About the Role
<strong>Job Requirements </strong><br><p><strong>UMMS </strong>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.</p><br/><p>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.</p><br/><p>The <strong>Director of Patient Throughput</strong> 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.</p><br/><p><strong>Responsibilities</strong></p><br/><ul><li>Oversee all admissions, discharges, and transfer operations to ensure timely, safe, and efficient care delivery</li><li>Lead and implement initiatives to address barriers to patient flow, including capacity constraints, staffing challenges, and process inefficiencies</li><li>Direct centralized patient flow functions including bed management, transfer center, transport coordination, and throughput command infrastructure</li><li>Serve as a key liaison between departments and faculty providers, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and accountability for patient flow performance</li><li>Partner with the Maryland Access Center (UMAC) to streamline access to care</li><li>Develop real-time capacity dashboards and predictive analytics in collaboration with the Office of Healthcare Analytics and Informatics</li><li>Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) including length of stay, admission-to-bed assignment time, and discharge efficiency</li><li>Present patient flow performance, trend analysis, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership</li><li>Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements across all patient flow initiatives</li><li>Manage budgets, position requests, and staffing models to drive operational efficiency</li><li>Build strategic partnerships with external stakeholders including post-acute facilities, payers, home care providers, and regional transfer networks</li><li>Lead special projects, develop work plans, assess resource needs, and drive successful execution and outcomes</li><li>Oversee staff development, training programs, and performance management in accordance with UMMS policies</li></ul><br/><p><strong>Ideal Candidate</strong></p><ul><li>Background in hospital or health system operations, with experience in patient throughput, case management, or performance improvement</li><li>Strong data literacy - able to interpret length of stay, throughput, and capacity data to identify gaps and drive solutions</li><li>Proven ability to influence without authority and lead through change</li><li>Confident engaging physicians and executive leadership</li><li>Solution-oriented, innovative, and comfortable trying new approaches in complex environments</li><li>Experience with executive-level engagement and performance improvement initiatives</li></ul><br><br><strong>Work Experience </strong><br><p><strong style="color: black;">Education & Experience - Required</strong></p><ul><li>Master’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Nursing, or related field.</li><li>Minimum of 7 years progressive experience in healthcare, quality management, or finance.</li><li>Minimum of 3 years of managerial experience in a hospital or healthcare system overseeing patient throughput, quality management, or a related field.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong style="color: black;">Education & Experience - Preferred</strong></p><ul><li>Lean Six Sigma certification.</li></ul><p><span style="color: black;"> </span><strong style="color: black;">Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities</strong></p><ul><li>Advanced knowledge of healthcare management, administrative and operational principles, and best practices, including technology. </li><li>Advanced knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations that govern delivery of patient care (e.g., The Joint Commission, HIPPA, etc.).</li><li>Advanced knowledge of technology and systems used within operations.</li><li>Strong financial acumen. </li><li>Advanced skill in the management of staffing models and budgets for large and diverse departments. </li><li>Proven ability to synthesize complex data sets into clear, actionable insights and strategic plans.</li><li>Advanced leadership skills, including situational awareness, conflict resolution, establishing alignment and clear direction, and driving continuous improvement.</li><li>Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams efficiently, prioritizing tasks, optimizing workflows, and establishing a goal-driven environment with clear procedures and performance metrics.</li><li>Proven history in leading projects successfully through ideation, planning and execution. </li><li>Exhibit sound judgment and self-direction, operating confidently and constructively without the need for detailed guidance.</li><li>Proven ability to successfully motivate and inspire staff to high performance levels.</li><li>Advanced skill using innovative thinking to solve problems and facilitate the decision-making process.</li><li>Proven ability to influence key decision making across diverse functional areas including executive management.</li><li>Advanced skill developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with all levels of leadership and staff.</li><li>Advanced skill presenting findings, conclusions, alternatives and information clearly and concisely at all levels within the organization.</li><li>Advanced analytical, quantitative, strategic thinking, planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.</li><li>Advanced skill managing multiple initiatives and meeting changing requirements and priorities to accomplish objectives.</li><li>Advanced skill in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint).</li><li>Advanced verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.</li></ul><br><br>