‘Workforce Investment Board trains 150 residents…’

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The Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County has allocated $390,596 to fund skills training for jobs in the health care industry. Programs funded include critical care training for registered nurses, Resident Assessment Instrument/Minimum Data Set Process training, certified phlebotomy technician, certified EKG monitor technician and medical assistant courses. … (Continued below) …

… From the Highland Community News, March 5, 2010, ‘Workforce Investment Board trains 150 residents for employment in the health care industry; Board prepares skilled workforce for one of nation’s fastest growing employment sectors … (Continued below) …

… The programs will train 150 residents, adding to the more than 2,000 residents currently in training programs funded by stimulus dollars administered by the Workforce Investment Board. Health care, aviation, manufacturing, transportation and environmental technology have been identified in the county as industry sectors yielding future growth and employment opportunities. The Workforce Investment Board’s goal is to train 4,000 residents for jobs in these sectors.

“The Board of Supervisors is supporting programs that train county residents for vocational sectors positioned for growth and will help them gain the skills needed to re-enter the workforce,” said Chairman and Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ovitt. “Building a workforce that meets the needs of existing and emerging companies will help us attract and retain businesses and encourage greater economic stability.”

Approximately $60,000 was obligated to San Antonio Community Hospital to train 20 newly graduated registered nurses in critical care. The training will provide instruction to entry-level nurses in the specialized knowledge, skills and experience they need to provide critically ill patients with optimal care. Upon completion of the training, students will be prepared to work as critical care or emergency room nurses.

Plott Health Care was granted $5,100 to train up to 10 current employees in Resident Assessment Instrument/Minimum Data Set Process (RAI/MDA), a computerized clinical assessment instrument used in nursing facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Coordinating the RAI/MDS is a federally mandated responsibility of registered nurses involving clinical assessment and this training will prepare Plott Health Care employees for administrating the assessment to patients.

Certified phlebotomy technician courses have been funded with Chaffey College and Victor Valley College to train students on how to draw blood. The Chaffey College course will advance the skills of 20 incumbent Kaiser Permanente employees currently working as laboratory assistants. Approximately $23,000 was obligated to the 10-week course, which is scheduled to begin on July 22.

The phlebotomy technician course offered by Victor Valley College will train 45 students beginning on August 24. More than $133,000 was obligated for this course, which will provide 185 hours of instruction and take place over a 16-week period. Both courses will prepare students with the skill set to pass the phlebotomy license exam.

“Helping our unemployed residents transition into fields that show current and future workforce demand is critical to our economic recovery,” said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. “The health care industry offers a variety of employment opportunities and I will continue to support training programs that create pathways to better paying jobs locally.”

Victor Valley College was also granted approximately $70,000 to offer a certified EKG monitor technician course to train 30 students on how to set up and run an electrocardiogram. The 32-week course will provide classroom, lab and clinical training to teach students to recognize changes in EKGs, heart blocks, hypertrophy, infarction, and how to react in emergency situations. The course is scheduled to begin on June 22.

The medical assistant course is being offered by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Regional Occupational Program. The 12-week course will provide 30 students with 450 hours of instruction in administrative and clinical study competencies, including lab techniques, clinical procedures, medical terminology and medical office procedures. Approximately $123,000 was obligated to the course. Once completed, students will receive a state certificate and several certificates of competency from various industry associations. The course is scheduled to begin on April 1.

“The Workforce Investment Board is expanding local programs for skills training and is doing everything it can to provide assistance to those who have lost jobs,” said Sandy Harmsen, executive director of the Workforce Investment Board. “By assigning funds to health care related training we can satisfy the needs of our employers and produce viable employment opportunities.”

Recruitment for these programs will begin in early spring. For more information, contact the Workforce Investment Board at 800-451-JOBS.

About the Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County:

The Workforce Investment Board of San Bernardino County is comprised of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. It strives to develop skills of the county’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations.

The Workforce Investment Board, through the county’s Economic Development Agency and Workforce Development Department, operates the county’s Employment Resource Centers and Business Resource Centers. The Employment Resource Centers provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life, and the Business Resource Centers support and provide services to the county’s businesses including employee recruitment.

Link to online article: http://www.highlandnews.net/articles/2010/03/05/news/doc4b9199054d90f959741393.txt

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