St. Mary’s Healthcare Names New Director of Patient Access

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2024—St. Mary’s Healthcare has named Jessica Wutzer director of patient access, responsible for scheduling, registration, insurance authorization and other operations that affect virtually everyone who turns to the hospital for care.

In many cases, patients’ first experiences with a hospital begin with non-medical interactions about appointments, referrals, medical records, insurance coverage and other required information.

“We want those interactions, and every aspect of our patient access process, to reflect St. Mary’s commitment to patient satisfaction and the best possible care,” said Jeff Methven, St. Mary’s president and CEO. “Jessica is a welcome addition to a team that’s determined to streamline access, enhance the overall patient experience, and help St. Mary’s become our community’s first choice for healthcare.”

Wutzer has served in patient access and related roles at Adirondack Health Institute in Glens Falls, Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs and, most recently, at the Albany Med Health System in Albany. She is skilled in implementing effective patient access processes and training others in adopting best practices.

A graduate of the State University of New York at Cortland, Wutzer has a bachelor’s degree in community health education.