HIT Program Process and Timeline

Posted by hcc-superadmin on Wednesday, 12/29/10 at 5:39 pm

Candidate Recruitment
Fellows Applications
HIT Host Organization Recruitment
1st Round Interviews
HIT Placement Process
HIT Fellows Selection Criteria
HIT Fellowship Stipend Amount

Candidate Recruitment

HCC, CHWA, and Southern California HIMSS recruit state-wide for candidates who are a good fit for the fellowship program. HCC and its partners promote the fellowship program via websites, social networks, and extensive university and community contacts. HCC attracts talented and diverse candidates with three main eligible groups in mind: 1) college graduates in the last 3 years with health related majors and HIT interest or HIT certificates, 2) people with 2-5 years of administrative or clinical experience in health organizations, 3) people with2-5 years of IT experience with end users and some health background. To request more information about the HIT program, please contact Shreya Desai at sdesai@healthcareers.org

Fellows Applications

Interested candidates apply for the HIT Program through HCC’s web-based application. Please visit the applications section to apply for this program. To go directly to the application, please click here.

HIT Host Organization Recruitment

Concurrent with fellow recruitment, HCC and its partners recruit leading health organizations throughout California to serve as hosts for the program’s many qualified applicants. A key priority is that the organization provides a meaningful and practical educational experience for the fellows. Most HIT host organizations provide funding for fellow stipends and to cover HCC’s program costs. HCC also has limited funding from external sponsors to fund fellow stipends in organizations that are serving underserved communities, have clear HIT/HIE projects for fellows, and are unable to pay the program fee. HCC’s goal is for fellows to gain valuable experience and connections while making important contributions to the communities.

-If you would like to support HCC and its partners by hosting or sponsoring a fellow, please visit the support HCC sectionor complete a host organization application. If you are ready to sponsor a fellow or If you have questions about the HCC HIT Fellowship program or want to discuss being a HIT host organization or sponsor please contact HCC Program coordinator, Shreya Desai at sdesai@healthcareers.orgor HCC Vice President, Mai Mai Cantos at mcantos@healthcareers.org.

1st Round Interviews

HCC reviews fellow applications to evaluate the fellowship applicants’ fit with both the HIT Program and host organization opportunities. After a careful review, selected applicants will have a first round interview with HCC. Candidates who fit HCC’s selection criteria, based on the needs and opportunities of available host organizations, will be selected to move to a second round of interviews with host organizations. 1st round interviews are conducted on a rolling basis depending on the availability of host organization opportunities.

HIT Placement Process

Selected candidates from the 1^st found interviews will progress to the final placement process. This involves candidates being sent to interview directly with the host organizations. Candidates typically interview with 1-3 host organizations that are a fit with their interest and capabilities. Host organizations and fellows provide feedback to HCC regarding preferences, and HCC makes the final placement decision. Depending on the host organization preferences, HIT program schedule, and fellow’s availability, fellows will typically start their fellowship within a few weeks after the interviews, if selected and are placed for 3 or 6 months at the selected host organization site. Final placements are subject to results of background checks.

HIT Fellows Selection Criteria

HCC’s founders and staff have been placing interns for 20 years. Based on our experience and expertise from our HIT partners, we use a combination of factors to select fellows. Some key factors are:

· College graduate in the last 3 years with health related majors and HIT interest or HIT certificates

· 2-5 years of administrative or clinical experience in health organizations

· 2-5 years of IT experience with end users and some health background

· Fellow’s interest and qualifications fit with host organization expectations and opportunities

· Reason for interest in health IT and level of motivation

· Personal statement content and quality

· Project, writing, language, quantitative, computer and research skills

· Ability to work 3-months (12-weeks) or 6-months (24 weeks), full time during the fellowship

· Diversity of the cohort - racial and ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, geographic, interests, etc.

· Past academic and/or professional experiences

· Geographic and transportation factors that enable fellows to successfully complete the program

· Host organization feedback after candidate interviews is a major determining factor.

· HCC strives for a diverse group of participants in terms of degrees, schools, interests, ethnicity, experience, and ambitions.

While HCC is open to all candidates, HCC has a commitment to diversity and a large percentage of interns and fellows are of color or from disadvantaged backgrounds

HIT Fellowship Stipend Amount

HCC believes that it is important that fellows be paid a stipend to help off-set some of their living expenses for participation in the program. HIT fellowships are in high cost of living areas and fellows face increasing expenses. HCC strives hard to not have expense be a barrier to candidates participating in a “life and career changing” fellowship experience.

HCC fellow stipends are determined each year based on host organization ability to pay, sponsorships and overall HCC funding. Typically fellows are paid a minimum of $10.97 per hour for full-time (40 hours/week) work.