of Ethics and Business Standards. The general pay scale is $17.99–$27.67 per hour. The actual hiring rate depends on factors including prior work experience, education, job responsibilities, location, and work performance.

Responsibilities

Plan, implement, coordinate, evaluate, and promote continuity of care consistent with established standards and practices.
Review patients’ medications and health history, including information that may affect surgical clearance from other care providers.
Coordinate case scheduling and completion of required pre-surgery or procedure tasks, including pre-operative appointments, representatives, special products, testing, imaging, and facility documentation.
Complete and send the History and Physical, surgical orders, consent forms, and other required documents for review, signature, or delivery to the surgical facility.
Manage Global Period alerts in the EMR or Practice Management System when applicable, and scan surgery documents into the EMR as applicable.
Review the procedure, protocols, notifications, tasks, and preparations—including bowel preparations—with patients; confirm the scheduled date with the patient, facility, and anesthesia.
Obtain timely authorizations and pre-certifications for scheduled procedures and surgeries, using appropriate CPT and ICD-10 codes; review payor medical policies to support accurate authorization and reimbursement.
Act as a patient advocate and liaison among patients, payors, the office, and facilities; answer questions and escalate issues as needed.
Maintain working knowledge of surgical authorization requirements to prevent delays and denials.
Ensure pathology, operating room, and other reports are captured in the chart; obtain missing pathology reports and ensure patients return to the office as ordered, including for stent removals or exchanges.
Schedule needed appointments, either directly or through the physician clinic scheduler, as appropriate.
Release operating room blocks in accordance with facility policy to avoid utilization penalties.
Administer and process financial and patient-care commitments with additional staff as appropriate; notify relevant personnel of procedures requiring prepayment or collection and provide contact information for financial questions.
Facilitate and schedule consultations, pre-testing, diagnostic tests or procedures, referrals, and future appointments.
Facilitate communication between patients or families and the interdisciplinary team and coordinate services related to patient care.
Reserve operating room dates and times and schedule anesthesia, surgical assistants, outside representatives, and equipment needed for procedures.
Provide patients with physician-ordered pre-operative testing information; obtain requested test results when needed and take actions as directed by the physician.
Obtain insurance authorization and pre-certification and communicate surgical details, preparation instructions, and appointment date, time, and location to patients.
May orient, train, and assign work to lower-level employees.
Support and adhere to the US Oncology Compliance Program, including the Code of Ethics and Business Standards.