Alumni spotlight: Hailey Hunziker

Employer: American Senior Communities
Current position: Business Office Manager
Location: Indianapolis
Degree(s): BSHSM, IUPUI, 2022

Why did you choose your major/program?
I wanted to step into the administrative side of healthcare. I’ve always been a leader of sort and wanted to combine that with my passion for healthcare.

Briefly describe your career path.
I started out in the business office manager in training (BOMIT) program at American Senior Communities in late December 2022 and completed my training in July of 2023. There were no open facilities within reasonable distance at that time, so I took a step back from the company and started as an administrative assistant at The Stratford, a continuing care community, in August 2023. I was approached by my old business office specialist from ASC about an open position at in one of her buildings and she offered me the opportunity to step into that role in November 2023. I have been at the facility, Spring Mill Meadows, since then.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
I start my day with my morning census to account for all payer types, room numbers, and a full head count of all of the residents currently in the facility. If we have new admissions, I set up and confirm all payer types in our EHR to ensure proper billing. I am in charge of the accounts receivable portion of our facility’s operations, so I will post cash, follow up on outstanding accounts, and speak with residents and family members about different payment options. Being over accounts receivable also includes daily communication with insurance companies ensuring that they are continuing authorization for the rehabilitation residents that are covered under managed insurance companies (Anthem, Humana, United Healthcare, etc.) as well as sending updates to Medicaid to continue coverage for our long-term residents.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
I would tell my college self to expect the unexpected. I had always thought I would go into pediatrics or family medicine. Long-term care was never a sector of healthcare I had seriously considered before and I had only thought about going into it after taking a course my final semester, but after working in it now for over a year, it is so fulfilling. I get to work with some of the most interesting people and care for residents and family members that I never would have met outside of this.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
There are so many amazing sectors of healthcare to go into that you just have to find the right one for you.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I became a manager and an important figure within my organization in my first year after graduating. This is something I never pictured for myself and I am so grateful and proud of all I’ve been able to accomplish so far. It does trigger a sense of imposter syndrome, but I am reminded daily by my colleagues, employees, and executives that I am exactly where I am meant to be and I have earned this.

What’s next for you?
There is so much room to grow within American Senior Communities that I do aspire to work for our corporate office down the line, but I am still settling in to my current position. I want to stay where I am to learn and grow into the professional I strive to be.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
Being able to experience so many different sectors of healthcare and getting a better view of what I wanted to do after graduation. Chronic and Long Term Care Administration with Gary Brumitt was one of the most eye-opening courses I had taken. It truly drove my decision to go into to long-term care and I do still reference my notes from time to time to get a refresher.