University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

  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...

  Greetings from sunny Utah! It's hard to believe, but I'm already halfway through my 12-week administrative internship with Intermountain Health at St. George Regional Hospital. Intermountain Health is a large integrated health system that supports care across six states in the Mountain West. St. George Regional Hospital is a 284-bed Level II Trauma Center in southwest Utah, recognized for the exceptional care it provides to its patients and community. My preceptor is the Chief Operating Officer, Mark Evans, but I have truly felt supported by the entire executive team throughout my experience. I also have the opportunity to learn alongside my co-intern, Nicole Green (pictured to the left), who is completing her Master of Health Administration at the University of Washington. It has been wonderful to learn alongside a fellow MHA student. In June, Nicole and I traveled to Salt Lake City to tour several Intermountain hospitals as part of my wayfinding project. We will return in ...

Hello from Iowa City! My name is Caden Rasmus, and this summer I had the opportunity to complete my internship as an AmeriCorps Service Member serving at the Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic. This nonprofit has been helping serve the uninsured and underinsured population with medical needs since 1971. The Iowa City Free Medical Clinic (ICFMC) is the second oldest continuously operating free medical clinic in the United States. The primarily volunteer-based clinic provides care for chronic and acute conditions, women's health, gynecology appointments, dentistry, and an in-house pharmacy that handles many basic medication orders. This unique nine-month internship has continued to be filled with exciting experiences. My role at the Free Medical Clinic is Super User and Project Manager. I was tasked with leading the clinic in a successful transfer from all paper and pencil patient charting to a new AthenaOne Electronic Health Record (EHR). This has been a very rewarding experie...