In accordance with Navajo Nation and federal law, TCRHCC has implemented an Affirmative Action Plan pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act. Pursuant to this Plan and corresponding TCRHCC Policy, applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.
Overview
POSITION SUMMARY
The OR Scheduler is a critical operational role responsible for coordinating daily surgical scheduling activities that directly influence patient access, workflow efficiency, and perioperative throughput. This position serves as the central communication hub for surgery operations, ensuring optimal utilization of OR rooms, equipment, and staff. The clerk exercises strong independent judgment, manages competing priorities in a high‑volume environment, and supports safe, timely, and efficient surgical care.
Qualifications
NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
High School Graduate or GED
Certification:
Must maintain a current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
- Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association
Experience:
- Minimum 3 years of operating room experience
- Minimum 3 years in procedural scheduling or appointment scheduling in an electronic system
Other Skills and Abilities:
A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers. All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:
- Positive working relationships with others
- Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
- Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
- Attention to detail is essential
- Must be able to work independently and be highly organized and efficient
- Must be able to follow both oral and written instructions and write legibly
- Demonstrated ability to collect, track, and interpret scheduling and performance data
- Demonstrated proficiency in generating reports from monthly schedules
- Completion of and, above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the interviewees and TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
- Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
- Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
- Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those required of an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical:
This position is mostly sedentary, but demands some standing, walking, bending, twisting, maintaining balance, reaching and lifting to 10lbs. The incumbent must have the sensory prolonged (3/4 workday) for near vision, hearing normal speech, and telephone use. The position also requires frequent (1/2 workday) color vision and seeing in fine details. There will be the need to occasionally (less ¼ day) for hearing overhead pages on a loudspeaker. The incumbent will need to have the hand manipulation ability for prolonged simple grasping and use of keyboards with frequent ability of fine manipulation. This position does require frequent need to accept flexible schedules to meet unit needs.
Mental:
This position requires the incumbent to have prolonged mental and emotional ability to concentrate, handle a high degree of flexibility, handle multiple priorities in stressful situations, work alone, demonstrate a high degree of patience, adapt to shift work. Requires the frequent ability to cope with the level of stress and make decisions under high pressure. The incumbent will occasionally need the ability to manage altercations and work in areas that are close and crowded. This position requires minimal supervision in performance of job duties; is a self-starter. The incumbent must prioritize responsibilities to ensure duties are completed. Ability to work cooperatively in a high-pressure, time-sensitive, error-intolerant work environment. Always maintain a high level of customer service.
Environmental:
The incumbent in this position may occasionally be exposed to Infectious diseases, dust, fumes, and gases.
Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Schedules surgical procedures in the OR/IS system according to procedure type, applying knowledge of physician procedures, privileges, and block time when appropriate. Coordinates with the Surgical Services LCN/designee, Anesthesia, and Surgeons as needed
- Communicate schedule changes to Short Stay Surgery (SSS) staff to ensure timely patient notification
- Prints and distributes the next‑day surgical schedule to LCN, OR rooms, and providers
- Prepares monthly statistical reports and Performance Improvement (PI) reports as assigned
- Answers and directs telephone inquiries to appropriate personnel or areas. Use appropriate telephone courtesy for all telephone interactions
- Maintains an adequate stock of scheduling forms and necessary supplies.
- Collects census and PI data on a routine basis.
- Provides timely and adequate information to the Materials Management Lead on physician specialty requests for supplies and equipment. Transfers all equipment needs from the scheduling request onto the surgery schedule. Communicates equipment requests to the Surgical Services LCN/ designee.
- Notifies the Surgery Management team of equipment conflict in the scheduling process, to resolve prior to denying the scheduled procedure
- Maintains good interpersonal relationships and lines of communication with co-workers
- Participates in educational activities by giving one in-service and attending 80% of OR/SPD in-services
- Promotes the transition to ALERT, or any other electronic documentation, or scheduling application
- Alerts Surgical Services LCN in a timely manner when needing relief for his/her workstation
- Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to the patient service role.
- Ensure proper PPE is worn at all times while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher, if available), and eye or face shield.
- Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (see CDC website for most current updates)
- Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee, and external customer satisfaction.
- Performs other related duties as assigned