Podcast
Join Patient Access Collaborative Founder and Executive Director, Elizabeth Woodcock, as she guides you through some of the most relevant conversations taking place in the Access world today. Take a behind-the-scenes look at all things access in the ambulatory enterprise. Here, patient access leaders from academic health systems and industry experts share their expertise on hot topics in access including best practices, process development, organizational dynamics, technological innovation, and patient experience.
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PAC Access Summit Preview: Discussing Access Strategy and Analytics with Emory Healthcare Leaders
Collaboration is the engine of innovation in healthcare access, and nowhere is that spirit stronger than at the upcoming PAC Access Summit, a two-day event co-hosted by Emory Healthcare on October 13–14. In this episode of All Access Pass, host Chris Profeta sits down with three Emory leaders who will be presenting at the Summit: Kelsey Thomas, Director of Program Development in Patient Access; Nick Woodbury, Assistant Director of Capacity Management in Patient Access; and Josiah Thomasson, Senior Manager of Data Foundations & Engineering.
Together, they offer a preview of their sessions and share how Emory is advancing access through program development, capacity management, and data innovation. From building frameworks that support frontline teams to leveraging system solutions and analytics for smarter decisions, this conversation highlights the interdisciplinary work driving access transformation.
Whether you’re preparing to attend the Summit or looking for fresh ideas to bring back to your own organization, you’ll gain insights into how Emory Healthcare is helping to shape the future of patient access.
Category: Strategy
Published: September 11
Leaders of the Year
What does it take to lead patient access at scale—and with heart? In this inspiring episode, we celebrate the Patient Access Collaborative’s inaugural Access Leaders of the Year: Jamie Kern, MBA, Senior Director of Access & Capacity Management at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Ann Blanchard, BSN, MBA, Director of Access Innovations, Capacity Management & Referral CORE at Nebraska Medicine.
From turning “scapegoats” into strategic powerhouses to building trust through data transparency and team empowerment, Jamie and Ann share their personal leadership philosophies, operational strategies, and digital transformation journeys. You’ll hear how OSU is tackling scalability through behavior change and rigor, while Nebraska Medicine’s “Access Delta” initiative and digital redesign efforts have transformed lag time and self-scheduling at an enterprise level.
Together, they reflect on the evolving role of access, the myth of linear digital adoption, and why listening—not just fixing—is the key to lasting change. Whether you're redesigning visit types or shifting culture, this episode delivers lessons in resilience, innovation, and keeping the patient at the center of it all.
Category: Strategy
Published: August 15
From Dashboards to Decisions: Advancing Patient Access with Data Fluency
At the 2025 Patient Access Collaborative Symposium, Stephanie Schmidt, MS, Senior Director of Ambulatory Operations, and Adam Stone, MS, Director of Clinical Data & Analytics of Oregon Health & Science University led a high-impact workshop on building a culture of data fluency and accountability in access operations. As leaders in both operations and analytics, Stephanie and Adam shared real-world examples of how their teams are aligning key performance indicators (KPIs) with meaningful metrics, using dashboards to bring data to life, and building the infrastructure for consistent governance across departments. Their focus: turning insights into action—and making data not just visible, but transformative.
In this episode, they reflect on the collective wisdom shared by access leaders nationwide—from the most common metrics (like fill rate and new patient lag) to the shared barriers (like attribution and cultural resistance). They also unpack the often-overlooked ROI of access initiatives, discuss how to improve organizational fluency, and share their aspirations for the future of access analytics. Whether you’re launching a dashboard or leading enterprise-wide transformation, this conversation offers powerful takeaways to guide your next step.
Category: Strategy
Published: July 15
Beyond the Ballroom
Join us for a dynamic conversation with two powerhouse leaders in patient access: Alexandra Blake Martinez, MHSA, Associate Vice President of Access Strategic Operations at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Tesha Montgomery, BSN, MHA, Senior Vice President of Access at Houston Methodist. Speaking from their shared hometown of Houston, the site of the 2025 Patient Access Collaborative Symposium, these visionary leaders reflect on the event’s key themes — from the rising strategic importance of access to transformative innovations like AI. You'll hear candid insights on moving from reaction to prevention, navigating workforce challenges, embracing data-driven leadership, and redefining access as a strategic imperative. Whether you attended the symposium or not, this episode delivers valuable takeaways and fresh perspective from two of the nation’s top access executives.
Category: Strategy
Published: June 27