SENIOR PATIENT ACCESS MANAGER

Description

Job Title

Senior Patient Access Manager

Department

Patient Access

Reports to

CAO

Status

Full Time/Exempt

Senior Patient Access Manager Position Summary

The Senior Patient Access Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing key front-end revenue cycle and patient access functions, including scheduling, assessment coordinators, authorizations, benefits and pricing, and medical registration support. This role ensures efficient, compliant, and patient-centered access to services while aligning operations with organizational strategy, financial stewardship, and service excellence.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a collaborative, operationally strong manager who can drive performance, optimize workflows, and partner closely with clinical, revenue cycle, and administrative leadership.

Senior Patient Access Manager Detailed Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and management to patient access teams including Scheduling, Assessment Coordinators, Authorization, Benefits & Pricing, and Medical Registration support staff.
• Conduct monthly and annual performance evaluations in accordance with Company standards, including attendance, quality, productivity, customer service, teamwork, communication, and job knowledge.
• Set team and individual performance goals aligned with the Company’s mission, vision, values, and strategic objectives.
• Screen, interview, hire, train, coach, and develop staff as needed.
• Promote employee engagement, accountability, and ongoing professional development.
• Oversee daily operations of patient access functions to ensure timely, accurate, and patient-focused service delivery.
• Partner with Medical Registration leadership to support registration accuracy, coverage validation, and front-end financial integrity.
• Identify operational gaps, inefficiencies, or risk areas and implement process improvements, standard workflows, and best practices.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex patient, provider, and operational issues.
• Ensure effective scheduling practices that align capacity, access standards, and patient needs.
• Oversee authorization, benefits verification, and pricing workflows to support financial clearance and minimize downstream denials.
• Collaborate with Revenue Cycle, Compliance, and Clinical teams to ensure adherence to payer, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Support transparency and consistency in benefits communication and patient financial discussions.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to access, authorization turnaround times, quality, and service outcomes.
• Analyze trends, identify root causes of performance issues, and develop corrective action plans.
• Prepare and present operational and performance reports to the Chief Administrative Officer and executive leadership.
• Ensure patient access systems, scheduling platforms, and related technologies are utilized effectively and consistently.
• Partner with IT and operational stakeholders on system enhancements, optimization, and new implementations.
• Support responsible use of staffing and operational resources.
• Provide input on budgeting, forecasting, and staffing models related to patient access operations.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure alignment between patient access, clinical operations, revenue cycle, and patient experience.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal departments, physicians, and leadership.
• Participate in leadership meetings, operational committees, and special projects as assigned.
• Communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization.

Senior Patient Access Manager Specific Job Knowledge, Skill, and Ability

• Ability to interact tactfully and diplomatically with patients, families, referring physicians, and internal customers.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple teams and complex workflows.
• Strategic and operational thinking with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage change, prioritize competing deadlines, and lead through ambiguity.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to compose written communications using appropriate grammar.
• Demonstrates a pleasant disposition, positive attitude, and possesses the ability to maintain a cordial and professional approach during periods of stress.
• Fosters and reinforces team-based results.
• Anticipates and adapts to change (e.g., market changes, policy changes, operational procedures) in a positive manner and leads by positive and professional example.
• Demonstrates ability to handle multiple tasks with short timelines, prioritize, and organize work in a timely and accurate manner.
• Participates in special projects, completes assignments, and meets deadlines.
• Dependable and flexible.
• Highly proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook, with the ability to interpret professional documents. 
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned or requested.

  Among the many benefits of a career with Southwest Medical Imaging, are the following:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA-available if enrolled in a high-deductible plan)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (DCRA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP available if enrolled in Health plan)
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Voluntary Short Disability 
• Company Paid Long-Term Disability
• Pet Discount Program
• 6 paid Company Holidays 
• Floating Holiday, Jury Duty & Bereavement Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Competitive Salary
• Leadership Mentoring Opportunities

Requirements

Education and Experience

At least 5 years of progressive administrative and managerial experience in a healthcare environment required.

Prior management experience in a call center environment required.

Knowledge of the radiology industry is preferred.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, ability to adjust focus.