Associate Director of Patient Experience

Essen Medical Associates; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Essen Medical Associates in New York, NY is looking for an Associate Director of Patient Experience to lead the Patient Experience team. This role involves managing grievances and ensuring compliance with standards while driving improvements in service quality.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of experience in healthcare leadership. The position requires strong communication and conflict resolution skills, promoting a culture of empathy and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in patient experience or healthcare leadership.

Responsibilities

• Supervise Patient Experience Specialists for grievance handling.
• Manage workflows related to patient experience.
• Oversee grievance resolution in compliance with standards.

Skills

Effective communication

Conflict resolution expertise

Microsoft Office Suite proficiency

Survey platform experience

Data analysis skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, Nursing, or related field

Master’s degree (MHA, MPH, MBA)

Tools

Qualtrics

Press Ganey

EHR systems

Job description

Overview

At Essen Health Care, we care for that!

As the largest privately held multispecialty medical group in the Bronx, we provide high-quality, compassionate, and accessible medical care to some of the most vulnerable and under‑served residents of New York State. Guided by a Population Health model of care, Essen has five integrated clinical divisions offering urgent care, primary care, and specialty services, as well as nursing home staffing and care management. Founded in 1999, our over 20‑year commitment has fueled an unwavering dedication toward innovating a better healthcare delivery system. Essen has expanded from a single primary care office to an umbrella organization offering specialties from women’s health to endocrinology, from psychiatry to a vast array of other specialties. All clinical services are offered via telehealth or in‑person at over 35 medical offices and at home through the Essen House Calls program.

Essen Health Care is the place Where Care Comes Together! We are looking for the most talented and effective individuals to join our rapidly growing company. With over 1,100 employees and 400+ Practitioners, we care for over 250,000 patients annually in New York City and beyond. From medical providers to administration & operational staff, there is a career here for you. Join our team today!

Job Summary

Position Title: Associate Director of Patient Experience

Reports To: Senior Director, Office of Patient Experience & Records

Position Summary: The Associate Director of Patient Experience provides leadership and operational oversight for the Patient Experience team at Essen and its subsidiaries. The role ensures all grievances, inquiries, and feedback are addressed in a timely, compliant, and compassionate manner. This position is accountable for managing the patient experience inbox, monitoring surveys and feedback data, executing trainings, conducting site observations, and supporting team development. The Associate Director fosters a culture of servant leadership, empathy, and accountability to improve the overall patient journey, while partnering with clinical and operational leaders to drive systemic improvements in service quality and patient satisfaction.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Oversight

• Supervise and support Patient Experience Specialists, ensuring timely, accurate, and empathetic grievance handling.
• Manage departmental workflows, including oversight of the patient experience inbox and grievance tracking system.
• Model servant leadership, promoting accountability, collaboration, and a patient‑centered culture.

Patient Advocacy & Service Recovery

• Oversee grievance and complaint resolution in compliance with CMS and Joint Commission standards.
• Partner with clinical and operational leaders to address escalated concerns and ensure resolution strategies restore patient trust.
• Maintain open communication with patients and families to reinforce confidence in care delivery.

Training & Development

• Design and deliver training programs on empathy, communication, de‑escalation, and service recovery.
• Conduct site observations to assess staff‑patient interactions and provide constructive coaching.
• Mentor staff and support onboarding of new employees to reinforce patient‑centered practices.

Data Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor patient satisfaction surveys (CG-CAHPS, Press Ganey, Qualtrics) and analyze trends.
• Generate reports and present findings to leadership with actionable insights for improvement.
• Collaborate with Quality and Compliance to ensure alignment between patient experience and organizational performance goals.

Culture & Engagement

• Serve as a visible leader across care sites, fostering empathy, inclusivity, and respect.
• Celebrate staff who receive positive patient feedback and contribute to recognition programs.
• Drive initiatives that build a culture of continuous improvement in the patient experience.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, Nursing, or related field (R)
• Master’s degree (MHA, MPH, MBA, or related) (P)

Skills

• Communicates effectively with empathy, compassion, and diplomacy (R)
• Conflict resolution and service recovery expertise (R)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (R)
• Experience with survey platforms (Qualtrics, Press Ganey) (P)
• Knowledge of EHR systems (ECW, ECares) (P)
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills (R)

License/Certification

• Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) (P)

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years in patient experience, patient relations, or healthcare leadership (R)
• Prior supervisory or management experience in a healthcare setting (R)
• Demonstrated success in implementing patient‑centered improvement initiatives (R)

Equal Opportunity Employer

Essen Health care is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we seek candidates who desire to work in and serve an ethnically diverse population.