Healthcare Academy: Building a skilled workforce

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Because the community and healthcare providers experienced this workforce shortage, high school leaders and the College began collaborating on solutions.

Partnerships between local high schools, healthcare providers and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) are helping to address the need for a skilled healthcare workforce in our local community.

New Hampton has experienced an acute shortage of healthcare employees. Although the town has three long-term care facilities and a hospital, they actively seek Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs), lab technicians, medical assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses.

The need for trained local people is even more important because the area is 45 minutes from eight hospitals equipped to provide critical care. Because the community and healthcare providers experienced this workforce shortage, high school leaders and the College began collaborating on solutions. A partnership was developed to build a talent pipeline through the development of the Healthcare Academy, a healthcare career training opportunity for high school students at Turkey Valley and New Hampton. The Academy has served a total of 152 students. It supports training in various healthcare courses and Career Pathway Certificate (CPC) programs at NICC, including Pharmacy Technician, CNA, Phlebotomy Technician and Direct Support Professional.

"MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center has been an amazing partner. We work with them yearly on hosting a College and Career Connection event for students that includes breakout sessions, a career panel, employment awareness and MercyOne is always willing to offer job shadows. With the support of the hospital and the high school, we hope to establish a certified Health Skills Lab in New Hampton,” said Holly O’Brien, NICC college and career coordinator.

Healthcare Academy students are enrolled through Senior Year Plus; the program offers course options, concurrent classes and Placement in College Credit (PICC) classes at low- to no cost for students. Additionally, the College, through grant funding, can offer free or low-cost summer healthcare classes such as Medical Terminology, Introduction to Nutrition and CNA. State of Iowa GAP Tuition Assistance Program funding assistance may offset tuition for Career Pathway Certificate (CPC) programs through the College.