Practicum & Internship Requirements

Health Information Management Professional Practice & Internships

During the fall and spring semesters of your senior year, HIM students spend several hours each week rotating through two professional practice experience sites selected from area hospitals.

You should purchase a red/black polo shirt with the name of the college and program. Khaki slacks must be worn with this shirt.

Management Internship

During the spring semester, senior students participate in a management internship in order to gain additional administrative experiences. This four-week internship consists of a two-week period of learning supervisory and managerial skills in a healthcare setting, plus two weeks of experiences. 

The third week of management internship will provide exposure to a non-traditional setting, such as a physician’s office, billing company, consulting company, etc.  The fourth week consists of various activities such as guest speakers, online activities, and meetings.

This internship is designed to complement the two professional practice experience courses and further prepare you for entry into the working world.

Students are responsible for all costs associated with the management internship. This includes transportation to and from the management internship hospital, lodging, meals, and any other costs incurred. We highly recommend that students financially prepare for internship early.

Health Services Administration Internship

During the last semester of the senior year, Health Services Administration students complete hands-on learning at a health care facility to complete the requirements of their internship experience.

During the internship experience, students are introduced to the health care environment and daily responsibilities of a health care professional. Students will work closely with staff, management, and administration of a healthcare facility. Students will be responsible for completing internship projects in conjunction with other assignments in the internship experience course, HSA409: Capstone Seminar.

Students may intern at a variety of health care facilities.  Including, but not limited to:

• Hospitals
• Physician Offices
• Urgent Care Clinics
• Medical Billing Companies
• Not-for-profit Foundations
• Free Health Care Clinics
• Public Health Departments

For more information on the HSA internship experience, please contact:

Rachel Ellison, PhD
HSA Program Coordinator
rachel.ellison@louisiana.edu