Patient Access Director

Schedule: Full Time Positions Available: 1 Job Location Type: On-site Job Location: Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic, John Day, OR Position Summary The Director of Patient Access and Practice Management provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all patient access functions and clinic practice management operations across Blue Mountain Hospital District. This role is responsible for ensuring efficient, compliant, and patient-centered access to care within the Emergency Department, outpatient services, Rural Health Clinic, and Surgery Clinic. This position oversees front-end patient access operations, clinic practice management workflows, staffing, and performance improvement efforts. The Director partners closely with the Chief Medical Officer, clinical leaders, and administrative leadership to optimize patient flow, access to services, provider support, and the overall patient experience while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness. Essential Functions and Responsibilities Patient Access Leadership Provide strategic and operational oversight of patient access functions including registration, check-in/check-out, scheduling, referrals, and authorizations for the Emergency Department, outpatient departments, and clinic settings. Establish, standardize, and maintain patient access workflows to ensure consistency, accuracy, and regulatory compliance. Monitor and improve patient access performance metrics, including registration accuracy, wait times, authorization turnaround, scheduling efficiency, and patient satisfaction. Serve as the escalation point for complex patient access issues, payer-related challenges, and patient concerns. Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, payer requirements, and organizational policies related to patient access and front-end revenue cycle operations. Lead performance improvement initiatives focused on optimizing patient flow, access to care, and patient experience. Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer and revenue cycle leadership through a dotted-line reporting relationship to ensure patient access operations support accurate registration, authorizations, charge capture readiness, and overall revenue cycle completion. Practice Management Responsibilities Provide daily operational leadership and oversight for the Rural Health Clinic and Surgery Clinic. Manage clinic operations to ensure efficient workflows, appropriate staffing, and high-quality patient care. Partner with providers and clinic leadership to support provider productivity, scheduling efficiency, and clinical operations. Oversee back-office clinic operations, including staffing coordination, workflow design, and operational support. Support onboarding, training, and ongoing development of clinic staff in collaboration with leadership. Monitor clinic performance metrics, identify trends and variances, and implement action plans to improve operational and financial outcomes. Conduct routine rounding within assigned clinic areas to engage staff, assess operations, and address concerns. Leadership, Collaboration, and Strategic Support Supervise, coach, and evaluate patient access and clinic practice management staff, promoting accountability and professional development. Ensure appropriate staffing levels through workforce planning, scheduling oversight, and coordination with leadership. Collaborate with the Chief Medical Officer, providers, and administrative leaders to align operational priorities with organizational goals. Support organizational initiatives related to access to care, quality outcomes, patient experience, and financial sustainability. Lead and support change management initiatives when implementing new workflows, systems, or programs. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Strong understanding of patient access operations, clinic practice management, and healthcare workflows. Knowledge of healthcare regulations and standards including CMS, DNV, RHC, HIPAA, and payer requirements. Ability to analyze data, manage complex operations, and lead multidisciplinary teams. Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing. Demonstrates professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment. Supports and promotes a culture of safety, quality, and patient-centered care. Supervisory Responsibilities Demonstrate initiative by identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing effective solutions. Remain adaptable and responsive to evolving organization and operational needs. Supervised By Chief Medical Officer (Primary) Dotted-line reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for patient access and front-end revenue cycle functions Education Requirements Required Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a healthcare, clinic, or related field setting with leadership or supervisory experience. 5 years of experience in the healthcare environment. Knowledge of accrediting organization and state regulations for district operations. Ability to work with managers, physicians, and other team members in a collaborative manner. Experience in clinic or department supervisory duties. Preferred Master's degree in healthcare administration, business, or related field. For More Information Human Resources View email address on click.appcast.io | View phone number on click.appcast.io Why Blue Mountain Hospital District & Grant County? The Blue Mountain Hospital District (BMHD) is located in Grant County, Oregon, at the heart of the John Day River, in beautiful, rural, Eastern Oregon. Our District is comprised of a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), Family & Rural Medicine Clinic, Home Care and Hospice, Emergency Medical Services, an Intermediate Care Center, and all of the supporting ancillary departments necessary to care for the health and wellness of our community. Our District spans from John Day to Prairie City, nestled in a valley surrounded by the Blue Mountains. The Strawberry Mountain Range and John Day River Valley offer a variety of outdoor activities, from abundant hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails to high and low lakes and ponds. Our area is known to be a destination not only for recreation, but also for big game hunting and fishing. Join our family-like team and settle into a lifestyle that is hard to beat. For more information on our area, visit our Grant County Chamber of Commerce page at: com/ Blue Mountain Hospital