Director Patient Throughput

University of Maryland Medical System; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland Medical System is seeking a Director of Patient Throughput in Baltimore, Maryland. This leadership position requires overseeing and optimizing patient flow across clinical and procedural areas, ensuring efficient care coordination, and developing data-driven strategies for length of stay and capacity management. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree and extensive experience in healthcare operations, with strong data literacy and leadership skills. Competitive salary and benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years progressive experience in healthcare, quality management, or finance.
• Minimum of 3 years of managerial experience in a hospital or healthcare system overseeing patient throughput.

Responsibilities

• Oversee admissions, discharges, and transfer operations for efficient care delivery.
• Lead initiatives to address patient flow barriers.
• Direct patient flow functions like bed management and transfer coordination.

Skills

Data literacy

Leadership skills

Change management

Financial acumen

Advanced problem-solving

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Requirements

UMMS is one of the nation's largest academic health systems, serving communities across Maryland with a mission of excellence in patient care, education, and research. This newly created leadership role sits at the heart of our Medical Center's operational strategy - partnering with a triad of physician and nursing leadership to drive proactive, data‑informed improvements in patient flow across the enterprise. The Director of Patient Throughput is responsible for overseeing and optimizing patient flow across all clinical and procedural areas. This role drives efficient care coordination, improved patient access, and a better overall experience by identifying and resolving barriers to flow. Working closely with executive and operational leaders, the Director develops data‑driven strategies to reduce length of stay, improve capacity management, and support organizational goals.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all admissions, discharges, and transfer operations to ensure timely, safe, and efficient care delivery
• Lead and implement initiatives to address barriers to patient flow, including capacity constraints, staffing challenges, and process inefficiencies
• Direct centralized patient flow functions including bed management, transfer center, transport coordination, and throughput command infrastructure
• Serve as a key liaison between departments and faculty providers, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and accountability for patient flow performance
• Partner with the Maryland Access Center (UMAC) to streamline access to care
• Develop real‑time capacity dashboards and predictive analytics in collaboration with the Office of Healthcare Analytics and Informatics
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) including length of stay, admission‑to‑bed assignment time, and discharge efficiency
• Present patient flow performance, trend analysis, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements across all patient flow initiatives
• Manage budgets, position requests, and staffing models to drive operational efficiency
• Build strategic partnerships with external stakeholders including post‑acute facilities, payers, home care providers, and regional transfer networks
• Lead special projects, develop work plans, assess resource needs, and drive successful execution and outcomes
• Oversee staff development, training programs, and performance management in accordance with UMMS policies

Ideal Candidate

• Background in hospital or health system operations, with experience in patient throughput, case management, or performance improvement
• Strong data literacy - able to interpret length of stay, throughput, and capacity data to identify gaps and drive solutions
• Proven ability to influence without authority and lead through change
• Confident engaging physicians and executive leadership
• Solution‑oriented, innovative, and comfortable trying new approaches in complex environments
• Experience with executive‑level engagement and performance improvement initiatives

Education & Experience - Required

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Nursing, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years progressive experience in healthcare, quality management, or finance.
• Minimum of 3 years of managerial experience in a hospital or healthcare system overseeing patient throughput, quality management, or a related field.

Education & Experience - Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma certification.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of healthcare management, administrative and operational principles, and best practices, including technology.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations that govern delivery of patient care (e.g., The Joint Commission, HIPAA, etc.).
• Advanced knowledge of technology and systems used within operations.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Advanced skill in the management of staffing models and budgets for large and diverse departments.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex data sets into clear, actionable insights and strategic plans.
• Advanced leadership skills, including situational awareness, conflict resolution, establishing alignment and clear direction, and driving continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams efficiently, prioritizing tasks, optimizing workflows, and establishing a goal‑driven environment with clear procedures and performance metrics.
• Proven history in leading projects successfully through ideation, planning and execution.
• Exhibit sound judgment and self‑direction, operating confidently and constructively without the need for detailed guidance.
• Proven ability to successfully motivate and inspire staff to high performance levels.
• Advanced skill using innovative thinking to solve problems and facilitate the decision‑making process.
• Proven ability to influence key decision making across diverse functional areas including executive management.
• Advanced skill developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with all levels of leadership and staff.
• Advanced skill presenting findings, conclusions, alternatives and information clearly and concisely at all levels within the organization.
• Advanced analytical, quantitative, strategic thinking, planning, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Advanced skill managing multiple initiatives and meeting changing requirements and priorities to accomplish objectives.
• Advanced skill in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint).
• Advanced verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.