HCC, the California Healthcare Workforce Alliance, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Southern California Chapter and health employers offer three to six month, full-time fellowships from the end of June to the end of December. Fellows are paid a minimum stipend of $10.97 per hour (the host organization can employ the Fellow directly, or contract with them through HCC). This does not include administrative fee and employer related taxes. Through our fellowship host organizations, HCC places qualified candidates in leading California health care and public health settings. These candidates will be working through an apprenticeship model to become part of teams in health organizations that are focused on implementation and adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and health information exchange (HIE). Efforts are made to accommodate fellow HIT interests, geographic preferences, and skill sets in finalizing placements.
HCC and its partners offer fellowship placements with leading hospitals, medical groups/physician practices, clinics, health departments, and HIT consultants and service providers. Fellows work with senior EHR project managers to Chief Information Officers on HIT-focused projects, such as readiness for EHRs, practice workflow and redesign, report set-up or generation, change management and training plan, meaningful use support, equipment and connectivity inventory, research on EHR systems, and project management support.
The fellowship program includes valuable webinar-based practical workshops with topics ranging from project management to meaningful use. The fellows will also be provided with networking and mentorship opportunities, and a free one-year membership to HIMSS and their local HIMSS chapter (must be a full time student to qualify) or free HIMSS local chapter membership (must be a part time student or non-student to qualify) to maximize their success in their fellowships and health IT careers. Job placement assistance will also be provided to the fellows.
This is the second annual HIT fellowship program, and already fellows have gone on to graduate or medical school with an increased knowledge of HIT and/or refined their HIT career objectives. Selected fellows are offered job opportunities after or even during their fellowships by their host and/or other organizations.
Please visit the HIT Program Process and Timeline to find out more information about the selection process and how to apply as a host or a fellow.
