Building trust, one appointment at a time
As a scheduler, Molly Richardson says her role goes beyond logistics – it’s about relationships, reliability, and making patients feel supported every step of the way
Get to know Molly Richardson
For Molly Richardson, physician scheduler with Mission Cancer + Blood, part of UI Health Care, every day is different as she travels with a dedicated “pod” to care for patients at several of Mission’s locations. We asked her to share a little more about her role and what it’s like to work at Mission.
What has your career path looked like?
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public administration, I started my career in human resources at a hospital in Des Moines, handling a variety of responsibilities for two and a half years. After that, I shifted gears a bit and moved to the public safety and security team at the hospital. Then I really made a big change and went into law enforcement for a few years but realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. I knew health care was where I was most comfortable – it’s the environment I’ve always been drawn to. Working with patients, providers, and nurses feels very natural to me. My girlfriend was working at Mission and told me about an opening for a scheduler and thought I’d be a great fit. I applied and here I am! I’ve only been with Mission a few months, but it feels longer – in a good way. The team I am on welcomed me right away. We work really well together, and they trust me to get things done. It’s been such a smooth transition, and it feels like I hit the ground running from day one.
What does a typical day look like for you?
With our unique “pod” structure at Mission, we have a team made up of a physician, advanced practice provider, nurse, and scheduler, and we travel to our patients. So, my schedule varies a lot – we are at our Waukee clinic on Tuesdays and Fridays; we’re in our Ankeny clinic on Thursdays. Every other Wednesday, some of the team heads to Centerville – I’ve gone a few times to help cover scheduling.
Every day is a little different, but generally, I have about 30 minutes each morning before patients arrive and I start by reviewing the patient list and making sure all orders are properly scheduled and linked in the system.
Once appointments begin, I’m constantly reprioritizing tasks. I work closely with the team of providers to handle all the non-clinical tasks, like scheduling follow-up appointments, treatments, growth factor injections, and scans (CTs, MRIs, PETs, and ultrasounds, for example). I also manage referrals to specialists like gastroenterology or neurology, sending paperwork and following up to ensure appointments are scheduled.
Overall, I see myself as an assistant to the clinical team — filling in the gaps and making sure everything runs smoothly. It keeps me busy, which I enjoy, and the days fly by.
What do you enjoy about working at Mission?
When I first applied and started learning about how the clinic operates and its founding story, I was really intrigued. I’ve come to appreciate the more personal, intimate environment here.
There is a close-knit feeling where we really get to know our patients and their families, which helps build trust. Because of our pod structure, I travel with the same team of providers regularly, so I see the same patients, and that consistency helps foster strong relationships. I think it’s unique for a scheduler to be able to get to know their patients the way we do at Mission because of our structure.
It’s been especially rewarding to earn the trust of patients who know they can count on me to communicate clearly and follow through, with no surprises. That trust means a lot to me.
What opportunities do you see as Mission continues to integrate with University of Iowa Health Care?
One of the most exciting opportunities is the potential for expansion of research and clinical trials. Joining University of Iowa Health Care brings greater resources, broader reach, and fresh perspectives, especially from medical students and researchers who sometimes think differently than doctors who have been practicing for a while.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this collaboration leads to new ideas, more effective treatments, and better options for patients.
With cancer rates continuing to rise in Iowa, we need all the research we can get. This integration could be a major step forward in improving care and outcomes for patients in central Iowa.
What is your life like outside of work?
I’m not much of an outdoorsy person, but I do love the fall! Fall is my time, when the weather is great. I am a big football fan, so I’ve been enjoying that! My family lives nearby in Norwalk, so I spend time with them, and I have a dog I like to hang out with, as well.