System Director, Physician Advisor Program

RWJ Barnabas Health; New Jersey; On-site; USD 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

RWJ Barnabas Health seeks a System Director, Physician Advisor Program to lead a system-wide physician advisory service across 12 hospitals. You will partner with hospital leadership, medical staff, and corporate teams to advance utilization management, care progression, and discharge planning while ensuring regulatory compliance and fiscal responsibility.

You will guide education for medical staff and coordination teams, driving continuous improvement in throughput and patient outcomes across

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and oversee a system-wide Physician Advisor Program that aligns with organizational goals and regulatory standards.
• Partner with hospital leadership, physician advisors, and corporate administration to standardize best practices in utilization management and care progression.
• Provide system-level leadership for continuous improvement initiatives in care coordination, throughput, and discharge efficiency.
• Monitor and analyze system performance metrics, identifying opportunities for improvement in length of stay, denials, and avoidable days.
• Support and guide hospital-based physician advisors in conducting utilization reviews, peer-to-peer discussions, and level-of-care determinations.
• Ensure compliance with CMS regulations, payer requirements, and internal policies related to utilization and medical necessity.
• Collaborate with case management and social work leadership to optimize workflows for care transitions and complex discharge planning.
• Promote evidence-based, patient-centered decision-making throughout the continuum of care.
• Provide ongoing education to medical staff, case management teams, and hospital leadership on regulatory updates, clinical documentation, and utilization review processes.
• Serve as a trusted liaison between physicians, hospital leadership, and payers to resolve utilization and discharge challenges.
• Develop training programs for new physician advisors and foster professional development opportunities across the system.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for system-wide utilization management and care progression performance.
• Regularly report outcomes and improvement plans to the Chief of Hospitalist Medicine and executive leadership.
• Lead and facilitate system committees focused on clinical resource management and care efficiency.
• Collaborate with quality, finance, and compliance departments to align utilization goals with broader system objectives.

Job description

System Director, Physician Advisor Program

Reports To: Chief of Hospitalist Medicine

Location: System-Level Position (serving all 12 acute care hospitals within RWJBH)

Position Summary

The System Director, Physician Advisor Program provides strategic and operational leadership for RWJBH’s Physician Advisor services across all 12 hospitals. This position will form a collaborative partnership with local and corporate administration, medical staff, case management, and other key stakeholders to advance a comprehensive Clinical Resource Management Program, encompassing utilization management, progression of care, social work services, and complex discharge planning.

The System Physician Advisor Director serves as a key clinical leader who ensures efficient and appropriate use of healthcare resources while promoting quality patient outcomes, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility across the system.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and oversee a system-wide Physician Advisor Program that aligns with organizational goals and regulatory standards.
• Partner with hospital leadership, physician advisors, and corporate administration to standardize best practices in utilization management and care progression.
• Provide system-level leadership for continuous improvement initiatives in care coordination, throughput, and discharge efficiency.
• Monitor and analyze system performance metrics, identifying opportunities for improvement in length of stay, denials, and avoidable days.

Clinical Resource Management

• Support and guide hospital-based physician advisors in conducting utilization reviews, peer-to-peer discussions, and level-of-care determinations.
• Ensure compliance with CMS regulations, payer requirements, and internal policies related to utilization and medical necessity.
• Collaborate with case management and social work leadership to optimize workflows for care transitions and complex discharge planning.
• Promote evidence-based, patient-centered decision-making throughout the continuum of care.

Education & Physician Engagement

• Provide ongoing education to medical staff, case management teams, and hospital leadership on regulatory updates, clinical documentation, and utilization review processes.
• Serve as a trusted liaison between physicians, hospital leadership, and payers to resolve utilization and discharge challenges.
• Develop training programs for new physician advisors and foster professional development opportunities across the system.

Operational Excellence & Reporting

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for system-wide utilization management and care progression performance.
• Regularly report outcomes and improvement plans to the Chief of Hospitalist Medicine and executive leadership.
• Lead and facilitate system committees focused on clinical resource management and care efficiency.
• Collaborate with quality, finance, and compliance departments to align utilization goals with broader system objectives.

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this position if hired to work is $350,000 to $450,000 per year.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s educational background, skills, and professional experience.