Research Intern - Medical Services Initiative (unpaidinternship)
Name and Location of Agency/Department Requesting Intern:
Health Care Agency
Medical Services Initiative Program
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Interns may be requested to attend meetings at other locations depending upon availability and tasks assigned.
Functions of Agency/Department:
Medical Services Initiative (MSI) is Orange County’s safety-net program for low-income adults providing primary, preventive, and emergent medical services through a public-private partnership between the Orange County Health Care Agency and community health care providers.
MSI covers primary and specialty medical care for Orange County eligible residents 19 through 64 years of age who have no other resources for medical care. Currently, the MSI program includes more than 45,000 members who receive care from MSI’s network of 23 hospitals, 22 community clinics, and over 3,000 primary care, specialty care, and ancillary care providers.
Intern Duties/Responsibilities:
The intern will provide staff and project support to the MSI Associate Administrator for the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Readiness project. This grant funded project will provide training and web-based technical assistance to the MSI primary care network. Work will include: assisting with development of project materials, coordinating training schedules, communicating with the training consultant and provider offices, and logistical support for training events.
Additionally, the position will assist MSI research staff with database development and management (e.g., data entry, configuration and cleaning), data analyses and data interpretation on a number of projects as needed, including the CalOptima Transition project.
Higher-level assignments within the division will be available as opportunities arise.
Educational Requirements:
The position is best suited for upper-division college students, graduate students and recent graduates with an interest/academic background in health care administration, statistics, public health, public health administration, or related fields.
Skills, Training or Qualifications:
Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to analyze and research information and prepare reports and other correspondence; experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel and Outlook.
Time Commitment:
Minimum 10 - 15 hours per week for 6 - 9 months. Scheduling is flexible but should be done in 4 – 8 hour blocks of time, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. We expect the chosen candidate to adhere to a consistent schedule throughout the internship. Applicants able to schedule the maximum hours/duration listed for this internship typically gain a more in-depth experience.
Training and Supervision:
Intern will receive training from a supervising Associate Administrator in the planning, coordination and management of grant activities throughout the course of the PCMH implementation project. The intern will also receive training in data management, including the development of databases, data validation and manipulation to produce analyses for the MSI program. The intern will also receive training in creating summary reports and presentations for the PCMH Advisory Council and other professional audiences.
Benefits Available to Intern:
Although this is an unpaid position that does now lead to permanent employment, interns will enhance their skills in health care administration, statistics, and analytical writing and the chance to work with a public healthcare program that will be transitioning as part of the Affordable Care Act (Health Care Reform) in January 2014.
