JOURDANTON, TX — STR's Senior Circle members were amongst the first to learn about the implementation of a new centralized scheduling process for all outpatient and surgical services. The Centralized Scheduling department will provide patients, physicians, departments, and other medical staff, convenient access to schedule patient services with the ease of one telephone call. This new convenient and easy to access feature thrilled members of the Senior Circle group.

Coordinators of the project Barbara Lewis, STRMC Director of Imaging; and Rhonda Goodman, STRMC Director of the Business Office; planned the unveiling of the new process to Senior Circle group over the past few weeks.

How does centralized scheduling work?
The department functions through the utilization a software program that interfaces with the registration system, patient demographic and insurance information will be collected through the Central Scheduling department to coordinate: pre-registration, pre-authorization, pre-certification, and pre-op testing. Upon arrival for their procedures, patient signatures will be obtained, and the patient will be routed to the appropriate department(s) for the procedure(s) -- thus reducing the wait times and delays.

What procedures can be scheduled through this feature?
Patients and physicians will be able to schedule appointments for services such as: cat scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, bone density testing, mammography, nuclear medicine, cardiology testing, EKGs, EEGs, and PFTs.

Goodman explains, "The central scheduling process began many months ago in small, organized segments to allow for education and procedural changes. The transition has been virtually seamless, and we are so proud to offer this new feature to our patients."

More information about the new Centralized Scheduling department will be released in the near future.