As a high school senior, Destinee Francis had never heard of risk management. But that杏吧专区檚 where she杏吧专区檚 now thriving thanks to a pivotal decision early in her college career.
Francis initially enrolled at the 杏吧专区 as a nursing student, but she quickly realized that while she loved building relationships with patients, she wanted a healthcare career focused on leadership, not bedside care.
杏吧专区淚 still knew that I wanted to work in health care,杏吧专区 she recalls.
By transitioning to the online B.S. in Health Services Administration, Francis gained vital insights into the business of health care along with the flexibility to continue working as a restaurant shift leader as she pursued her degree.
Building a Foundation
Applicable coursework and meaningful connections validated Francis杏吧专区 decision to pursue health care management long before she received her diploma.
Through courses like HSA 305: Health Care Reimbursement Methodologies, she gained a practical understanding of health care systems she could take with her into the workforce.
杏吧专区淲e learned about things like Medicaid, Medicare, and other forms of insurance patients use and how billing those insurance systems works,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 really enjoyed HSA 305, particularly.杏吧专区
Francis also formed close relationships with both her peers and instructors.
杏吧专区淎ll of my professors did a good job of staying in contact with us throughout each course and helping us with whatever we needed. Plus, the class sizes were small, so I really got to know my classmates and instructors, even though it was all online,杏吧专区 she says.
杏吧专区淲hen I graduated, there were maybe 10 or 11 other people from the program who were also graduating. We took pretty much every class together, and we built a strong bond throughout the program.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淪ome of us who lived locally all went to the Graduation Expo 杏吧专区 where you try on your cap and gown and everything 杏吧专区 and walked through it together. We still stay in touch through social media.杏吧专区
Ensuring Patient Safety
In HSA 409: Heath Services Administration Capstone, students apply what they杏吧专区檝e learned through an internship or capstone project. Francis chose an internship in risk management and performance improvement at a behavioral health hospital.
杏吧专区淚 really fell in love with risk management through my internship,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was nice seeing the different aspects of the job. No two days are the same.杏吧专区
At the end of her internship, the hospital offered her a part-time job as a risk management and performance improvement assistant. Five months later, she accepted a full-time offer as a risk manager for one of the hospital杏吧专区檚 sister facilities, a residential psychiatric treatment center.
As risk manager, Francis oversees a range of duties, including writing and processing incident reports, ensuring compliance with state and federal guidelines, and continually assessing her facility for potential risks to patient health.
杏吧专区淥ne of the things I do is perform what we call 杏吧专区榮afety catches,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 she explains. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檒l walk around the facility and inspect different rooms just to make sure that there杏吧专区檚 nothing that could potentially pose a risk to a patient.杏吧专区
Her favorite part of the job, she adds, is the human side.
杏吧专区淢y facility is a long-term inpatient facility, so I love getting to know and interact with our patients when I can.杏吧专区
Blazing New Trails
When Francis accepted her B.S. in Health Services Administration degree during UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Fall 2024 commencement exercises, it marked a profound milestone.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 a first-generation college student and the first of my eight siblings to earn a degree. It felt great to make my family proud at graduation.杏吧专区
Francis hopes to continue advancing her education and career by earning her master杏吧专区檚 degree in health care administration. Her ultimate goal? Becoming a hospital CEO.
Become an administrative leader in health care through UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online bachelor杏吧专区檚 in health services administration.