New Partnership Adds Opportunities for Healthcare Career Pathways with Pikeville Medical Center
EKCEP Commits More than $800,000 for Student Scholarships
In recent years, an unprecedented crisis surrounding workforce shortages in healthcare has created an intense focus to identify possible solutions. As a result of that focus, new partnerships have been formed and existing ones have been strengthened as new opportunities have been created for eligible Eastern Kentuckians to enter healthcare career pathways in nursing and other fields. While the entire region will benefit from these new opportunities, the immediate focus has been to relieve pressure on the staff and administration at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC).
During a joint press conference in Pikeville on July 6, details on a collaborative effort known as PMC’s Project HEART initiative were released, bringing to light the many companies and government agencies standing behind efforts to bring relief to the region’s healthcare industry. With Project HEART, core partners were brought to the table to identify ways to enroll, train, and employ up to 223 people in healthcare jobs including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical lab technicians, and certified nursing assistants. Partners in this monumental effort include PMC, Galen College of Nursing, Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC), Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (SWVCTC) and Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP).
“Pikeville Medical Center is beyond excited to see the results being created by Project HEART,” explained Donovan Blackburn, PMC President and CEO. “Project HEART is helping to create obtainable career pathways in healthcare for the people in our region. Through strong partnerships and funding, PMC has taken great strides in improving education and healthcare in Eastern Kentucky, and we anticipate much more continued success.”
The Healthcare Pathways Partnership Program (H3P) is a major part of the partnership. Through the H3P effort, EKCEP is committing to a total of more than $800,000 for tuition assistance that will help decrease the cost for eligible students to enroll and complete any of the nursing pathway training programs available through the partnership. Funding for the scholarships was made available via an H-1B Rural Healthcare Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
“We are excited about this partnership and we’re looking forward to helping eligible Eastern Kentucky residents gain access to these programs and get started on a path to a lengthy career in healthcare,” said EKCEP Executive Director Jeff Whitehead. “Healthcare in our region is a growing industry which can present many new opportunities for our workforce to build, not only a rewarding career but one that provides a self-sustaining income for local families.”
In July, Galen College of Nursing announced the opening of its new location in PMC Facilities on North Mayo Trail in Pikeville, where multiple nursing pathways will be available. BSCTC and SWVCTC will also offer degree or certifications programs at their established locations in the region. Specific programs and projected start dates include:
Galen College of Nursing
Registered Nurse
Licensed Practical Nurse
LPN-RN Bridge
Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Registered Nurse
Certified Nurse Assistant
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Registered Nurse
Medical Lab Technician
Students who successfully complete training, and all subsequent certification and licensing requirements will be eligible for immediate job opportunities with PMC. PMC is currently offering additional funding to contribute toward training costs for a student in return for a work commitment with the hospital.
PMC and EKCEP are also partnering to provide a Career Navigator located on the PMC campus available to assist students and trainees as they navigate through their career pathway or help maintain successful employment. Services can include support for costs related to transportation and childcare, or mentoring and job coaching, among others.
“There will be ample opportunities for people interested in beginning their career or continuing their education through these career pathways, with significant ongoing support along the way,” said Whitehead. “This program is designed to efficiently and effectively support students even after they complete training and move into full-time employment.”
Individuals eligible for scholarships and supportive services should live within EKCEP’s 23-county service area and fall within the eligibility guidelines of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). For more information, visit ekcep.org.
To learn more about the programs or to begin the application process, call the PMC Education Department at 606-430-3421 or contact Kimberly Albright, EKCEP H3P Grant Operations Director & Business/Industry Liaison at 606-216-5997 or kalbright@ekcep.org
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. The agency provides an array of workforce development services and operates the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, which provide access to more than a dozen state and federal programs that offer employment and training assistance for job seekers and employers all under one roof. Learn more about us at http://www.ekcep.org, http://www.jobsight.org and http://www.facebook.com/ekcep.
Pikeville Medical Center is 348-bed regional referral center and Kentucky’s only level II trauma center. PMC offers over 400 services, including every major specialty and many subspecialties, and features the region’s most advanced medical technology. PMC employs nearly 3,000 people and has nearly 400 credentialed healthcare providers. PMC’s mission is to advance the health and well-being of our region through comprehensive care in a Christian environment. PMC is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, please visit www.pikevillehospital.org.