Monica Gonzales
Houston,TX
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate healthcare professional with experience in patient care, clinical support, and multidisciplinary healthcare environments. Committed to providing safe, high-quality, patient-centered care while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and attention to detail. Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Surgery Scheduler
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia
Houston, TX
09.2024 - Current
- Coordinate and schedule surgical cases based on physician orders, patient needs, and operating room availability.
- Schedule procedures across 8 facilities .
- Provided pre-operative instructions to surgical patients, including medication, fasting, arrival-time.
- Communicate with patients and surgical facilities to arrange procedures.
- Collect and verify patient demographics, insurance details, referrals, and required authorizations.
- Coordinate pre-operative testing and medical clearance.
- Submit insurance authorizations and follow up on approval status.
- Manage high-volume phone calls.
- Maintain surgery schedules for two providers.
- Schedule patients for surgical procedures during clinic visits.
- Assist front office staff as needed.
- Handle patient check-in, scheduling, phone calls, and accurate recordkeeping.
Office Manager/Surgery Scheduler
Columbus Community Hospital (Orthopedic Clinic)
Columbus, TX
10.2021 - 11.2023
- Scheduled 10-15 surgeries each week.
- Assembled surgery packets with order form, last office notes, imaging reports, medical clearance, authorization letter, pre-op labs, follow-up form, medication order, DME/physical therapy sheet, and demographic sheet for surgeon.
- Informed patients about arrival times and preoperative instructions.
- Reviewed physician orders and schedule availability to set accurate surgery appointments.
- Organized medical records and worked with insurance representatives to obtain authorization.
- Collected pre-operative labs.
- Confirmed cases with facility day before surgery.
- Verified insurance information and collected co-payments during check-in.
- Supported referrals and prepared medical records for patients.
- Registered patients and scheduled appointments.
- Completed daily clinic deposits at bank.
- Obtained prior authorizations for diagnostic imaging.
- Obtained prior authorization for surgery procedures.
- Managed office schedules and daily activities for staff.
- Supported check-out, follow-up scheduling, daily clinic closeout, multi-line phone coverage, and stat prior authorizations for imaging or surgeries.
Medical Office Coordinator
Medical Center Orthopedics
Houston, TX
02.2019 - 09.2021
- Scheduled 10-15 surgeries per week.
- Reviewed patient insurance and collected provider fee payments.
- Assembled surgery packets with surgery orders, last office notes, imaging reports, medical clearance letters, authorization letters, pre-op labs, follow-up forms, pre-op medication orders, DME and physical therapy sheets, and demographic sheets for surgeon.
- Provided patients with arrival times and preoperative procedure instructions.
- Reviewed physician orders and schedule availability to set accurate surgical appointments.
- Organized patient medical records and worked with insurance representatives to obtain authorization.
- Scheduled medical clearance appointments with primary care physicians.
- Collected pre-operative labs.
- Entered all surgery charges in Patient Keeper and ECW systems.
- Confirmed cases with facility day before surgery.
- Entered all home health charges and created claims in ECW.
- Created orders and faxed orders to DME companies before surgery.
- Managed office inventory and completed new purchases as needed.
- Verified insurance information and collected co-payments during check-in.
- Assisted with referrals and prepared patient medical records.
- Retrieved voicemails for front office and surgery lines.
- Registered patients and scheduled appointments.
- Made daily clinic deposits at bank.
- Traveled weekly for clinic.
- Sorted faxes and office mail.
- Reconciled DFT interface charges and Patient Keeper charges.
- Scheduled conferences and arranged hotel, airfare, and ground transportation.
- Organized personal and professional calendars with reminders for meetings and events.
- Arranged payment details for depositions and lawyer conferences.
Front Office Coordinator/Surgery Coordinator
Houston Institute for Sports Medicine & Orthopedic
Houston, TX
01.2014 - 12.2018
- Greeted incoming patients and verified paperwork to manage smooth intake processes.
- Verified that patients had proper insurance coverage prior to appointment scheduling.
- Reviewed referral details 1 week prior to appointment date and request new referrals when necessary.
- Answered high volume of phone calls to schedule appointments.
- Handled payment processing and provided customers with receipts and proper bills and change.
- Managed office paperwork, including scanning documents.
- Oversaw office inventory by restocking supplies and submitting purchase orders.
- Communicate with outside offices to obtain medical records.
- Handles Medical Release Request from outside offices.
- Travel weekly for clinic.
- Prepare daily cash log at the end of close out.
- Schedule 10-15 surgeries per week.
- Obtain prior authorizations for all surgeries.
- Obtain Pre-Operative labs.
- Obtain Medical Clearances from Primary Care Offices.
- Create orders/Fax orders to DME companies before surgery.
- Enter all surgery charges in Nextgen- Scanned Op Reports into the patients chart.
- Enter all home health charges creating a claim in Nextgen.
- Scheduled conferences and associated travel arrangements, including hotel, airfare and ground transportation.
- Depositions/Lawyer conferences, payment arrangements.
- Organized personal and professional calendars, including reminders for upcoming meetings and events.
Front Office Specialist/Medical Assistant
Medical Associates of Houston
Houston, TX
10.2008 - 01.2014
- Welcomed patients and visitors with warm, professional service to support comfortable environment.
- Collected patient medical histories, chief complaints, and vital signs during intake.
- Prepared treatment rooms by cleaning surfaces and restocking supplies for patient care.
- Educated patients on medications, procedures, and physician instructions.
- Prepared medical charts, scanned records, and organized patient information.
- Registered new patients and created files with detailed personal and medical data.
- Answered phone calls politely and routed callers to appropriate staff.
- Obtained outgoing referral authorizations for patients needing specialist care.
- Supported check-in by scanning driver license, insurance cards, new or established paperwork, and collecting copayments.
- Supported check-out by providing follow-up appointment dates and sharing imaging, testing, referral, and medication instructions.
- Pulled paper charts one week ahead and completed insurance verification 2-3 days before office visits.
- Scheduled meetings with pharmaceutical representatives for providers.
Education
Medical Assistant
Texas School of Business
Houston, TX08.2008
Furr High School
Houston, TX05.2006
Skills
- Patient scheduling and coordination
- Microsoft Office applications
- Medical coding and terminology
- Electronic health records management
- Insurance processing
- CPR and BLS certification
Timeline
Surgery Scheduler
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia
09.2024 - Current
Office Manager/Surgery Scheduler
Columbus Community Hospital (Orthopedic Clinic)
10.2021 - 11.2023
Medical Office Coordinator
Medical Center Orthopedics
02.2019 - 09.2021
Front Office Coordinator/Surgery Coordinator
Houston Institute for Sports Medicine & Orthopedic
01.2014 - 12.2018
Front Office Specialist/Medical Assistant
Medical Associates of Houston
10.2008 - 01.2014
Furr High School
Medical Assistant
Texas School of Business