University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

By Phil Wirtjes Students enjoy a slide that connects two levels at EPIC One of the many benefits that the Health Management and Policy department offers each fall is a first-year class trip to tour several area hospitals. Traditionally, this trip takes place in Des Moines and Omaha, but this year the first-year class packed their suitcases and headed to Milwaukee. Among the many opportunities included on the trip were speaking with alumni of the program, learning more about the locations visited, and growing closer as a class. Students visiting  a tree house at EPIC After departing Iowa City on Thursday morning, students made the first stop in Verona, Wisconsin at the “Intergalactic” headquarters of the healthcare software company, EPIC. Once there, the group was taken on a campus wide tour, participated in an extremely informative Q&A session, and was even allowed to ride the slide that connects the 2 nd floor to the ground level! Due to the themed styling of ea

Top, L to R: Phil Wirtjes, Connie Lee, and AJ Nice Back: Nick Howald, Scott Hutgen and Casi Roethler In the first week of November the University of Kansas Hospital (KUMED) hosted their second annual case competition that included graduate students from the University of Missouri, University of Kansas and University of Iowa.  Dr. Robert Lee, MHSA Program Director at KU, asked teams to develop a scenario analysis looking at uncertainties that the hospital and clinics of University of Kansas would be facing in the coming years.  Dr. Lee stated that “these are very real issues that cause some sleepless nights for lots of folks here in Kansas City.” To aid in this endeavor  8 teams were formed to compete in the case study.  The University of Iowa sent three teams: AJ Nice/Scott Hurtgen, Nick Howald/Phil Wirtjes, and Connie Lee/Casi Roethler.  During the weeks prior to the competition, teams prepared presentations to be judged by hospital executives and university professors.