Blugolds prepare to be long-term healthcare leaders

“We know that leadership matters,” says Dr. Jennifer Johs-Artisensi, health care administration (HCAD) program director at UW-Eau Claire. “The person at the top oversees everything, makes sure that rules are being followed. They’re driving the culture; they are setting the tone for what are going to be the core values of this organization.

“When you do your job well and create a good culture, all the rest of the pieces fall into place. You have happy patients, happy families and happy employees, and you get to feel really good about the positive difference you are making in the world.”

As the country faces a shortage of healthcare administrators, UW-Eau Claire has the only program in the state that satisfies Wisconsin nursing home administrator license requirements and is one of only 11 programs in the country accredited by the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators.

UWEC has had an HCAD program for more than 40 years, and been accredited for over 20 years, preparing prepares Blugolds to step into leadership roles in the long-term care industry upon graduation.

“The need for trained business professionals in long-term care will continue to increase as the U.S. population ages,” says Dr. Lisa Jepsen, dean of the College of Business, noting 70% of adults ages 65 and older will need long-term care during their lifetime. “We need people who can create sustainable business models for an industry that supports the dignity of our seniors.”

The HCAD program averages about 160 undergraduate students, with about 45 graduating each year. UW-Eau Claire statistics indicate more than 90% of HCAD graduates are employed in healthcare leadership roles prior to or within six months of graduating. Every member of the 2023-24 graduating class was either employed in healthcare leadership or continuing their education.

Long-term healthcare organizations are keenly aware of UW-Eau Claire’s strong HCAD program as many partner with the university in the Center for Health Administration and Aging Services Excellence (CHAASE) on campus. At the center, university experts collaborate with provider organizations and professional associations to develop relationships across the senior care landscape to give students unique high-impact experiences, both domestic and international.

Multiple long-term care facilities partner with UW-Eau Claire on residency programs in a student’s final year of the HCAD program, where undergraduates are able to observe and learn management styles as they work to develop their own leaderships skills. 

Johs-Artisensi compares the leader of a healthcare organization to the conductor of an orchestra.

“You don’t have to be an expert at how to play every instrument, but it’s helpful to know something about each instrument,” Johs-Artisensi says of the analogy. “Your job is to bring those different parts together to make a beautiful song. Or in healthcare, bring all those different disciplines together to deliver quality care.”

Senior healthcare administration major Kami Krumenauer of Eau Claire, who is in a residency program at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls, says the residency allows fourth-year students to “see what it’s actually like to be an administrator” as they obtain a year of paid work experience before they graduate. Students are able to experience first-hand what they had learned about in the classroom.

“You have the opportunity to live and breathe in the career that you are going into,” says Krumenauer, who will graduate in May 2025. "It is valuable to be in real-world situations and learn how to adapt to whatever comes your way. I knew unexpected challenges would come up, but there are still moments that catch me by surprise."

Wisconsin Veterans Home executive director Katie Plendl, who has worked at the facility in various positions since it opened 11 years ago, has been a preceptor for Blugold administrative residency students for three years to help prepare future administrators for a career in healthcare, especially in long-term care.

“We’ve always seen it as a benefit for the university, for the students, for the people we serve here within our walls,” says Plendl, who graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 2010 with a music therapy degree before transitioning into administration. “We get to benefit the industry as a whole and make sure there is growth within the industry, that there are people to continue to care for residents in long-term care for many years.”

The Wisconsin Veterans Home has a strong working relationship with UW-Eau Claire’s HCAD program, Plendl says, and Blugold undergraduates have a solid foundation of knowledge that they can build upon throughout their residency. Many students take the opportunity to volunteer in senior living and long-term care settings through the university before beginning their administrative residencies.

“The coursework prior to residency is important for them to grasp in a controlled setting, then the residency allows them to apply that knowledge during real-world situations,” Plendl says.  “They can then use their leadership skills, deductive reasoning, and best judgment while in the residency to gain more perspective, they can ask peers in their cohort how they handle situations at other residency sites, they can talk to their preceptor or other team leaders to better understand best practices, and ultimately prepare them better for when they are able to lead in their own building after graduation.”

Johs-Artisensi says it’s remarkable how residency students grow from being nervous about starting their senior year of college to a future administrator confident they are ready to run a healthcare organization.

“If you have a head for business and a heart for caring, there is a place for you in healthcare administration,” Johs-Artisensi says. “You really do have to have both of those skill sets. When our students have a good education and a strong heart, they are going to be in demand and can be really successful.”

Johs-Artisensi leads national organization

Johs-Artisensi was recently named chair of the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards, which promotes public protection along the senior living and health services continuum through enhanced professional standards

“I think this role can show UW-Eau Claire is filled with smart people doing interesting things as we connect with partners outside the university,” Johs-Artisensi says. “As a researcher, I like to use data to drive decision-making, and I’m excited to use my knowledge and expertise to advocate for standards that promote quality care and make a positive difference in people’s lives.

“The problems that are easy to solve are solved, so we’re left with the hard complex problems to solve. I’m convinced more so than ever that all of the people and information exists to solve our problems. We just have to figure out how to make it happen. We need to listen to each other more, we need to understand each other more, and we need to work together to make things happen.”

Johs-Artisensi is the first academic leader to be named chair of NAB as the organization continues to diversify into different lines of service, says Michelle B. Grachek, NAB president and CEO.

“Her expertise, breadth of knowledge across the various service lines and strong intergenerational communication skills are an asset which are very much needed at a critical time for NAB," Grachek says of Johs-Artisensi.