Assistant Director, Utilization Review

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 112,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life Insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition waivers

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago is seeking an Assistant Director of Utilization Review in Chicago, IL. The role leads utilization management and discharge planning, ensuring cost-effective, safe, and quality patient care with effective staff coordination.

Responsibilities include data-driven reporting, staff training, and cross-department collaboration to optimize throughput and ensure regulatory compliance. A nursing background with CMS experience is essential.

Qualifications

• Must have data analysis proficiency and training experience.
• Bachelor’s in Nursing required; current Illinois RN license.
• Minimum five years’ Utilization Management and Discharge Planning experience.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze length of stay data and generate reports on transitions of care, LOS, denials, and reviews.
• Supervise and audit medical records as required by CMS Conditions of Participation.
• Attend daily huddles, Clinical High Risk rounds, and support throughput and discharge planning across units.
• Train, orient, coach, and evaluate staff to promote safety and quality.
• Assist the Director with staff training, supervision, and development of discharge planning services.
• Analyze data for staff productivity; track goals and evaluate procedures for CQI improvements.
• Ensure compliance with external agency requirements and accreditation standards.
• Assist Director by assigning duties and acting as departmental lead in their absence.
• Serve as a staff preceptor and resource, delivering excellent customer service.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Skills

Data analysis

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

RN license – Illinois

Job description

Assistant Director, Utilization Review

Hiring Department: Human Resources

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1042847

Pay Range: The salary range of employees currently holding equivalent position is $112,406 - $135,775.

Close date: October 23, 2026

About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity. Learn more: https://hospital.uillinois.edu/about-ui-health

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Description

Position Summary

The incumbent will be responsible for leading and assessing appropriate utilization of resources accomplished through efforts that are cost effective, safe, clinically appropriate, and enhance quality of care. Promotes and facilitates appropriate admission status, and facilitates movement through the healthcare continuum by implementing processes that ensure timely and proactive care coordination and discharge planning. Integrates department services with other departments and medical staff initiatives. This will include implementation of procedures consistent with the goals and objectives of the Health System. The duties and responsibilities are established to assure efficient Utilization Management and Discharge Planning and staff productivity processing that directly affects UI Health's financial status. Expert knowledge of internal and external staff productivity modalities and positive communication with medical and house staff & UI Health personnel will assist in assuring success

Duties & Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze length of stay data. Develop useful reports related to Transitions of care, LOS, denials, initial and concurrent reviews, and initial authorization among other areas
• Supervise and audit initial and ongoing medical records as required by CMS Conditions of Participation
• Attend daily huddles, weekly Clinical High Risk rounds, and support staff and multiple departments and nursing units with throughput and discharge barrier elimination
• Trains, orients, coaches, evaluates effectiveness and competence of staff to promote safety and quality
• Assist the Director with training, supervising, and developing staff to provide quality and efficient utilization review and discharge planning services to UI Health patients
• Collect and analyze data for staff productivity. Develop reports that track departmental goals. Evaluate effectiveness and adequacy of procedures, quality, and recommend and implement modifications (CQI).
• Ensures compliance with recommendations and requirements from external agencies such as accreditation, certification/licensing and other regulatory bodies.
• Assist Director with assigning staff duties and functions as departmental contact in the absence of the Director.
• Function as staff preceptor and resource person. Provide excellent customer service and model leadership
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required
• Current license as a Professional Registered Nurse from the State of Illinois required.
• Minimum of five (5) years Utilization Management and Discharge Planning experience required.
• Proficiency in Data Analysis and training experience.
• Knowledge of Payer Reimbursement Processing

Preferred Qualifications

• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Preferred candidate has experience working with both providers and payor sources.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.