Trip To Orlando

Finally the date for my second trip to Orlando is here, this time it was a different feeling taking the drive. I actually look forward to getting a firsthand looks on how UCF Student Health Services Center Health Information department operates different from a regular hospital HIM department. It was also more exciting for me to visit my school for the first time; as an online student, I had no to reason to visit the school prior to this visit. As you walked into the building it is just what I imagine it to be; a few windows with glass screen like a doctor’s office. Inside the building my fellow classmates gather with Thea Reyes, Academic Advising Coordinator for our HIIM program as we waited for Dr. Mary Schmidt-Owens, Associate Director, Medical Health Administration to arrive and give us a tour of the facility.
We received a warm welcome from Dr.
Schmidt-Owens and a brief description of the setting of the building and the services that were offered. As we started the tour I realized it was not what I assumed, the center has just about everything that was needed in health care under one umbrella, there was a full operated pharmacy, a full staff for all the different departments, dental care; specialty care . The different departments have a color coded section such as Gold Pod for sports medicine was our first point of contact; it is easy to imagine why sport mean the possibility of injury which needed close and easy access right next to it is the radiology. The settings of the different department show that they plan patients need perfectly for each department location.
It was interesting to know that the center makes the extra effort to have a physical and massage therapy department through a third party to be on campus making it convenient for students.
Interestingly also was that everything is done in-house such as marketing, referral and victim advocate just to name a few. The facility has a welcoming setting and an inviting feelings. In addition, there is International Student, Insurance that is required by the FL Board of Government for all international students.
We were then introduced to Donovan Williams – Coordinator of Administrative Service who gave us a tour of the Health Record Department. It was motivating to know that the department employed students from the HIIM program, which gives them an opportunity to have gained experience in the department since it is one of those departments that students cannot volunteer due to HIPAA guideline on patient privacy. Students who work in this department have the opportunity to experience the different sections of medical record duties making them more marketable when they go out into the real world to find their dream
job.
According to Mr. Williams the medical record department is approximately 99% paperless and the one percent is minor documents that are collected each on a regular basis and scanned into the system the same day. I came into the career change at a later time in my life and was skeptical about how much will I be able to offer and how long will I be able to work after finishing school, hearing Mr. William spoke so highly about their quality control personnel who is in her 80’s motivate me more to work harder to accomplish my goal and not to second guess myself. I am enthusiastic and thankful for the opportunity to visit it makes a significant difference in my life.