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Who we are
THE HEALTH PLAN OF SAN MATEO (HPSM) is a local non-profit health plan that offers health coverage to San Mateo County's underserved population. We currently serve more than 140,000 county residents through several programs, with most of our members qualifying for coverage through Medi-Cal, the states Medicaid program. HPSM has more than 250 employees at our South San Francisco office and partners closely with clinicians and community organizations throughout the region.
Objective
The HPSM Summer Internship will provide an enriched educational and professional experience for those who are pursuing an education and career in the field of health care.
Internship Scope
This opportunity will provide the intern with:
Knowledge and experience in the overall operation of a non-profit community-based health plan.
Knowledge and experience in the development of programs and services that benefit our diverse membership.
Professional experience working on a specific project important to HPSM and a chance to present recommendations through both a final research paper and presentation to HPSM leadership.
HPSM Supervision
The intern will be supervised by an HPSM executive sponsor. The intern will benefit from working with a wide variety of internal stakeholders and will be encouraged to seek out and learn more about various functions within HPSM.
Internship Duration
Start date: Monday, June 3rd (flexibility to start at a later date depending on school schedule)
Duration: 10 weeks.
Hours: 16 hours per week (mostly onsite at HPSM office)
Regular business hours of HPSM are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Required Skills & Knowledge
Currently enrolled in a undergraduate or graduate degree program in public health, public policy, business administration, social work, social sciences, or related disciplines. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
Basic understanding of the fundamentals of health care and the health care system.
Solid written and verbal communication skills.
Self-starter with the ability to work independently as well as work well with others.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
Stipend
HPSM will provide the intern with a stipend of $3,200.
Location
Health Plan of San Mateo, 801 Gateway Blvd., Suite 100, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Application Process
To apply, submit a resume and introductory letter (up to two pages) answering the following questions:
1. Your career interests and reason for seeking this internship.
2. Select the project you would like to work on from the list provided and why this topic is important to you.
Please send to Internships@hpsm.org with the subject line: HPSM Summer InternshipÂ
Submission Deadline: March 29, 2019
List of Potential Projects
Working collaboratively with his/her sponsor, the intern will be provided the opportunity to work on one of the following projects during the summer internship:
1. Program evaluation protocol design in healthcare
HPSM is a nonprofit community health plan that aims to improve patient outcomes through quality improvement, care coordination, and cost containment. We continue to launch new programs in support of these goals. What is an ideal program evaluation protocol in a healthcare payer setting, and how could this be practically implemented at HPSM across a variety of programs? The student intern will research best practices and interview healthcare organizations to develop and recommend a program evaluation protocol that the health plan can implement across the multi-faceted program scope within the organization. HPSM staff will support the student in identifying resources and contact outreach for interviews that will ultimately result in a paper and program evaluation protocol guidelines for future implementation at HPSM.
2. Improving the health outcomes of HPSM members through the Use of Public Land in SM County
Through collaboration with the San Mateo County Clinics and primary care providers, explore the possibility of prescriptions for outdoor activity given to patients with chronic illness for health intervention. The summer intern will research and provide data on local parks in San Mateo County, public transportation options available, and concentration of member population. Potential internal and community partners will also be identified during the research phase of the project. HPSM staff will support the intern in identifying resources and contact outreach information.
3. Pediatric Risk Stratification for Population Health Management
What is an ideal risk stratification methodology for population health management for a young, low-income, diverse population, and how might that change as populations age? HPSM is a nonprofit community health plan with 140,000 members, one-third of which are under the age of 18. Healthcare organizations focused on improving outcomes must target high-risk patients who need to be proactively managed with targeted interventions. The process of separating patient populations into high-risk, low-risk, and rising-risk groups is crucial to the success of such organizations.
The student intern will research best practices, interview internal and external stakeholders, and review internal data. They will develop and present a paper recommending a risk stratification methodology that the health plan can implement across multiple programs and populations within the organization, focusing initially on the pediatric population.
