Christela Gonzales
Garland,TX
Summary
Detail-oriented Surgery Scheduler and Patient Access professional specializing in coordinating surgical cases, securing insurance authorizations, and overseeing pre-operative requirements. Collaborates effectively with clinical teams to maintain documentation accuracy and regulatory compliance. Excels in EMR/EHR scheduling workflows and financial clearance, leveraging bilingual skills and a solid understanding of HIPAA and JCAHO standards.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
2024
2024
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Surgery Scheduler – Neurosurgery
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX
03.2025 - Current
- Coordinate and schedule complex neurosurgical procedures across multiple facilities while ensuring adherence to UTSW protocols.
- Optimized surgeon block time and collaborated with OR, anesthesia, and tissue banks to prevent surgical delays.
- Acted as a liaison between neurosurgeons, patients, and payers to improve communication and the surgical care experience.
- Verified insurance, obtained pre-certifications, and secured financial clearance for all surgical cases.
- Maintain accurate EMR documentation and strict HIPAA/UTSW confidentiality compliance.
Scheduler II - Digestive Health
Digestive Health Associates of Texas
Dallas, TX
03.2024 - 03.2025
- Scheduled high-volume office visits, procedures, and surgeries, optimizing patient flow amidst heavy call and referral traffic.
- Coordinated pre-op instructions, medical clearances, and medication requirements.
- Processed referrals and insurance authorizations, coordinating financial arrangements to enhance surgical workflows.
- Communicated surgical details via EMR/secure messaging and handled updates to patient plans.
- Calculated benefits, verified coverage, and collected copays/deductibles, ensuring patient payment plans were effectively managed.
Surgery Scheduler – Colon & Rectal Surgery
North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates (BUMC)
Dallas, TX
01.2023 - 02.2024
- Scheduled and confirmed colorectal surgical procedures, coordinating closely with anesthesia and OR teams to ensure seamless operations.
- Managed emergent add-on cases, efficiently resolving scheduling conflicts to optimize surgical flow.
- Verified CPT/ICD-10 codes, diagnoses, and special equipment needs per case, ensuring accurate preparations and resource allocation.
- Documented all cases accurately in EPIC and protected PHI at all times.
Surgery Scheduler
First Baptist Medical Center
Dallas, TX
06.2022 - 12.2022
- Coordinated surgeon calendars, post-op visits, and diagnostic follow-ups to streamline patient care.
- Scheduled bariatric, spine, pain management, GI, and cosmetic surgeries to optimize surgical flow.
- Supported referral growth and physician outreach initiatives to enhance patient acquisition.
Accounts Payable & Front Office Specialist
Women’s Specialty Surgery Center
Dallas, TX
07.2020 - 06.2022
- Managed vendor relationships, ensuring adherence to financial procedures and fostering collaboration.
- Processed vendor payments and reconciliations, maintaining accurate financial records to support operational integrity.
- Coordinated front office operations and patient interactions during high-volume periods to enhance service delivery.
Surgery Coordinator
Medical City Ambulatory Surgery Center (HCA)
Dallas, TX
10.2018 - 06.2020
- Ensured accurate coding, compliance with payer requirements, and thorough documentation for over 400 monthly cases to support revenue integrity.
- Coordinated scheduling of surgical cases for 60+ surgeons, managing logistics, equipment, and block utilization to optimize operating room efficiency.
- Facilitated scheduling efficiency, physician onboarding, business development initiatives, and ASC quality projects to enhance overall operational performance.
Physician Practice Coordinator
White Rock Pulmonary Care Associates
Dallas, TX
03.2016 - 11.2017
- Scheduled 40+ weekly surgeries, coordinating surgeon calendars, OR availability, anesthesia, and pre-op requirements.
- Scheduled office visits and procedures, and maintained EMR accuracy using Practice Fusion.
- Managed check-in/out, copay collection, referrals, high call volume, and medical records.
- Performed insurance verification, pre-certifications, and medical necessity documentation.
Patient Services Specialist (Imaging & Procedure Scheduling)
Envision Imaging of Dallas
Dallas, TX
06.2011 - 05.2014
- Scheduled diagnostic imaging procedures, verified insurance, and obtained authorizations.
- Processed benefit reviews, appeals, and financial counseling/payment plans.
- Managed EMR check-in/out, payments, multi-line calls, and imaging film/CD distribution.
- Handled fax referrals and completed 80–100 outbound calls daily for pending exam scheduling.
Patient Coordinator (Diagnostic & Procedure Scheduling)
Cancer Center Associates
Mesquite, TX
01.2009 - 04.2010
- Scheduled PET scans and diagnostic procedures; managed referrals and pre-authorizations.
- Coordinated inpatient admissions and ensured accurate checkout in Centricity.
- Scheduled outpatient procedures, consultations, and imaging in collaboration with referring providers.
- Supported front-office operations and satellite clinics; completed daily opening/closing and cash drawer reconciliation.
Education
Intermediate School Education -
MedCerts Online Healthcare Training
Ann Arbor, MIGraduate -
South Garland High School
Garland, TXSkills
- Insurance Verification
- Pre-Authorization
- Accounts Payable Operations
- Surgical Scheduling
- Hospital Admissions
- EMR Accuracy
- Patient Financial Counseling
- Third-Party Payor Coordination
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Patient Education
- Rights
- Consents
- HIPAA Compliance
- JCAHO Compliance
- Data Integrity
- Record Maintenance
- Process Optimization
- Bilingual Communication
- Training & Development
- Patient Service Excellence
Timeline
Surgery Scheduler – Neurosurgery
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
03.2025 - Current
Scheduler II - Digestive Health
Digestive Health Associates of Texas
03.2024 - 03.2025
Surgery Scheduler – Colon & Rectal Surgery
North Texas Colon and Rectal Associates (BUMC)
01.2023 - 02.2024
Surgery Scheduler
First Baptist Medical Center
06.2022 - 12.2022
Accounts Payable & Front Office Specialist
Women’s Specialty Surgery Center
07.2020 - 06.2022
Surgery Coordinator
Medical City Ambulatory Surgery Center (HCA)
10.2018 - 06.2020
Physician Practice Coordinator
White Rock Pulmonary Care Associates
03.2016 - 11.2017
Patient Services Specialist (Imaging & Procedure Scheduling)
Envision Imaging of Dallas
06.2011 - 05.2014
Patient Coordinator (Diagnostic & Procedure Scheduling)
Cancer Center Associates
01.2009 - 04.2010
Intermediate School Education -
MedCerts Online Healthcare Training
Graduate -
South Garland High School