Sr Access Consultant - Access Center

Job Description Location: Chicago, Illinois Business Unit: Rush Medical Center Hospital: Rush University Medical Center Department: Access Center Administration Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0) Shift: Shift 1 Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:30:00 AM - 5:00:00 PM) ( Remote ) Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page ( Pay Range: $45.59 - $74.19 per hour Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rushu2019s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. Summary: The Capacity Management department is a centralized team serving as patient access ambassadors and subject matter experts for over 300 practices across multiple locations. The Senior Access Consultant reports to the Manager of Capacity Management and leads strategic initiatives to optimize clinician scheduling, enhance operational workflows, and advance patient access across multiple ambulatory clinical departments. This role leverages deep expertise in Epic Cadence and healthcare operations to influence enterprise-wide access improvements, mentor junior staff, and collaborate closely with clinical and administrative leadership to drive measurable gains in productivity, access, and patient/provider satisfaction. Other information: Minimum Qualifications: u2022 Bacheloru2019s degree in business, Healthcare Management, Public Health, or related field with 5+ years of healthcare operations or capacity management experience, preferably in an academic medical center setting u2022 OR Graduate degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, or related field with 3+ years of relevant healthcare operations or project leadership experience u2022 Epic Cadence Certification or obtained within 6 months of hire Preferred Qualifications: u2022 Proven experience managing complex clinician scheduling portfolios and implementing enterprise-level access initiatives u2022 Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional projects and driving change in a complex healthcare environment Responsibilities: Responsibilities 1. Leads and oversees a portfolio of high-impact ambulatory clinical departments, ensuring alignment with patient access and capacity goals through advanced template design, decision tree design, Fast Pass implementation, and other access tools. 2. Serves as a senior business analyst, synthesizing complex access and capacity data into strategic insights and actionable recommendations for executive leadership (including Directors, VPs, and Department Chairs) to support data-driven decision-making. 3. Develops and delivers high-level presentations of access analytics and trends at enterprise leadership meetings and key stakeholder forums; facilitates dialogue to drive consensus and commitment to access initiatives. 4. Provides expert oversight of template and decision tree change management, establishing governance protocols to ensure consistency, accuracy, and operational impact mitigation. 5. Leads design, development, and implementation of innovative scheduling models, Epic Cadence master templates, and decision trees that enhance patient access, provider productivity, and scheduling efficiency across multiple clinical specialties. 6. Partners with Capacity Management leadership to establish and enforce best practices for scheduling governance, process standardization, and continuous improvement efforts. 7. Oversees testing strategies for complex scheduling builds and algorithms, ensuring robust validation and seamless integration with clinical workflows. 8. Mentors and provides guidance to junior Access Architects and team members, supporting their professional development and ensuring quality and consistency across the teamu2019s work products. 9. Collaborates with IT, Access Center, clinical leadership, and other key stakeholders to resolve escalated issues, improve operational workflows, and implement enterprise-wide access solutions. 10. Monitors industry trends, emerging technologies, and vendor enhancements (e.g., Epic upgrades), proactively recommending process or system improvements to maintain a competitive, patient-centered scheduling environment. 11. Leads or participates in cross-departmental projects, committees, and strategic initiatives related to patient access and ambulatory operations. Duties and Responsibilities: u2022 Strategic Critical Thinking: Ability to navigate complex operational and scheduling challenges with foresight, innovation, and data-driven strategies that align with organizational goals. u2022 Leadership and Influence: Proven ability to lead change, influence diverse stakeholders, and cultivate strong collaborative partnerships across clinical, administrative, and IT teams. u2022 Advanced Operational Expertise: Deep knowledge of ambulatory practice operations and Epic Cadence system capabilities, with a track record of designing scalable, sustainable scheduling solutions. u2022 Exceptional Communication: Skilled in delivering clear, compelling presentations and written communications tailored to senior leadership. u2022 Change Management Excellence: Experienced in guiding organizations through change by fostering trust, transparency, and shared ownership of outcomes. u2022 Project Management: Capable of independently managing multiple complex projects, timelines, and deliverables in a dynamic healthcare environment. u2022 Customer-Centric Approach: Commitment to exceptional service, balancing patient needs with operational efficiency and provider satisfaction. u2022 Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments; quickly learns new technologies and adjusts to evolving priorities. u2022 Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in MS Office Suite (especially Excel and PowerPoint), Power BI, Smartsheet, MS Visio, and Epic Cadence system; comfortable leveraging data visualization and reporting tools to support decision-making. Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. Position Sr Access Consultant - Access Center Location US:IL:Chicago Req ID 26093

Created: 2026-04-15