SNMIC, Area Heath Education Center, CSN team up for training program
LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition (SNMIC) has partnered with the Area Health Education Center of Southern Nevada (AHEC) and the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) to launch the Southern Nevada Healthcare Industry Education, Training and Employment Project.
The project combines the workforce development experience, educational and employment resources of the three partnered organizations to provide entry-level health career training for the program’s clients.
“The project is intended to enable clients to pursue a career in the health care field thus reducing our critical shortage of healthcare workers,” said Marcie Jackson, CHES, deputy director for AHEC. “With unemployment rates over 13 percent in Las Vegas, job training programs like this are a vital component to economic recovery.”
Established in 1989, AHEC of Southern Nevada has become Southern Nevada’s primary source of education, support and information resources regarding healthcare professions and consumers in urban under-served, rural and frontier communities. AHEC strives to improve quality healthcare through education and outreach and striving toward a culturally diverse workforce.
AHEC provides programmatic and fiscal management, case management and job development services for the project.
CSN will offer four programs to individuals in the Workforce Development Program including training for emergency medical technicians, phlebotomy, certified nursing assistants and health unit coordinators.
“This effort is truly demonstrating that potential workers can be case managed through initial assessment, education and then placement into a healthcare job,” said Dr. Hyla Winters, PhD, RHIA, interim associate vice president of academic affairs for CSN. “These jobs help not only local employers but the families of these students. CSN is proud to participate.”
Established in 1971, CSN is the fourth largest two-year college of its kind in the United States and Nevada’s largest institution of higher learning. Each semester, CSN, which educates a professional and technology savvy work force, registers nearly 40,000 students. The College employs over 2,800 people while operating three main campuses and 11 academic centers and sites in four counties.
SNMIC’s involvement includes conducting outreach and marketing for the program.
“SNMIC exists to provide better access and delivery to health care in Southern Nevada, and by fostering a program that encourages individuals to pursue careers in the health care field, not only are people who may not have options in other fields given a new career path, but the health care system is strengthened,” said Doug Geinzer, who serves as chairperson of SNMIC’s Board of Directors. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
SNMIC exists to provide a collective voice to improve access and delivery of quality health care in Southern Nevada by fostering strategic alliances in the health care community, collaborating on human resource issues, and by acting as a proactive force for legislative improvements.
Founded in 2002, SNMIC is a 600-plus volunteer organization committed to improving the quality of life for the residents of Southern Nevada now and in the future. SNMIC stands as a collective voice to ensure improved access and delivery of quality health care to the rapidly growing region and focuses on legislative improvements, human resources and strategic alliances.
Southern Nevada Healthcare Industry Education, Training and Employment Project targets clients that include adult, dislocated workers as well as unemployed and underemployed persons, recipients of public assistance, low-income individuals, seniors, veterans and disabled. The program focuses on the healthcare industry because of the shortages of entry level and advanced healthcare workers combined with the high unemployment rate in Southern Nevada.
Workforce Connection, formerly known as the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board, awarded a $1.1 million contract to AHEC, SNMIC and CSN for the project.
For more information on the Southern Nevada Healthcare Industry Education, Training and Employment Project, visit www.snahec.org or www.snmic.com.