HSA 412s Service Learning Projects
Health Service Administration Program – Service Learning Fall 2014
Service learning projects give students opportunities to perform community service while fulfilling planned and purposeful learning outcomes. Students in the Eastern Kentucky University Health Services Administration (HSA) Program participated in a unique and important service learning project during the fall 2014 semester through a partnership between the HSA program and Bluegrass Community Health Center (BCHC).
The Bluegrass Community Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center, supported through grant funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The clinic currently has two locations providing complete medical care to adults and children, including counseling services, women's health and well child visits. BCHC is presently implementing a new electronic health record with a user-friendly patient portal. The portal allows patients to contact their providers, request prescription refills, update their demographic information and medical histories, and request/receive copies of their medical records.
Senior Health Services Administration students enrolled in HSA 412S were trained by Lauren Bishop, MPH, RN, BCHC Associate Director on how to communicate with patients and how to use the new portal. Over a period of weeks, students were stationed in the clinic lobbies on specified days, providing training for patients interested in learning how to use the portal. Patients especially expressed an interest in requesting prescription refills and being able to contact their providers through the use of the portal.
For many of the students, the BCHC Portal was their very first experience using an electronic health record and a patient portal. In addition to gaining new technology skills, students also learned and practiced valuable communication skills. Learning to communicate with and provide a service to patients (including non-English speaking patients) was a new experience for most students.
Karen Clancy, assistant professor in the Health Services Administration Program served as the instructor for the fall HSA 412S course. Ms. Clancy said, “This was an extremely beneficial activity for students. They gained experience working with patients and technology. Both sets of competencies are important for administrators working in healthcare today. Students also enjoyed and were motivated by the practical experience!"
Photo 1 – Left to right – Karie Howell, Sydney Schurman, Lindsey Maynard, Lauren Bishop
Photo 2 – patient Portal – Request a Prescription Refill
Photo 3 – Left to right – Haley Bishop, Brett Sparks, Lindsey Maynard
Published on November 24, 2014