Northeast State Community College and State of Franklin Healthcare Associates (SOFHA) collaborated to create a new regional apprentice program for healthcare professionals.
The new certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) apprenticeship program requires 2,000 on-job-learning (OJL) hours. Apprentice candidates will complete 163 related technical instruction hours of coursework. Each apprentice will be paired with a journeyworker mentor during their on-the-job training.
The College’s Office of Workforce Solutions welcomed the four new apprentices Elizabeth Benjamin, Anna Cowan, Bethany Damiani, and Caitlyn Flynn, all of whom are currently employed with State of Franklin Healthcare Associates. The students and SOFHA staff members signed their apprenticeship agreements at a ceremony held on September 19 at the SOFHA Med Tech Park facility in Johnson City. Signing the institutional apprenticeship agreement were Northeast State President Dr. Jeff McCord and SOFHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Moulton.
“This is our first apprenticeship for medical professions,” said Dr. McCord. “We have been sponsoring apprenticeships for almost a decade, but this is a brand-new frontier for us, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. A CCMA’s duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice. Course topics include patient care; communication; office administration; medical law and ethics; phlebotomy; and EKG monitoring.
This marks the first U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program for Northeast State outside of the traditional advanced manufacturing and construction industry programs. The College’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Kingsport staff has forged apprenticeship agreements with industries across the region.
McCord said the apprenticeship model delivered on three educational foundations: on-the-job learning, classroom learning, and mentorship. The new apprentices already serve patients in a variety of capacities at SOFHA.
“I’ve worked more behind the scenes in billing and coding, but I want to be more with patients,” said Benjamin, a medical coder and biller at SOFHA. “I want to finish this and enroll at Northeast State to pursue my registered nursing degree; I’m hoping to take this knowledge forward and become a travel nurse in the future.”
After successfully completing OJL and related technical instruction the apprentices will receive their certificate of completion from the Department of Labor. The certificate is recognized nationally across the healthcare industry. Additionally, apprentice candidates completing the program become eligible to take the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) test.
“My long-term goal is to go as high as I can until I can’t,” said Flynn, a PSR and phlebotomist with SOFHA Walk-in Clinic.
Northeast State worked with the U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship to create the Registered Apprenticeship program. As a DOL registered apprenticeship sponsor, Northeast State provides the structure and processes for employers of all sizes to take advantage of this proven workforce development model.
“We are honored to be part of this partnership,” said McCord. “Northeast State is committed to workforce development across all sectors of our regional economy. It’s how we can best contribute to the advancement of prosperity.”
(From left) Dr. Jeff McCord, Elizabeth Benjamin, Anna Cowan, Bethany Damiani, Caitlyn Flynn, and Dr. David Moulton.
Northeast State Community College and State of Franklin Healthcare Associates (SOFHA) collaborated to create a new regional apprentice program for healthcare professionals.
The new certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) apprenticeship program requires 2,000 on-job-learning (OJL) hours. Apprentice candidates will complete 163 related technical instruction hours of coursework. Each apprentice will be paired with a journeyworker mentor during their on-the-job training.
The College’s Office of Workforce Solutions welcomed the four new apprentices Elizabeth Benjamin, Anna Cowan, Bethany Damiani, and Caitlyn Flynn, all of whom are currently employed with State of Franklin Healthcare Associates. The students and SOFHA staff members signed their apprenticeship agreements at a ceremony held on September 19 at the SOFHA Med Tech Park facility in Johnson City. Signing the institutional apprenticeship agreement were Northeast State President Dr. Jeff McCord and SOFHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Moulton.
“This is our first apprenticeship for medical professions,” said Dr. McCord. “We have been sponsoring apprenticeships for almost a decade, but this is a brand-new frontier for us, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. A CCMA’s duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice. Course topics include patient care; communication; office administration; medical law and ethics; phlebotomy; and EKG monitoring.
This marks the first U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program for Northeast State outside of the traditional advanced manufacturing and construction industry programs. The College’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Kingsport staff has forged apprenticeship agreements with industries across the region.
McCord said the apprenticeship model delivered on three educational foundations: on-the-job learning, classroom learning, and mentorship. The new apprentices already serve patients in a variety of capacities at SOFHA.
“I’ve worked more behind the scenes in billing and coding, but I want to be more with patients,” said Benjamin, a medical coder and biller at SOFHA. “I want to finish this and enroll at Northeast State to pursue my registered nursing degree; I’m hoping to take this knowledge forward and become a travel nurse in the future.”
After successfully completing OJL and related technical instruction the apprentices will receive their certificate of completion from the Department of Labor. The certificate is recognized nationally across the healthcare industry. Additionally, apprentice candidates completing the program become eligible to take the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) test.
“My long-term goal is to go as high as I can until I can’t,” said Flynn, a PSR and phlebotomist with SOFHA Walk-in Clinic.
Northeast State worked with the U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship to create the Registered Apprenticeship program. As a DOL registered apprenticeship sponsor, Northeast State provides the structure and processes for employers of all sizes to take advantage of this proven workforce development model.
“We are honored to be part of this partnership,” said McCord. “Northeast State is committed to workforce development across all sectors of our regional economy. It’s how we can best contribute to the advancement of prosperity.”
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