About Us

• The Patient Access Collaborative is driven by a commitment to ensuring nothing impedes patient access to necessary services.
• Leadership adheres to a documented ontology as per current research (Vinson et al, 2022).
• Our peer learning community is anchored in the principles of psychological safety; our deliverables are grounded in operational science. 
• Collaboration is guided by five main pillars of focus: Capacity Management, Contact Center Management, Digital Innovation, Patient Experience, and Ambulatory Operations. 

Background

• The Patient Access Collaborative (PAC) has provided a forum for the nation’s leading health systems to advance patient access to ambulatory care since its founding in 2011.
• Membership is by invitation, fostering collaboration among leaders from:

Academic health systems with schools of medicine

Freestanding children's hospitals

CMS PPS-exempt cancer hospitals

• Member health systems manage 500,000 to over 6 million patient encounters annually.
• Our main annual learning event is hosted by a member health system. 

Access for All. Always. 

At the Patient Access Collaborative, our mission is rooted in ensuring that every patient — regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, or language — can access timely, high-quality care. Our commitment to equity is not a matter of politics. It is a matter of purpose.

We represent academic health systems, cancer centers, and children's hospitals across the country that serve diverse populations in every community. Our members work tirelessly to eliminate barriers to care, reduce disparities, and build systems that welcome and serve all patients — because access to care is a right, not a privilege.

Even as national conversations evolve and policies shift, our dedication remains steadfast: to uphold the principles of equity, to listen to the voices of marginalized patients, and to ensure that our health systems reflect the values of fairness, compassion, and inclusion.

We remain committed to being champions of access for all — and to building a future where no patient is left behind.