Partners HealthCare Allied Health Initiative
- Are you ready for a change?
- Are you interested in helping others as you advance professionally?
- Check out the Partners HealthCare Allied Health Initiative: We will get you where you want to go!
- What is the Partners Allied Health Initiative?
- What careers will be included in the initiative?
- What services will this program offer?
- Who is eligible to participate?
- What if individuals are interested, but not sure for which allied health career they are best suited?
-
The concept of preparing for college on one’s own time with computer-based tools is exciting. However, what if an individual lacks the computer skills to use the tools provided?
- Many of the college courses that are required to prepare for a career in healthcare can be very challenging.
- Subjects, especially Math and Science, can be very hard for individuals who have been out of school for many years. Will there be available resources for participants having difficulty with these or other subjects?
- Balancing one’s current job and family responsibilities with the demands of a college program can be difficult. Are there any resources to help participants deal with this issue?
- How will the advanced modality certification program work?
How do interested Diagnostic Radiographers get involved?
- What if individuals are currently enrolled in pre-requisites courses, or even in an allied health program? Are they still eligible to participate in this new initiative?
- When does the program start?
- Who can I contact for more information?
What is the Partners Allied Health Initiative?
- The Allied Health Initiative is a career advancement program for employees interested in pursuing a career in allied health. The initiative will assist employees to prepare for and successfully complete an allied health educational program, while helping to address hospital staffing shortages in several important patient care areas. Employees will receive assistance in career exploration and planning, preparation for college, time management and study skills. The program also offers online advanced modality classes for Radiologic Technologists who are interested in pursuing certification in MRI, CT and Mammography. The initiative is funded in part by a grant from The Boston Foundation to Partners HealthCare affiliates based in Boston. Participating affiliates are: MGH, BWH, Faulkner, and Partners Continuing Care including Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and skilled nursing facilities.
Back to Top
What careers will be included in the initiative?
There are over 160 healthcare careers defines as “Allied Health.” This initiative focuses on those non-nursing patient care specialties that are in demand at Partners Hospitals. These careers include, but are not limited to:
What services will this program offer?
- The program offers the following services to participants:
- Career guidance and academic/educational counseling provided by onsite career coaches and clinical career experts from each hospital
- Various seminars and workshops offered in collaboration with hospital career development programs
- Online resources that will provide assessment, academic skill development and tutoring
- The grant will also help to fund the development of advanced modality courses (CT, MRI, and Mammography) for individuals who are currently Radiographers and who are interested in gaining certification in one or more of those areas.
The program does not provide financial assistance; however, interested individuals may contact their Human Resources representative to learn of educational financial assistance available through their employer.
Back to Top
Who is eligible to participate?
Employees of MGH, BWH, Faulkner, and Partners Continuing Care, ( Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, North End Health Center and the Boston Center), as well as employees working in Partners Corporate offices are eligible.
Employees must be in good standing based on affiliate guidelines. Employees must also be:
- Interested in a career in Allied Health
- In need of one (1) to three (3) years of pre-college preparation before enrolling in an Allied Health program or
- Currently enrolled in college courses or an accredited Allied Health education program or
- Employed as a Radiologic Technologist and interested in gaining certification in MRI, CT, or Mammography
Back to Top
What if individuals are interested, but not sure for which allied health career they are best suited?
Employees accepted to the program will meet with a career coach to discuss options and create a career plan. Career coaches and hospital career experts will help individuals to research and decide on the best program for them based on their interests as well as the preferences of the hiring managers at the various hospitals. The Partners in Career and Workforce Development website is an excellent resource for career exploration. Please check it out at: www.partners.org/pcwd
The concept of preparing for college on one’s own time with computer-based tools is exciting. However, what if an individual lacks the computer skills to use the tools provided?
Once accepted into the program, participants will work with their assigned career coach, who will have access to digital literacy courses. The coach will guide the participant to the most appropriate resources to gain the skills required to participate in web-based learning.
Back to Top
Many of the college courses that are required to prepare for a career in healthcare can be very challenging. Subjects, especially Math and Science, can be very hard for individuals who have been out of school for many years. Will there be available resources for participants having difficulty with these or other subjects?
Yes! Partners has contracted with a company called “SMARTHINKING” to provide online tutoring in various subjects-including the math and science courses required by virtually all of the Allied Health professions.
Balancing one’s current job and family responsibilities with the demands of a college program can be difficult. Are there any resources to help participants deal with this issue?
Yes. The coach, manager, and various allied health professionals will be available to participants as they proceed through the steps required to achieve their career goals. Workshops and other resources will also be provided to help individuals with general study and time management skills.
Back to Top
How will the advanced modality certification program work? How do interested Diagnostic Radiographers get involved?
Diagnostic Radiographers should let their managers know of their interest in the program. Managers will decide on eligibility based on the guidelines set by individual departments. Managers will have access to the program information, and will refer appropriate individuals to the Allied Health Initiative Director for enrollment and support
What if individuals are currently enrolled in pre-requisites courses, or even in an allied health program? Are they still eligible to participate in this new initiative?
Yes. This initiative is designed not only to interest employees in allied health careers, but also to accelerate the progress of employees who are taking college-level courses. Employees who are currently in college will benefit from career coaching and online tutoring as well as other program supports.
When does the program start?
The program will begin in October 2007.
Back to Top
For more information:
- For general information on the Allied Health Initiative, please contact MJ Ryan, Workforce Development Manager and Allied Health Initiative Director: 617-724-1269 or email: mjryan@partners.org.
- For specific questions regarding how the program will be implemented at each affiliate, please contact the career coach assigned to that affiliate:
- BWH employees: BWH Workforce Development: 617-713-3738 or Geoff Vercauteren, Career Coach: 617-713-3744 or email: gvercauteren@partners.org.
- MGH, SRH, NERNC, and BCRSC employees: Dena Lerra, Career Development Coordinator/Career Coach: 617-585-2811 or email: dlerra@partners.org.
-
Faulkner Employees: Mary Duggan, Education Coordinator, 617-983-4634 or email: mduggan5@partners.org
Back to Top
