Alumni/ae Spotlight

Up Close & Personal with Sara Larch:
An Exclusive MGMA Interview

By Michelle Rogers (MHA '04) and Linnea Self (MHA '04)

Starting in the healthcare industry at the age of sixteen as a candy striper, Sara Larch knew that she wanted to work in health care. Since then, she has held various management positions including administrator of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Indiana University Medical Center and then at Georgetown University Medical Center, and Director of Quality and Capitation Systems for the Faculty Practice Group at Georgetown. She is currently the COO of the University of Maryland Physicians, Inc. in Baltimore.

Over the years, she has seen the management field change in numerous ways including: providers receiving formal training through masters degrees in health administration, increasing complexity in the reimbursement environment, and the extent of oversight and federal regulation. The focus of COOs in the past has been on reimbursement, strategic plans, and the delivery system.

Today, facilities are taking a "back to basics" approach to management, focusing on the day-to-day operations, and redesigning their organizations at a non-system level. As an experienced manager, Sara has found that the small details matter. Management must pay attention to patient waiting time, lighting of the facility and the over all experience of the patient, staff and physicians. Being prepared to influence others and facilitate change have been two of Sara's most challenging and rewarding experiences as a healthcare administrator. She remarks, "Working with people is a very important skill to possess." It takes a team to accomplish things, which requires learning how to work with diverse people.

As a female in health administration, Sara believes women face unique challenges although they find careers rewarding. For example, women must devote more time to their jobs to achieve the same career advancement. However, in group practice management, women have more flexibility with their schedules to balance career and family than in hospital management. Sarah believes that the gender issues in healthcare management are easing as more female physicians enter the field.

Sara attributes much of her success to her involvement in the Medical Group Management Association. MGMA has played a significant role in her career through networking opportunities, continuing education programs, and the leadership laboratories. She says, "MGMA is the place to go when I need help." The group practice environment fosters cohesiveness and assistance rather than competition among managers.

Sara believes that current health administration students should be aware of the many opportunities in group practice management, such as the benefits of operating one's own business and working alongside physicians. Group practice administration allows for one to see the direct results of his/her work. Group practice managers are "generalists" or jack-of-all-trades because they are responsible for running the entire facilities day-to-day operations.