Chief of Urgent Care

Sutter Health•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Chief of Urgent Care provides clinical, operational, and strategic leadership for the Urgent Care service line, ensuring high‑quality, timely, and patient‑centered care while optimizing access, throughput, workforce engagement, and financial performance. Reporting to the Chair of Primary Care, the Chief partners closely with the Administrative Director through a dyad leadership model to manage day‑to‑day operations, drive performance, and ensure consistent, high‑reliability care delivery across all Urgent Care sites. This role is accountable for aligning Urgent Care performance with organizational goals while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Sutter West Bay Medical Group (SWBMG) is a fast-growing, premier, physician led, multispecialty medical group with nearly 500 physicians and advanced practice clinicians serving patients in San Francisco, Northern California and beyond. SWBMG delivers integrated, patient centered care across primary through quaternary care, grounded in clinical excellence, collaboration, and innovation, and is a key partner within Sutter Health’s regional care delivery network. San Francisco offers a unique combination of professional opportunity, intellectual energy, and quality of life for physician leaders drawn to innovation and impact. As a global hub for healthcare innovation, life sciences, and research, the city attracts forward-thinking clinicians and collaborators shaping the future of medicine. Its strong academic environment and commitment to equity and access create a compelling setting for advancing cancer care. Outside of work, San Francisco offers an exceptional lifestyle, with world-class dining, arts, and culture alongside easy access to Northern California’s natural beauty, from coastal trails to wine country. The region’s diverse communities support both personal fulfillment and professional growth. It is the policy of the Sutter West Bay Medical Group (SWBMG) to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin, age, medical condition, disability or status as a veteran or a disabled veteran. We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within our service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of SWBMG’s employment policies and practices.

Requirements

MD or DO with board certification in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Emergency Medicine.
Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience with at least 3 years in a leadership role, preferably in Urgent Care or ambulatory settings.
Demonstrated success leading high‑volume, access‑driven clinical operations.
Strong leadership, communication, and problem‑solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with physician recruitment, onboarding, and workforce development strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the Urgent Care service line in alignment with organizational strategy, access goals, and community demand.
Partner with the Administrative Director to oversee staffing models, budgeting, scheduling strategies, and resource allocation.
Develop and implement initiatives to improve patient access, throughput, length of stay, and provider experience.
Ensure appropriate clinician coverage and staffing flexibility to meet variable demand, seasonal surges, and extended hours.
Conduct regular onsite rounding to maintain visibility, support frontline teams, and identify operational improvement opportunities.
Ensure adherence to evidence‑based clinical guidelines, urgent care protocols, and quality standards.
Champion patient safety, risk mitigation, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Promote standardized clinical pathways to ensure consistency of care across Urgent Care locations.
Serve as a clinical mentor and escalation resource for Urgent Care providers.
Lead physician and advanced practice provider recruitment strategy for Urgent Care in partnership with Physician Recruitment, HR, and operational leadership.
Participate in candidate evaluation, interviewing, selection, and offer alignment to ensure strong clinical and cultural fit.
Oversee onboarding and integration of new providers, ensuring rapid, consistent, and effective transitions into Urgent Care practice.
Partner with Medical Directors to standardize onboarding, mentoring, competency validation, and early performance support.
Support succession planning and leadership development for Urgent Care Medical Directors and emerging physician leaders.
Deliver clear, timely performance feedback through the annual evaluation process, supporting accountability, development, clinical excellence, and continuous improvement.
Promote provider retention through engagement, performance feedback, career development pathways, and Experience of Work initiatives.
Monitor and drive performance against Urgent Care KPIs, including access, throughput, length of stay, left‑without‑being‑seen (LWBS), quality, patient experience, and financial performance.
Optimize provider productivity, panel mix, and workflows to meet visit volume, efficiency, and access targets.
Partner with administrative, finance, and revenue cycle leaders to improve documentation, coding accuracy, and cost management.
Address performance gaps through data‑driven improvement plans, coaching, and standardized operational interventions.
Support growth strategies for Urgent Care, including site expansion, hours optimization, and integration with primary care, specialty, and virtual care.
Champion adoption of technology, clinical decision support, and operational tools that improve efficiency and patient experience.
Foster a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement within Urgent Care.
Maintain strong partnerships with Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, specialties, and system leadership.
Communicate goals, expectations, and performance updates clearly and consistently to Medical Directors and frontline providers.
Serve as a visible clinical leader and advocate for Urgent Care across the organization.