CHP468: INTERNSHIP
I took my internship at Naval Branch Health Clinic Saratoga Springs in New York, and was able to meet the goals that I set. It was an opportunity that I will forever remember, applying classroom knowledge to real-world experience.
1) Overall health care system design understanding
During my studies at ODU, one of the courses that I took was US Healthcare Delivery Systems. One of those systems is the Military Health System (MHS). My internship was at a Military Treatment Facility as I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the system as that is where I intend to work as a healthcare administrator. I learnt and experienced firsthand the differences between the MHS and civilian health systems and the areas that they cooperate. I have been able to learn how the system is set up, how it operates, best practices, and what can be changed to make it better.
2) Leadership & Management skills
I have learnt leadership and management concepts from both the military and civilian staff who are in leadership roles at the clinic. Courses such as Contemporary Organizations and Management came in handy as I experienced the different leadership styles exhibited. I was also able to see concepts learnt in courses like Human Resources Management and Employees Relations put in practice. Attending Executive Steering Committee meetings and being a part of the COVID-19 working group helped me learn strategic planning and execution.
3) Business & organizational skills
The military is very organized and strategic and so is their health system. Experiencing the healthcare business side of the military was enlightening and very informative. From working with the Comptroller to the Information Management Department to Supply, I learnt very quickly how to prioritize, delegate, multitask, be a team player, and coordinate with other departments in order to maximize productivity. My preceptor advised me to always have a strategic thinking mindset when tackling any assignment.
4) Personal & organizational professionalism
I learnt and was able to use the basic concepts of law and ethics, values, and networking. My schedule allowed me to intern with various people, both military and civilian, in their departments. Attending leadership meetings such as the Executive Steering Committee meeting helped me refine my listening and communication skills. Working with data in the administration department, I was able to learn new ways of presenting information, creating dashboards, performing assessments and evaluations, analyzing data, and paying attention to detail.
The internship experience was very beneficial as a BSHS student because I was able to gain relevant knowledge, skills, and experience and putting into practice most of the things that I had learnt from the curriculum. I was also able to build a professional network and get a few contacts who are already in the healthcare administration field, and they will be helpful when it is time to transition to the Military Health System. This experience will also help me augment my resume and make me more competitive. Any BSHS student especially without a military background can benefit from interning at this site or any other military treatment facility so that they can be able to experience the differences between military and civilian health systems and how they are managed.
My overall impression of the supervision experience was beyond satisfactory. The environment was great and was able to meet professionals in my field of study. My preceptor always had time to talk to me and answer any questions and so were the other staff members that I was working with. They left a great impression on me and I look forward to working with such professionals soon.
The link below leads you to my Internship Report. http://sites.wp.odu.edu/griffin-leaders-ep/wp-content/uploads/sites/19186/2020/04/Internship-Report.docx
