Patient Access and Flow Lead

**Company Bio**
- Southlake is building healthy communities through outstanding care, innovative partnerships, and amazing people. We deliver a wide range of healthcare services to the communities of northern York Region and southern Simcoe County. Our advanced regional programs include Cancer Care and Cardiac Care and serve a broader population across the northern GTA and into Simcoe-Muskoka._
- Our team of nearly 6,000 staff, physicians, volunteers, students and Patient and Family Advisors are committed to creating an environment where the best experiences happen. As a recognition of our commitment to quality and patient safety, we have received the highest distinction of Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada._

**Job Summary**

The Patient Access and Flow Lead is responsible for facilitating timely patient flow throughout the hospital, ensuring essential tasks related to admissions, discharges, and transfers are completed efficiently. This role serves as a critical link between clinical teams, bed allocation, and discharge planning to reduce bottlenecks, especially during peak demand periods. The Patient Access and Flow Lead actively coordinates and expedites tasks to optimize hospital capacity and reduce patient wait times, supporting overall patient flow efficiency.

**Skills & Abilities**
- 3 to 5 years’ experience in a healthcare environment, with a focus on bed management, patient flow, or clinical coordination is required.
- Experience working in high-demand settings like Emergency Departments or Command Centres.
- Experience in a centralized operations role within a hospital environment.
- Collaborative working relationship with an interprofessional health care team.
- Effective communication and counselling skills
- Strong commitment to Patient and Family Centred Care
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Demonstrates a strong patient and customer focused philosophy in all interactions
- Possess the ability to implement strategies that effectively facilitate change.
- Demonstrates clinical decision-making and organizational skills
- Demonstrated commitment to customer service and teamwork
- Demonstrated individual leadership skills

**Qualifications**
- Required: Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Health Administration, or a related field.
- Preferred: Certification in Lean or Six Sigma methodologies.

**Closing Statement**

At Southlake, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live and serve, including those with disabilities. Southlake is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the hiring process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.

It is the responsibility of all Southlake employees to work in a safe manner and promote health and safety in the workplace.

**Primary Responsibilities**

1. Coordinating and Expediting (45%): Ensure timely completion of clinical tasks that directly impact patient flow, such as test results, imaging, patient transfers, admissions, and discharges. Liaise with departments to expedite processes, working closely with the bed allocation team and the ED to place patients appropriately.
2. Process Improvement Initiatives (10%): Participate in hospital-wide initiatives to improve patient flow, including rapid process improvement workshops, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to implement best practices.
3. Supporting Surge Capacity Activation (20%): Assist in the activation and operation of surge protocols during high demand or Code Gridlock situations, including opening overflow beds and working with managers on staffing and resources.
4. Improving Communication and Transparency (25%): Act as a central communication point among clinical units, diagnostic departments, and administration, attending daily rounds to identify and address flow bottlenecks.