Patient Access Specialist

Thundermist's Mission: To improve the health of our patients and communities by delivering exceptional health care, removing barriers to that care, and advancing healthy lifestyles.

Job Description
Job Title: Patient Access Specialist Reports to: Director of Patient Access Services
Department: Patient Access Services FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Grade: 7 Version Date: February 2026

General Responsibilities:
The Patient Access Specialist reports to the Director of Patient Access Services to support and optimize provider-facing access functions across the organization. This role is responsible for coordination, and execution related to provider schedules, productivity, panel management, and workforce coverage to ensure efficient access to care, compliance with provider contracts, and alignment with organizational access standards.
The Specialist serves as a key operational and analytical partner, supporting data-driven decision-making related to provider utilization, scheduling integrity, and access optimization while collaborating with Clinical Leadership, Practice Operations, HR, Finance, and IT.

Qualifications:Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business, analytics, or a related field preferred, or equivalent years of commensurate professional experience.
• Experience in patient access, provider scheduling, healthcare operations, or a related analytical role.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in operational reporting and data interpretation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools; experience with EMR scheduling systems (e.g., eCW) strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across clinical and operational teams.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Skills / Abilities / Competencies Required:

• Provider Scheduling & Access Management
• Data Analysis & Reporting
• Process Improvement
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Attention to Detail
• Healthcare Operations Knowledge

Significant Job Functions:
Provider Scheduling & Access Operations

• Maintain and support eCW provider schedules, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with approved templates and organizational standards.
• Manage provider PTO/uPTO and on-call schedules, ensuring timely updates and communication to impacted operational teams.
• Support arriving and departing provider workflows, including schedule builds, access changes, and coordination with onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Facilitate cross-coverage planning, ensuring continuity of care and appropriate access during provider absences.

Panel Management & Patient Access Strategy

• Support provider patient panel assignments, monitoring alignment between panel size, provider availability, and patient demand.
• Assist with analysis of access capacity, appointment utilization, and patient flow to identify access gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Patient Access leadership to support demand management strategies and scheduling optimization initiatives.

Productivity & Performance Support

• Monitor and analyze provider productivity metrics, identifying trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support productivity reporting, including data preparation for leadership review and operational discussions.

Provider Workforce & Contract Support

• Support provider contract and recruitment-related access functions, including schedule modeling and access readiness for new providers.
• Partner with HR, Credentialing, and Practice Operations to ensure timely access setup and compliance with contractual requirements.
• Serve as a liaison between Patient Access and clinical teams to ensure consistent application of provider access standards.

Reporting, Analytics & Process Improvement

• Develop and maintain operational reports and dashboards related to provider access, scheduling, productivity, and panel management.
• Support the development and maintenance of standardized workflows, job aids, and documentation related to provider access functions.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance provider utilization, access equity, and patient experience.

Physical Effort/ Environment:

• Fast-paced environment with frequent coordination across departments.

Work Schedule Demands:

• Full-time, exempt position.
• Hybrid role requiring both remote and on-site presence for collaboration and operational support.
• May require early or late hours to support provider schedules, access changes, and operational needs.

Communication Skills:

• Must possess good verbal communication skills, telephone skills, and written skills. Some writing is required including correspondence and interoffice communication.

Confidentiality of Information:
Thundermist is dedicated in securing the privacy and confidentiality of protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is the responsibility of all employees to comply to state and federal guidelines in accessing sensitive information. The incumbent must apply strict confidentiality.

ADA & EEOC Statement:
Thundermist is dedicated to the goal of building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce committed to caring for patients in a manner that is respectful of cultural difference. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Thundermist provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.