University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

  Hello from Wausau, Wisconsin! This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to spend the summer with Aspirus Health at its flagship Wausau campus. It serves as the major referral and tertiary care center across northern and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My time was spent with the hospital's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Andy Barth, and the Hospital Executive Team. Aspirus Health is a not-for-profit health system comprising 18 hospitals and 130 clinics in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Aspirus Wausau Hospital is a 325-bed hospital that continues to evolve as it recently broke ground on a massive $227 million expansion project. Once completed in 2028, it will add 48 intermediate care beds and a 16-bed observation unit.  Throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to work on multiple projects that focused on improving processes, care coordination, and patient outcomes within the dental service line. My first project involved creating a standardized ...

Hello from Iowa City! This summer, I have had the wonderful opportunity to be one of two interns with the Finance and Accounting Services (FAS). The Health Case Support Services Building (HSSB), where I have worked these past few weeks, is located in Coralville, Iowa, and houses many of UIHC's support services. Beth Jaggers is my main preceptor, but I also report to Cameron Doolady, Megan Yilek, and Kate Klefstad. They have all been great mentors who have helped me further my learning this summer.  I have been able to work on projects spanning a wide variety of topics, but my two main focus areas are in value-based care and professional billing. One of the projects I worked on (and will continue) was keeping quality metrics up to date that support the Medicaid Directed Payments. These metrics determine the reimbursement UIHC receives for providing care linked to them. Keeping these metrics at or above the set goals is one way the organization works to better care for patients....

  Greetings from Phoenix, AZ! A few months ago, I packed up my life (minus my cat) and moved nearly 1,500 miles away to Phoenix for the summer. This summer, I am completing my administrative internship with Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo), a healthcare organization focused on transforming musculoskeletal care through integrated delivery models, data, analytics, and value-based care. I came to Phoenix hoping to better understand healthcare administration in practice. Instead of simply observing it, I have been given the opportunity to participate in it. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that healthcare administration is not always about having the answer. More often, it is about asking the right questions. I’m reporting to you all with over 13 projects under my belt. The most meaningful part of my internship has been the level of trust I have been given. I have not spent the summer simply shadowing or completing hypothetical assignments. I have been ...

Hello from Decorah!  This summer, I am enjoying an amazing opportunity with WinnMed in Decorah, Iowa. WinnMed is a large critical access hospital located in northeastern Iowa, and it serves many patients in the region as well as in southern Minnesota. WinnMed is expanding rapidly and has recently brought many new providers and supporting staff on board. Additionally, they just completed a major expansion project called “Transforming Tomorrow,” which involved new construction and increased clinic capacity. My preceptor for this experience is Steve Slessor, CAO. He is an Iowa MHA alum and an executive-in-residence for the program. Working with Steve and the rest of the senior leadership team is absolutely wonderful. Each of them has a unique perspective, and they come together to form a strategic team that exceeds its goals. I have learned so much about rural hospital operations, and I know I will only continue to grow in my next 5 weeks at WinnMed. I am in the 7th week of the inter...

Hello from Minneapolis, Minnesota!   This summer, I have had the opportunity to complete an internship with Ebenezer, Minnesota's largest senior living operator. Ebenezer is a nonprofit organization in partnership with Fairview Health Services, operating more than 120 locations across six states. Our communities and services include cooperatives, condominiums, independent living, assisted living, memory care, adult day programs, rehabilitation (short-term skilled nursing), nursing homes (long-term skilled nursing), and affordable senior living apartments. During my internship, I have had the privilege of working alongside CEO Brett Anderson and Vice President of Strategy and Performance Mia Taney. I have been involved in several process and quality improvement initiatives, including participating in skilled nursing quality workshops, attending skilled nursing monthly QAPI meetings, and helping standardize QAPI practices among all skilled nursing sites. Additionally, Ebenezer launch...

Hi everyone! This summer, I’ve been working as the executive intern at Revology, a tech-enabled revenue cycle management (RCM) firm founded in 2022 in Iowa City, Iowa. By combining RCM expertise with advanced technology, Revology helps hospitals, health systems, and physician groups maintain financial viability, allowing them to focus on delivering high-quality care to their communities. As a part of the internship, I am co-preceptored by CEO Chris Klitgaard and COO Rachel Trevizo, both alumni of the Iowa MHA program!  Over my time at Revology thus far, I have gained invaluable experience leading several key projects. My first project centered around technology and change management. For this project, I developed a rollout strategy and training program for the internal adoption of a multimodal AI tool, aimed at reducing administrative burdens while ensuring HIPAA compliance and the secure handling of PHI. Another project I was tasked with required a deep dive into specific operatio...