Manager, Patient Access

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Manager, Patient Access plans, organizes, directs, and controls the daily operations of assigned areas to meet customer needs and support the Medical Center’s philosophies. The manager assumes fiscal responsibility through unit budget preparation, serves as a liaison with medical staff and other personnel, promotes employee growth and development, participates in long- and short-term strategic planning, and assures patient advocacy. The role guides staff in meeting customer needs consistently with the Medical Center’s philosophy, mission, vision, and strategic plan, and maintains the competency to interact with customers from diverse cultural backgrounds. The manager identifies safety concerns and performs duties with sensitivity to the age and development of the patient populations served. Assigned areas include insurance verification, financial case management, in-house account management, and preregistration. The manager maintains a customer-focused environment, ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations, supports staff education and a positive work climate, and applies human resources policies fairly and consistently. The role establishes goals aligned with organizational goals, facilitates interdepartmental collaboration, supports operational improvements, participates in performance improvement, and consults on education programs. The manager coordinates staffing schedules to ensure appropriate daily coverage and interfaces with IPAs, Medical Groups, and other Review Organizations to resolve authorization and eligibility issues. The position collaborates with managers and clinical and support services leaders to improve processes, teamwork, communication, and coordination of services, while maintaining collegial relationships with managers, division personnel, and medical staff. It requires comprehensive knowledge of Medicare, Medical, commercial, and managed care payors, including CSMC payor contracts, and knowledge of electronic, web-based, and vendor-sponsored verification and eligibility systems.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
At least 5 years of experience in admissions management required.
At least 10 years of experience in a large, complex medical center or multi-hospital system required.
Maintain competency in interacting with customers from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Comprehensive knowledge of Medicare, Medical, commercial, and managed care payors, including CSMC payor contracts.
Knowledge of electronic, web-based, and vendor-sponsored verification and eligibility systems.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Experience building and optimizing decision trees and scheduling templates to streamline patient access.
Experience collaborating with physicians, clinical operations leaders, executive leadership, EIS, and consultants.
Understanding of specialty department workflows and taxonomy.
Experience supporting change and spread initiatives across multiple departments while balancing physician and clinic engagement with operational excellence.
Confidence leading strategic conversations with providers and executives to align access initiatives with organizational goals.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, direct, and control daily operations of assigned Patient Access areas.
Prepare unit budgets and assume fiscal responsibility for assigned areas.
Serve as a liaison with medical staff and other personnel, and maintain constructive collegial relationships.
Promote employee growth and development; support staff education and apply human resources policies fairly and consistently.
Participate in long- and short-term strategic planning and establish goals aligned with organizational goals.
Assure patient advocacy and guide staff in meeting customer needs consistent with the Medical Center’s philosophy, mission, vision, and strategic plan.
Promote customer relations, provide feedback on customer comments, and participate in customer satisfaction initiatives.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and municipal laws, regulations, and ordinances applicable to assigned areas.
Maintain a positive work climate and foster self-directed staff and employee contributions to the organization.
Facilitate interdepartmental collaboration and problem-solving, and support concepts that improve area operations.
Participate in performance improvement activities and consult in implementing education programs.
Coordinate staffing schedules to ensure appropriate coverage for daily operations and ensure ongoing staff compliance with schedules.
Interface with IPAs, Medical Groups, and other Review Organizations to resolve authorization and eligibility issues.
Collaborate with managers and clinical and support services managers on process improvement, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and coordination of services.
Maintain comprehensive knowledge of Medicare, Medical, commercial, and managed care payors, including CSMC payor contracts, and of electronic, web-based, and vendor-sponsored verification and eligibility systems.
Identify safety concerns and perform duties with sensitivity to the age and development of the patient populations served.