Scheduling of MRI, CT, PET CT, Ultrasound, X-ray, Mammography, Bone Densitometry, Nuclear Medicine appointments and certain special procedures is required. This necessitates communication with patients, physicians and staff from other facilities. Courtesy and professionalism are expected at all times. It is expected that Appointment Coordinators put forth every effort to accommodate the needs of our patients and referring physicians. Appointments may be scheduled from any location. Appointment Coordinators who are logged into the call center should only place themselves on Make Not Ready for approved breaks throughout the course of their shift.
Professional communication with Radiologists, Supervisors, Managers, Nursing and Medical Records personnel regarding patient appointments and physicians requests to ensure a satisfied client base is expected. Communication between patients, referring offices and insurance carriers is often necessary to determine the right insurance coverage for the appointment and for the purpose of obtaining approval for a patient to have imaging services at one of our facilities. In all communications, appointment coordinators must be well versed with clinical terminology and always conducts themselves in a professional manner.
It is required that all demographic and medical history information be reviewed at the time the appointment is being booked, never assuming that information has not changed since the patients last visit. It is critical that insurance information be reviewed and updated as well at the time the appointment is booked (when feasible). Insurance information must be thoroughly researched. Eligibility is to be determined via the automated system in place with our RIS. In the event coverage cannot be verified through the automated system the Appointment Coordinator must manually verify the coverage is active and determine if there are prior authorization requirements. Verification of the above noted details are critical to assuring the method of payment for the appointment.
Appointment confirmation should include verifying the type of exam, the insurance coverage, patient demographic information, appointment date and time, obtaining medical history and screening information in coordination with our nursing staff and obtaining information regarding prior studies. All efforts should be properly documented within the on-line forms and notes sections of our RIS application.
When performing registrations duties, Appointment Coordinators are responsible for all of the above in addition to greeting and registering patients as they arrive for their procedures. All patient information regarding demographics, insurance and procedures is verified and/or entered at this time. Precision and accuracy is of the utmost importance in this area. Registration includes creating and processing of patient medical records. All data entry is to be done at the time of registration. Insurance and other identification cards must be updated, verified and compared to data in our system for accuracy. Appointment Coordinators must alert a nurse of any exam contraindications discovered and a technologist and or radiologist must be consulted for any concerns of exam appropriateness as warranted.
It is expected that an Appointment Coordinator report to their Supervisor any inability to keep pace with ones workload.