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Clinical Participation Requirements

Health Informatics undergraduate students participate in one 3-credit internship and one 3-credit capstone course that facilitate a deeper understanding of the professional practice aspects of health information and related health-care areas. The overall goal of the immersive experiences is to provide students with practical experiences to apply their knowledge and skills that they develop as they progress through the HI curriculum.

The HIM Department has affiliation agreements with approximately 125+ clinical sites for student internships. The following list provides a sample of sites which recruit and/or host internships for HI students:

  • 3M/M*Modal
  • Adelphoi Village
  • Allegheny Health Network
  • Athena Health
  • Central Ohio Trauma System
  • CVS/Aetna
  • Deloitte
  • Geisinger Health System
  • goShadow
  • Grant Thornton Consulting
  • Highmark
  • HM Health Solutions
  • Infinitus
  • KPMG
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Merck
  • Neighborhood Resilience Project
  • Omnicell
  • Pitt CTSI
  • Southwest Veterans
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC Health System
  • UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
  • UPMC Physician Services Division
  • Western PA Patient Registry

Prerequisites for Clinical Internship:

University and SHRS COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements and Information

The University of Pittsburgh requires that all affiliates on all campuses be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students and postdocs (the “Participants”). This program also requires some Participants to complete clinical education at facilities external to the university. Many SHRS clinical partners require Participants to be compliant with the federal vaccination requirement. This requirement typically includes providing to the clinical site proof of vaccination or an approved exemption. Failure to comply with this requirement for clinical partners may preclude Participants from completing the clinical requirements of this program. Some of our clinical partners will not accept Participants without proof of vaccination and will not accept exemptions.

Criminal History/Child Abuse Clearance

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and SHRS clinical partners require some Participants to complete criminal history and child abuse clearances pursuant to PA Acts 33/34 and 73. Our clinical partners reserve the right to prohibit a Participant from participation in clinical rotations if information contaminated in the criminal records submitted cause reasonable concern about the Participant’s competency or trustworthiness.

Health Insurance

Participants are not covered by the University of Pittsburgh for Worker’s Compensation Insurance. In the unlikely event of illness or injury at clinical or field experience, these Participants are responsible for all costs; therefore, health insurance is required to participate in clinical activities.

Health History

Participants are not permitted to begin clinical rotations until they have provided a health examination, TB test, and proof of immunity through blood titers for verification of immunizations. The cost of the health assessment and verification of immunity is the responsibility of these Participants and may not be covered by health insurance.

Influenza Vaccination

Many SHRS clinical partners require Participants to receive an influenza vaccination. Failure to comply with this requirement for clinical partners may preclude Participants from completing the clinical requirements of this program. Some of our clinical partners will not permit Participants to complete clinical rotations without proof of vaccination and will not accept exemptions.

Release of Information

Our clinical affiliation agreement requires the program to submit verification of Participants meeting the requirements of the agreement or to submit the actual documentation providing evidence that the Participants meet the requirements of the facility.

Additional Information:

  • Travel to internship sites is the responsibility of the student.
  • All expenses for transportation, parking, meals, and costs of prerequisites associated with clinical education are the responsibility of the student.
  • Approximate cost for clearances is $100 annually, and costs for physical exam and immunization status are dependent on health insurance coverage and provider costs.
  • Approximate cost for drug screen is $40.

For more information on internships, contact Patti Anania Firouzan, HI Clinical Education Coordinator: patti@pitt.edu.