Patient Access Director

Apex Skin is a physician-led and rapidly growing dermatology practice committed to delivering exceptional patient experiences. We are seeking an experienced patient access leader to serve as Patient Access Director. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across patient scheduling, registration, insurance verification, and digital access, ensuring efficient, high-quality processes that support a seamless patient experience and the practice’s revenue cycle and managed care objectives.

This is an ownership role for someone who can optimize systems and processes, lead teams through change, leverage data to drive performance, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. The Patient Access Director will work closely with clinical, operational, revenue cycle, and business leaders; oversee direct reports and patient access functions across the practice; lead technology and process improvement initiatives; and serve as a trusted operational partner in advancing access, accuracy, efficiency, and the overall patient experience.

Essential Functions

Provide strategic oversight for the selection, budgeting, implementation, and management of scheduling applications and solutions; serve as Project Manager for related technology initiatives.

Monitor industry trends and best practices; evaluate processes, systems, and staffing to identify opportunities to improve the patient and referring provider experience; and develop and track metrics to measure operational, system, and staff performance.

Lead application training and knowledge management initiatives by developing departmental subject matter experts and establishing performance standards and metrics to assess scheduling effectiveness, service levels, and accuracy.

Foster collaborative relationships with physicians, staff, and operations leaders; address operational concerns; recommend physician schedule modifications when appropriate; and lead process improvement initiatives.

Lead patient registration and insurance verification operations across the practice, ensuring accurate patient information and timely coverage verification while overseeing technology solutions that support efficient access and registration processes.

Oversee the practice’s telecommunications structure to support patient access and an exceptional customer experience.

Lead the implementation and optimization of patient registration applications and technology solutions; improve the accuracy and completeness of registration data; establish metrics to measure registration quality and staff performance; and partner with revenue cycle leadership on process improvement initiatives.

Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement while providing opportunities for ongoing training and development.

Maintain current knowledge of applicable regulations, policies, and industry standards affecting scheduling and registration.

Coordinate non-reporting patient access functions to ensure compliance with patient access policies and procedures.

Manage direct reports in accordance with company policies, promoting consistency, confidentiality, and accountability.

Lead and mentor staff to strengthen skills, performance, and career development.

Provide recommendations regarding employee promotions, transfers, and terminations.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in health administration, business or related field

7+ years in physician practice with an in-depth understanding of specialty physician practice scheduling and registration

Demonstrated experience in hospital patient registration, insurance verification, and patient access operations

Strong understanding of revenue cycle workflows and the role of patient access in supporting revenue cycle performance, including financial counseling and self-pay management

Progressive staff management experience, including employee training and development, performance management, mentoring, and team leadership

Experience with patient registration applications and other technology solutions that support scheduling, registration, insurance verification, telecommunications, and digital patient access

Project management experience, including the implementation, optimization, and management of technology and process improvement initiatives

Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with physicians, clinical teams, operational leaders, revenue cycle partners, and staff

Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, work independently, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and identify, research, and resolve operational issues

Customer-service mindset with a strong commitment to patient-focused service, operational excellence, accuracy, and continuous improvement

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods

Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and perform repetitive motions

Adequate visual acuity and manual dexterity required for job duties

Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, instrument preparation, and documentation

Ability to speak and hear clearly when interacting with patients and team members

Ability to occasionally lift or move up to 10 pounds (clinical materials, supplies, or files)

Includes a typical office environment, with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues

Required to adhere to HIPAA, OSHA, and Apex Skin privacy and safety standards

Occasional travel between office locations may be required