During my first 100 hours at the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority’s CReST Department, I learned a lot about how a behavioral health organization runs and how important administrative work is to keeping things organized and running smoothly. This internship gave me a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes in healthcare administration.

Some of my main duties included doing data entry for finance reimbursements for Bank of America and Sam’s Club, updating the employee contact list, and helping organize and edit brochures for the department. I also did Medicaid verification checks for over 300 clients, making sure all their information was correct. I worked on the master tracker, where I updated client information, including insurance approvals and denials. In addition, I audited clinician and case manager charts to make sure all the paperwork was complete and accurate.

I got to observe the administrative coordinator and see how she managed daily office tasks and supported the staff. I also sat in on team and clinician meetings, where I saw how staff members work together to make plans and provide care for clients. One of the most intense experiences I had was when a client came into the lobby in crisis, saying he wanted to harm himself and others. Watching the crisis team calmly step in, de-escalate the situation, and get the man help showed me how important teamwork, patience, and compassion are in this field.

Overall, these experiences helped me gain stronger organizational and communication skills, understand Medicaid and insurance systems better, and see how much administrative work supports client care. My time at CReST has motivated me to keep learning and growing in the field of healthcare administration.