Work Preference
Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Professional Profile Snapshot - Highlights
References
Communication And Leadership - Skills
Executive Summary - Summary
Timeline
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Sara Ritter
Open To Work

Sara Ritter

Maple Grove

Work Preference

Job Search Status

Open to work
Desired start date: Flexible

Desired Job Title

Clinic ManagerDirector of OperationsRegional Director of Clinical Operationsmulti-state healthcare operationshealthcare leadership

Work Type

Full TimeConsulting

Location Preference

RemoteHybrid
Location: Maple Grove, MN
Open to relocation: No

Salary Range

$100000/yr - $200000/yr

Important To Me

Work-life balanceCompany CultureFlexible work hoursWork from home optionPaid time off

Summary

Senior Healthcare Operations Executive with extensive leadership in multi-site healthcare systems. Expertise includes financial stewardship, workforce stabilization, and regulatory compliance. Successfully reduced patient wait times and turnover rates while aligning operational practices with strategic expansion initiatives.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Psychiatry Practice Manager

Nystrom & Associates
2024.08 - Current
  • Provide executive operational leadership across 17 clinic locations in four states, overseeing 87 providers and 80 FTEs within a $16M behavioral health service line.
  • Direct financial oversight including budget management, provider compensation forecasting, CME allocation, and annual salary planning.
  • Stabilized workforce during high turnover; reduced provider resignations to two while recruiting and onboarding eight new providers within 1–4 weeks, supporting sustained service line growth.
  • Reduced patient wait times from 3–6 weeks to 1–4 weeks through strategic provider redeployment and scheduling optimization.
  • Lead interdisciplinary workforce planning and provider deployment to optimize access and care delivery.
  • Strengthened operational performance through capacity planning, KPI tracking, and reporting to executive leadership.
  • Partner with executive leadership to support multi-state expansion initiatives and new clinic development strategies.

Human Resources Director

Protection and Threat Resources
Bloomington
2020.06 - 2024.09
  • Built and led enterprise HR infrastructure for a 200+ employee organization, supporting rapid growth and operational maturity.
  • Advised executive leadership on optimizing workforce planning, shaping organizational structure, and enhancing compliance strategy.
  • Directed employee relations and investigations, implementing corrective action processes and risk mitigation initiatives to foster a positive work environment.
  • Developed and implemented employee handbook, HR policies, governance frameworks, and compliance systems aligned with state and federal regulations.
  • Designed compensation and benefits frameworks aligned with retention and growth objectives.
  • Launched leadership development programs that empowered frontline supervisors and operational leaders to enhance team effectiveness.
  • Drove workforce expansion while enhancing accountability and performance standards.

Clinic Manager

North Memorial Healthcare
Brooklyn Park
2018.07 - 2024.08
  • Directed multi-site ambulatory operations across 5 clinic locations, managing 62 FTEs and overseeing a $5M+ annual operating budget.
  • Led multi-specialty services including primary care, urgent care, podiatry, diabetic education, care coordination, lab, and radiology.
  • Optimized patient throughput and clinical workflow by redesigning nursing roles and implementing operational process improvements.
  • Elevated patient satisfaction and enhanced provider productivity through targeted service excellence initiatives.
  • Increased colorectal cancer screening completion rates from ~68% to 88% through root-cause analysis, vendor dashboard development, provider education, and workflow redesign.
  • Reduced overtime expenditures through adaptive staffing models during COVID-19 surge conditions.
  • Delivered executive reporting and performance dashboards that informed strategic decision-making.
  • Served as liaison between physicians, HR, IT, ancillary services, and executive leadership to align operational priorities.
  • Ensured compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, and Joint Commission standards.

Program Specialist Auditor

ACICS
Washington
2006.04 - 2018.09
  • Conducted compliance audits and accreditation reviews to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements.
  • Evaluated institutional adherence to regulatory and operational standards, identifying areas for improvement.
  • Coordinated program activities and resources to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Developed training materials for staff and stakeholders to improve understanding.
  • Facilitated meetings to gather feedback and address program challenges effectively.

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

Allina
Champlin
2012.07 - 2018.07
  • Delivered direct clinical support to enhance patient experiences in ambulatory care settings.
  • Facilitated care coordination and patient education to streamline clinical workflows.

Medical Coordinator

Minnesota School of Business
Brooklyn Center
2005.04 - 2010.05
  • Coordinated medical schedules and appointments for students and staff.
  • Coordinated medical programs to enhance curriculum operations.
  • Ensured adherence to accreditation and program standards, supporting program integrity.
  • Assisted in training new staff on medical policies and procedures.

Education

Bachelor of Business -

Minnesota School of Business
Brooklyn Center

Associate of Applied Science - Medical Assisting

Minnesota School of Business
Brooklyn Center

Skills

  • Healthcare operations management
  • Clinical staff management
  • Practice management
  • Psychiatry leadership
  • Clinical quality program standards
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Employee performance
  • Staff training
  • Workflow optimization
  • Workflow planning
  • Resource management
  • Budget oversight
  • Financial management
  • Revenue cycle optimization
  • Strategic business planning
  • Strategic planning
  • Operational leadership
  • Continuous improvement
  • Performance improvement
  • Project management
  • Team building
  • Staff management
  • Employee performance evaluations
  • Employee relations
  • Employee operations
  • Human resources
  • Medical personnel recruitment
  • Hiring medical personnel
  • Retention strategies
  • Communication
  • Organizational skills
  • Facility oversight
  • Contract management
  • Plan development
  • Policy development
  • Compliance management
  • Risk management
  • Contract management
  • Data decision making
  • EHR systems
  • Electronic health records
  • Workflow efficiency
  • Clinical improvement initiatives
  • Service excellence
  • Strategic growth
  • Executive collaboration
  • Leadership development
  • Financial oversight
  • Budgeting expertise
  • KPI development
  • Resource utilization
  • Problem solving
  • Relationship building
  • Staff training
  • Workforce strategy
  • Operational leadership
  • Process improvement
  • Contract management
  • Executive collaboration
  • Leadership development
  • Data decision making
  • EHR systems
  • Process improvement
  • Clinical experience

Websites

Professional Profile Snapshot - Highlights

  • 28+ years healthcare leadership
  • Multi-state oversight (17 clinics, 4 states)
  • $16M behavioral health service line leadership
  • $5M+ ambulatory operations oversight
  • Workforce stabilization & provider growth success
  • Regulatory & accreditation experience
  • Executive-level reporting & strategic alignment

References

Available upon request.

Communication And Leadership - Skills

Skilled at communicating effectively across all levels of an organization, from frontline staff to executive leadership. Experienced in presenting operational, financial, and clinical performance metrics to COOs, Regional Directors, and leadership teams. Adept at leading cross-functional initiatives, facilitating change management, and building consensus among diverse stakeholders. Proven ability to train, coach, and mentor providers, nursing staff, and administrative teams, while managing sensitive employee relations and vendor partnerships to achieve measurable organizational outcomes.

Executive Summary - Summary

Senior Healthcare Operations Executive with 28+ years of progressive leadership experience across multi-site and multi-state healthcare systems. Proven expertise in psychiatry and ambulatory service line leadership, financial stewardship ($5M–$16M budgets), workforce stabilization, regulatory compliance, and organizational transformation. Recognized for reducing patient access barriers, stabilizing high-turnover environments, optimizing provider productivity, and aligning operational infrastructure with strategic expansion initiatives. Trusted executive partner skilled in governance, performance improvement, and leading interdisciplinary teams in complex regulatory environments.

Timeline

Psychiatry Practice Manager

Nystrom & Associates
2024.08 - Current

Human Resources Director

Protection and Threat Resources
2020.06 - 2024.09

Clinic Manager

North Memorial Healthcare
2018.07 - 2024.08

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

Allina
2012.07 - 2018.07

Program Specialist Auditor

ACICS
2006.04 - 2018.09

Medical Coordinator

Minnesota School of Business
2005.04 - 2010.05

Bachelor of Business -

Minnesota School of Business

Associate of Applied Science - Medical Assisting

Minnesota School of Business

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Sara Ritter