Locating a Placement Site and Preceptor

BSHIM students must identify a placement site and preceptor who are willing to support the student in a variety of Health Information related duties and tasks.

Students must identify their own placement site

As a University that serves students nationally, we do not have a list of sites or preceptors for students' to choose from. It is the students responsibility to secure their own placement.
The benefit of identifying their own preceptor is it fosters the networking skills critical to their success in the Field Experience activities.
Working with a self-identified site and preceptor who is personally invested in the student’s success provides a richer experience in the course and assures preceptor availability at a time and geographic location most suitable to the students needs.

Preceptors must be employed by a healthcare related host site

The preceptor serves as a mentor for the student to complete their total required hours specific to their Health Information Management degree.

Different types of placements facilities

Large Medical Facilities
Pharmacies
Consulting Firms
Insurance Companies
Small Medical Facilities
- Dental Offices
- Home Health and Hospice
- Chiropractic Offices
- General Physician Offices
- Urgent Cares

Networking with personal and professional contacts

Connecting with people and professionals in your circle is a great way to secure your placement with someone who is invested in your success.

Approaching potential sites in person

Meeting face-to-face with potential sites and presenting a copy of your resume allows you to make a good first impression.

Cold calling potential sites

Cold calling provides a great opportunity to introduce yourself, discuss your need for placement, and overall goals for your degree.

Struggling to find a placement

While it can be difficult to find a placement site, there are some additional opportunities to explore. Some of those could include smaller facilities around your area, expanding your search to neighboring cities, towns, counties etc., and being willing to explore different departments such as HR, Student Services, Volunteering, HIM, IT, Billing, Quality, Medical Records, etc.

**If you are still experiencing difficulty finding a site your Coordinate can help brainstorm further options. **

Identifying a preceptor

Must be able to provide exposure to Health Information Management processes
Cannot be your direct supervisor, manager, etc.
For PPE2, they must be someone in a management role

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