In this course, offered by the Department of Health and Aging Services Leadership, students can get an introduction to the healthcare system and explore professional development opportunities within a healthcare-related major.
Overview of the Healthcare System in the United States
In HLTH 110, students investigate the many facets of the United States’ healthcare system to gain greater perspectives and proficiency for their future careers – whether that’s in an acute care setting (hospital), long-term care (nursing home or assisted living center), or in the community (home health organizations, adult day services, and public clinics). The class explores the continuum of healthcare settings as well as the various professionals who work across the spectrum of care. Additionally, students are exposed to the concept of teamwork - multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams - that work to provide outstanding patient and resident care.
Students also learn about the historical evolution of the health care system, including changes to payment systems and reimbursement for care, policies related to the delivery of healthcare, concepts of quality healthcare from the patient or resident perspective, and determinants of health in a given population (such as mortality, morbidity and life expectancy).
Professional Development, Mentors, and Professional Associations
For future healthcare practitioners, it is essential to consider professional growth within a person’s career. Students tailor their learning experience in HLTH 110 based on analyses of professional interests and abilities, with assignments geared at helping students explore relevant careers of interest. The course also includes discussion of job search strategies and job evaluation, and encourages students to think about desired and required elements of a future career to have a better “fit” with their prospective employer.
HLTH 110 also discusses, in depth, the value of discipline-specific mentors to aid a student in further professional growth. Professional associations are examined and presented to students to aid in continuing education for licensure, selection of a prospective mentor, and resources that associations provide to their membership to ensure competent, ethical practitioners in multiple health care settings. This class also discusses governmental licensure requirements for various healthcare professions and covers information related to professional licensure or examining boards in Kentucky.
Panels: Bellarmine Faculty Members and Louisville Healthcare Employers
To enhance students’ learning experience, panel presentations have been incorporated into the HLTH 110 course. Students interact and network with Bellarmine faculty from the various health-related departments – both undergraduate and graduate – in the College of Health Professions:
- Athletic Training
- Exercise Science
- Health and Aging Services Leadership
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Nursing
- Physical Therapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Respiratory Therapy
Department chairs and program directors of these programs share their own career trajectories, explain the academic possibilities at Bellarmine, and inform students about the various opportunities that exist for employment following the students’ time at Bellarmine, including preparation for graduate school for those students wishing to pursue an advanced degree.
In addition, students also get to hear from prospective healthcare employers in the Louisville area through an employer panel, facilitated by the Bellarmine Career Development Center. Past employers who’ve attended and engaged with students include Atria Senior Living, Baptist Health, BrightSpring Health Services, Norton Healthcare, U of L Health, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. The Career Development Center staff present relevant, practical career advice to further aid students in their professional development and enhance their success with future employers upon graduation.
Creation of an Individual Professional Development Plan
Last but not least, as part of the course, students participate in two separate healthcare-related career assessments and craft a tailored Professional Development Plan for themselves. Assignments during the semester aid students in finding materials and information to incorporate into their plan. Using all of the material covered in the course, as well as content from the panels’ guest speakers, students think through their academic major, career interests, and work experiences to design an actionable plan that prepares them well for a future career. Each finalized plan includes students’:
- Strengths and opportunities for growth;
- Goals for their academic experience and future career;
- Mentors to aid in personal and professional development;
- Experiences to better prepare students for their career; and
- Resources relevant and germane to their selected discipline.
Enroll in HLTH 110 Today
The HLTH 110 course will be offered this summer! For JCPS Academies students, there will be two available sections running from May 24, 2021 – June 24, 2021 (Summer II). For KCTCS and Bellarmine students, there will be two additional sections offered from June 28, 2021 – July 29, 2021 (Summer III). The class meets once per week on Tuesdays over each of these 5-week summer sessions.
Through discussions with the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Academies of Louisville, KentuckianaWorks, and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), Bellarmine University is offering KCTCS and JCPS Academies students free access to a 1-credit course, titled Introduction to Healthcare Professions (HLTH 110), to learn more about a future career in healthcare and gain college credit at the same time. Click here to register.