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How Do I Become a Surgery Scheduler?

Erik J.J. Goserud
Erik J.J. Goserud

If you have the desire to become a surgery scheduler, you are taking on a very important and difficult task. The good news is that there are many different means to this particular end. You should possess very strong organizational skills coupled with an absurd attention to detail. If you have these innate abilities, then medical training and relevant experience are the next two most important aspects of qualification for this position.

Surgery schedulers, as the name suggests, are responsible for scheduling any type of surgical procedure. This not only includes the event of surgery itself but also the recovery times, necessary therapies before and after the surgery, and consultations usually taking place prior to and after a procedure. The many aspects of this process make it very important that only smart and capable people become surgery schedulers. Most people have heard medical horror stories about a mixed-up surgery or wrongly scheduled patient resulting in the wrong operation. This can simply be avoided by proper scheduling and communication among patients, staff, and surgeons.

Surgery schedulers are responsible for scheduling all different types of surgical procedures.
Surgery schedulers are responsible for scheduling all different types of surgical procedures.

If you had to choose among organizational skills and experience and medical knowledge, those wishing to become a surgery scheduler would be wise to choose organizational skills. This is because, at the end of the day, a surgery scheduler is simply putting patients in time slots as needed. The process, of course, is more complex than this, but you could potentially become a surgery scheduler who is great at the job without any medical experience.

Aspiring surgery schedulers typically benefit from learning at least some degree of medical knowledge.
Aspiring surgery schedulers typically benefit from learning at least some degree of medical knowledge.

Medical experience is both recommended and preferred. This is because the medical field is somewhat unique from other fields in terms of scheduling. If a secretary improperly schedules a meeting between an employee and client, it at worst results in some lost business. A mistake for a surgery scheduler could result in a lost life; therefore, it imperative that surgery schedulers remain on their game. For this reason, medical experience can help a scheduler understand the processes and importance of medical scheduling.

Experience as an EMT may be ideal in becoming a surgery scheduler.
Experience as an EMT may be ideal in becoming a surgery scheduler.

If you think you have what it takes to become a surgery scheduler, than gain experience scheduling. This can be in any field or any capacity, with the more experience the better. Try to meet people and shadow others to make yourself a stronger candidate. Additionally, taking classes and staying up to date with all scheduling technology is a good idea.

Consultations usually take place prior to and after a procedure.
Consultations usually take place prior to and after a procedure.

To make yourself even more appealing to potential employers, also try to acquire some medical knowledge. There are many basic certificates available in medicine. Perhaps you could become an EMT or medical assistant. Anything is better than nothing, so even if it comes down to taking a few classes at a community college, you are better off doing this than doing nothing. If you keep all of these things in mind when planning your career, you are on track to become a successful surgery scheduler.

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    • Surgery schedulers are responsible for scheduling all different types of surgical procedures.
      By: derege
      Surgery schedulers are responsible for scheduling all different types of surgical procedures.
    • Aspiring surgery schedulers typically benefit from learning at least some degree of medical knowledge.
      By: xixinxing
      Aspiring surgery schedulers typically benefit from learning at least some degree of medical knowledge.
    • Experience as an EMT may be ideal in becoming a surgery scheduler.
      By: Tyler Olson
      Experience as an EMT may be ideal in becoming a surgery scheduler.
    • Consultations usually take place prior to and after a procedure.
      By: Edyta Pawlowska
      Consultations usually take place prior to and after a procedure.