Job Description
Department/Unit:
Practice Administration Work Shift:
Day (United States of America) Salary Range:
$94,957.00 - $147,183.00 The Project Manager for Access & Schedule Optimization is responsible for leading strategic initiatives that improve patient access, provider productivity, and template utilization across ambulatory and procedural settings. This role partners closely with clinical, operational, and IT stakeholders to design, implement, and sustain Epic-based scheduling optimization solutions that align with organizational access goals, regulatory requirements, and patient experience standards. Key Responsibilities:
Project Leadership & Execution Lead end-to-end project management of access and scheduling optimization initiatives within the Practice. Develop and manage project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables across multiple service lines. Utilize structured methodologies to drive measurable improvements. Epic Optimization & Build Collaboration Partner with Epic analysts to design and optimize: Provider templates and scheduling protocols Visit types, slot utilization, and block release logic Decision trees and scheduling workflows Ensure Epic build aligns with access strategies (e.g., third next available, same-day access, continuity). Support testing, validation, and activities for Epic upgrades. Access Strategy & Performance Improvement Translate organizational access goals into actionable scheduling strategies. Identify inefficiencies in scheduling workflows, template design, and referral management. Drive improvements in:
Third Next Available No-show rates Template utilization Cycle time from referral to visit New patient visits Standardize best practices across departments while allowing for specialty-specific needs. Data Analysis & Reporting Analyze Epic reporting tools (Reporting Workbench, SlicerDicer, dashboards) to monitor access performance. Develop and present dashboards and executive summaries on key metrics. Use data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for optimization. Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management Serve as a liaison between operations, IT, and leadership. Lead change management efforts including communication, training, and adoption strategies. Provide education to clinic managers on scheduling best practices. Sustainment & Governance Establish ongoing monitoring processes to ensure sustained performance. Support development of standard work, policies, and SOPs related to scheduling and access. Lead regular template reviews and optimization cycles. Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor's degree required (Healthcare Administration, Business, Nursing, or related field) Master's degree (MHA, MBA, MPH) preferred Experience:
5+ years of experience in healthcare operations Direct experience with Epic Experience in ambulatory care, access management, or scheduling optimization strongly preferred Core Competencies:
Deep understanding of ambulatory access metrics and scheduling best practices Strong analytical and data interpretation skills Ability to influence without authority across clinical and operational leaders Excellent communication and executive presentation skills Change management and process improvement expertise High level of organization and ability to manage multiple priorities Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Improvement in Third Next Available Increased template utilization rates Reduction in no-show and cancellation rates Decreased referral-to-visit cycle time Improved patient access satisfaction scores Adoption rate of standardized scheduling workflows Increase new visit ratio Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System! Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer. This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that: Access to information is based on a "need to know" and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification. Albany Medical Center is the centerpiece of medicine, research, and medical education in New York's Capital Region and is the area's largest private employer with more than 10,000 employees. Albany Medical Center offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of roles in both patient care and administration. We value all our staff members and offer outstanding employee benefits including: • Excellent health care coverage with no copay at Albany Medical Center providers • A wide array of services and programs to support emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing Anchored in the state's historic capital city, Albany Medical Center offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient care and is home to the region's largest hospital, only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma centers, and only children's hospital. The downtown campus also offers opportunities at Albany Medical College. Albany Medical Center, along with Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, and the Visiting Nurses, form the Albany Med Health System, serving more than three million people over 25 counties.
