REB Receives $200K Award
to Bridge Healthcare Skills Gap (April 2, 2010)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that in
the decade between 2008 and 2018, job growth for clinical laboratory
workers will exceed 14%, a rate that is “faster than
average for all occupations.” The BLS also predicts that
the number of job openings in the field will continue to exceed
the number of those entering the field.
To address the critical
need for clinical laboratory workers in the Metro North region,
the REB has joined forces with Lahey Clinic, Hallmark Health,
and Middlesex Community College (MCC) to establish the Metro
North Healthcare Partnership. With a $200K grant that was recently
awarded to the REB by Commonwealth Corporation, the Partnership
will implement a long-term, multi-pronged strategy.
The award
will be used identify and develop solutions to meet the growing
need for additional training and education in clinical laboratory
science. Specifically, these efforts will involve: supporting
the development of a career ladder, which will build on the
requirements necessary for future Medical Laboratory Technician
(MLT) Certification options; providing opportunities for 20
unemployed and incumbent workers to earn a certificate through
the existing Phlebotomy Program at MCC; hiring qualified consultants
to develop a Clinical Laboratory Assistant Certificate Program;
exploring course requirements that would allow individuals
with a BS degree to be eligible for certification as a Medical
Laboratory Technician; and exploring the viability of an additional
MLT Associate’s Degree within the region.
To ensure a
positive impact over the long-term, the Partnership will also
expand membership to include all of the major healthcare institutions
within the Metro North region. This expansion will serve to
ensure the ongoing viability and effectiveness of the Partnership,
as well as cultivate an enduring linkage between organizational
members and the Metro North Career Centers.
Periodic updates
of the Partnership’s progress will be made available
on this Web site.
[Return to News & Announcements]
|
