Director, Patient Services

SAC Health; San Bernardino (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO accrual

Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Bereavement leave

Health premium coverage

Retirement contributions

Continuing Education

Job summary

SAC Health seeks a Director of Patient Services to lead Patient Services, Referrals, Registration, and EPIC Template Management at the Brier Clinic in San Bernardino. You will drive access strategy, scheduling optimization, and patient experience while partnering with clinical and executive leaders.

Ideal candidates bring 7+ years in healthcare operations with leadership, Epic scheduling expertise, and strong data-driven management. This role is full-time and on-site in California.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of healthcare operations experience with leadership roles.
• Experience with Epic scheduling and patient access workflows.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field; Master's preferred.
• California driver’s license and auto insurance required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Patient Services, Referrals, Registration, and EPIC Template Management.
• Develop access strategies to improve appointment availability and patient experience.
• Lead scheduling optimization to maximize provider capacity and clinic utilization.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and privacy requirements impacting access and scheduling.
• Monitor KPIs and provide actionable recommendations to executives.
• Travel to other SAC Health clinics as needed; maintain reliable vehicle and auto insurance.

Skills

Healthcare operations

Leadership

Epic scheduling

Communication

HIPAA compliance

Problem-solving

Time management

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Epic Scheduling

Healthcare IT systems

Job description

Who We Are

SAC Health empowers our patients and their families to live vibrant and healthy lives through culturally responsive, exceptional care. Patient-centered, whole-person care. Our unique, full scope, team-based approach is what makes SAC Health the provider of choice for patients.

Top-Tier Patient Satisfaction Scores | Largest Teaching Health Center FQHC | 11 Locations offering 44 Specialties | Participation in NHSC & NCLRP loan forgiveness programs

What We Are Looking For

Reporting into the Chief Operations Officer, the Director, Patient Services provides strategic leadership for Patient Services, Referrals, Patient Registration, and EPIC template teams. Access functions to ensure seamless access to care and an exceptional patient experience. This role is responsible for optimizing scheduling operations, clinic fulfillment, and patient services while driving operational excellence and performance outcomes. The Director partners with clinical, operational, and executive leaders to develop and implement strategies that improve access, efficiency, patient satisfaction, and revenue cycle performance. Through data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and staff development, the Director fosters a culture of accountability, service excellence, and collaboration.

Schedule: 5 days per week, 8 hours per day, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Location: Brier Clinic, San Bernardino, CA

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DELIVERABLES

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Patient Services, Referrals, Patient Registration, and EPIC Template Management to ensure exceptional patient access andservice delivery.
• Develop and execute patient access strategies that improve appointment availability, reduce barriers to care, and enhance the overall patient experience.
• Establish organizational standards, performance expectations, and accountability measures for all patient access operations.
• Lead enterprise-wide scheduling optimization initiatives to maximize provider capacity, clinic utilization, and access to care.
• Partner with physician, clinical, and operational leaders to align access strategies with organizational growth, service line expansion, and patient demand.
• Drive the effective design, governance, and optimization oh f EPIC scheduling templates to support operational efficiency and productivity goals.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts by leveraging data analytics, technology, and best practices to enhance service quality and operational performance.
• Monitor key performance indicators and operational trends, providing actionable recommendations to executive leadership to achieve organizational objectives.
• Ensure the integrity and effectiveness of patient registration, insurance verification, authorization, and financial clearance processes to support revenue cycle performance.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, privacy, and organizational requirements impacting patient access and scheduling operations.
• Improve referral-to-appointment conversion rates and reduce scheduling delays across all service lines.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing leaders and staff while maintaining strong employee engagement and accountability.
• Provide strategic oversight of referral management processes to ensure timely processing, scheduling, and completion of patient referrals.
• Utilize referral analytics to identify trends, capacity constraints, and opportunities for growth within specialty and primary care services.
• Partner with clinical leadership to develop and implement strategies that improve patient access, referral conversion, provider productivity, template optimization, and care coordination across all service lines.
• Establish regular performance reviews with clinical leadership to monitor access, referral, scheduling, and provider utilization metrics while ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Travel to other SACH clinics and offices as necessary; must have a reliable vehicle, valid driver's license, and auto insurance.
• Perform other duties as assigned by department leadership

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, or a related field required, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered. Master's degree preferred.
• Licensure/Certification: Valid California driver's license, and auto insurance is required certification(s) such as: CPXP (Certified Patient Experience Professional), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, PMP (Project Management Professional), CHAA (Certified Healthcare Access Associate), Epic Certifications is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible healthcare operations experience, including patient access, scheduling, ambulatory operations, or revenue cycle functions, with at least five (5) years in a leadership role managing managers and/or supervisors. Experience with Epic scheduling and patient access workflows is required. Experience in an FQHC, community health center, or multi-site ambulatory healthcare environment is strongly preferred.
• Essential Technical/Motor Skills: Proficiency in healthcare information systems, understanding healthcare regulations like HIPAA, and adeptness in insurance verification and billing. Strong problem-solving abilities are crucial for addressing patient registration and billing issues efficiently. Attention to detail is vital due to the sensitivity of patient information. Effective communication is necessary for interactions with patients, staff, and stakeholders. Leadership and management skills are essential for overseeing the patient access team. Adaptability, flexibility, and efficient time management are also key in this fast-paced environment.
• Interpersonal Skills: Effective communication is essential for conveying expectations, providing feedback, and fostering a positive work environment. Active listening helps in understanding concerns and resolving conflicts promptly. Empathy and compassion are important for supporting team members and recognizing their contributions. Tactfulness is necessary when addressing issues or providing guidance, ensuring respect and cooperation among staff. Strong leadership and teamwork skills are vital for inspiring and motivating the team to achieve departmental goals and deliver excellent patient service.
• Essential Mental Abilities: Possess critical mental faculties to analyze complex medical situations, make informed decisions, and adapt to evolving patient needs. This includes strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize tasks efficiently in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
• Essential Sensory Requirements: Recognize faces, hear on phone/in person/in the environment and see or hear equipment indicators. Adequate visual, hearing, and tactile acuity to proficiently perform essential duties. Ability to sit for long periods of time at acomputer

EEO: SAC Health is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment and is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Full Benefits Package!

• Industry Leading PTO Accrual (accrued per pay period)
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Jury Duty, Bereavemen t
• SAC Health Covers approximately 85% of Team Member health premium costs (may vary w/benefit plan selection)
• Retirement - up to 8% employer contribution
• Continuing Education and Learning Benefits
• Annual Mission Trip
• and much more!

Learn More About the Work We Do:

SAC Health's Mission: SAC Health's mission is to reflect the healing ministry & love of Jesus Christ through healthcare, education & partnerships that empower our communities to flourish.

SAC Health's Core Values: Quality Healthcare - Teamwork - Wholeness -Integrity - Compassion - Excellence - Humble Service - Respect