To help undergraduate students take their education and experience to the next level, the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health assists Miller’s Health Systems with recruiting for their Administrator in Training (AIT) program.
In the AIT program, participants complete the required core curriculum, are paired with experienced administrators, and train in various locations over a six- to eight-month period to gain exposure to the many facets of the long-term care industry. The program ultimately prepares participants to pass the state and federal licensure examinations required to become a Health Facility Administrator (HFA).
“The goal is to teach the AITs the state and federal regulations of a long-term care facility, as well as all aspects of operations from resident care standards to business office functions,” said Jaima Eisenhauer, executive director of staff development at Miller's Health Systems. “AITs will spend time training in all departments of the facility operation.”
Eisenhauer explained that an AIT’s initial responsibility is to learn, working through different departments to gain knowledge and experience in the various positions. For example, in one position, an AIT might work side-by-side with dietary staff preparing meals, and in another position work alongside an administrator to prepare a budget or review financial statements. As a BS in Health Services Management student, having the opportunity to develop these skills is important.
When recent BS in Health Services Management graduate, Caitlan Kotowski, first heard about the opportunity in one of her courses, she worked closely with the BSHSM program director, Sarah Johnson, to begin the application process.
After completing an interview on campus and a second interview on site, Caitlan was accepted into Miller’s AIT program and started early this year. While she is still new to the program, she is already making an impression.
“In Caitlan’s short time with us, she has demonstrated exceptional organizational and communication skills,” Eisenhauer said. “She is eager to learn and has been a great addition to our team as a future healthcare leader.”
Successful AITs have excellent communication skills, a passion to serve others, business aptitude, and are adaptable to change. The partnership between Miller’s and the Fairbanks School of Public Health makes the search for such candidates easier.
“Recruiting through the BS in Health Services Management program has been a great experience for us,” Eisenhauer said. “The process has been customized to our needs and we have been able to interact with quality candidates.”
Yet, finding quality candidates for their AIT program is often only the beginning. Miller’s Health Systems selects AITs with the hope that they will one day be successful administrators in their company, which has proven to be a beneficial strategy.
“The AIT program has a history of success, as the majority of our facility administrators and senior leadership started in our AIT program,” Eisenhauer said.
Miller’s Health Systems will be on campus to interview another round of BS students from our Health Services Management program for their AIT program in March. For more information, visit www.millersmerrymanor.com/about-us/careers/ait-program or contact Sarah Johnson at shm@iu.edu.