Ambulatory Access Manager - Specialty Departments - Remote

VCU Health; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

VCU Health is seeking an Ambulatory Access Manager to lead and optimize specialty access workflows across departments. The role focuses on scheduling design, EHR configuration, and standardized processes to improve patient access and service levels.

Ideal candidates will have 5+ years in healthcare operations and 3+ years of direct management, with expertise in Epic scheduling. A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Health Information Management or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred (e.g., MBA, MHA, MPH).
• Experience with Epic scheduling workflows and access tools is required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and drive process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Leads and supervises Access Optimization Specialists and Design Specialists, providing coaching, performance management, workload assignment, and professional development.
• Drives workflow optimization for specialty departments, including scheduling design, electronic health record configuration, and operational standardization to improve patient access.
• Collaborates with specialty department leaders, clinical leadership, and Ambulatory Operations to assess needs, remove barriers, and support access strategies tailored to each specialty.
• Monitors service level achievement, workload distribution, and operational performance metrics, ensuring quality and alignment with enterprise access standards.
• Participates in system and process design reviews, identifying improvement opportunities and ensuring change adoption across stakeholder groups.
• Supports expansion and optimization of electronic health record scheduling functionality, including self-scheduling and provider templating.
• Provides specialty-specific consultations and guidance, ensuring departments align to access standards while addressing complexities.
• Maintains SOPs and knowledge resources to support onboarding and organizational learning.
• Drives strategic alignment of specialty access initiatives with enterprise goals and standardization.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Process improvement

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/HIM

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Epic scheduling workflows

Access tools

Job description

• To be considered for the role, you must permanently reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia***
• To be considered for the role, you must permanently reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia***

The Ambulatory Access Manager Specialty Departments provides strategic and operational leadership for the Specialty Access function, supporting consistent, data-driven improvements in scheduling and Epic-enabled workflows. This role oversees staff performance, drives workflow standardization, and partners with specialty and enterprise leaders to strengthen patient access across the organization.

Essential Job Statements

Leads and supervises Access Optimization Specialists and Design Specialists, providing coaching, performance management, workload assignment, and professional development.

Drives workflow optimization for specialty departments, including scheduling design, electronic health record configuration, and operational standardization to improve patient access.

Collaborates with specialty department leaders, clinical leadership, and Ambulatory Operations to assess needs, remove barriers, and support access strategies tailored to each specialty.

Monitors service level achievement, workload distribution, and operational performance metrics, ensuring quality, timeliness, and alignment with enterprise access standards.

Participates in system and process design reviews, identifying improvement opportunities, initiating redesign efforts, and ensuring change adoption across stakeholder groups.

Supports expansion and optimization of electronic health record scheduling functionality, including self-scheduling, ticket scheduling, decision-tree logic, appointment request workflows, and provider templating.

Provides specialty-specific consultations and subject‑matter guidance, ensuring departments align to access standards while addressing unique clinical and operational complexities.

Maintains documentation, standards of practice (SOPs), role guides, and knowledge resources to support continuity, onboarding, and organizational learning within the access function.

Drives strategic alignment of specialty access initiatives with enterprise access goals, ensuring work supports standardization and long‑term sustainability.

Leads organizational change efforts for access initiatives, ensuring stakeholder engagement, adoption of standardized workflows, and reinforcement of enterprise access practices across specialties.

Patient Population

N/A

Employment Qualifications

Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Health Information Management or related field.

Preferred Education: Master’s Degree preferred (e.g., MBA, MHA, MPH).

Licensing/ Certification

Licensure/Certification Required: N/A

Licensure/Certification Preferred: N/A

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in healthcare operations with familiarity in Epic scheduling workflows and access tools.
• Minimum of three (3) years of direct management experience in an operational or technical environment.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage priorities, and guide workflow and process improvement initiatives. Strong communication and facilitation skills, with ability to drive alignment across departments. Ability to lead organizational change and ensure compliance with access standards.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/A

Combination of education and experience in lieu of a degree.

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights. May have periods of constant interruptions. Prolonged periods of working alone.

Physical Requirements

• Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.)
• Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards

• Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination)
• Hazards: N/A

Mental/Sensory –Emotional

• Mental/Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking
• Emotional: Fast pace environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

Compensation Range

$83,096.00 - $128,772.80

Actual salary offers will be based on several key factors to include relevant work experience, credentials, and qualifications.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran