Due to a growing relationship between CareerSource NEFL and Flagler Health + in St. Augustine, the hospital recently received funding through the customized training program that led to 15 graduates becoming care assistants (CA) and patient care technicians (PCT).
Carol Cullen, CareerSource NEFL industry sector manager for healthcare, said she had been in discussions with Flagler Health + Coordinator of Education Programs Angela Guerrero over several years to find opportunities to support the hospital in training new people to enter the healthcare profession.
Those discussions culminated in CareerSource NEFL becoming involved in Flagler’s Patient Care Technician (PCT) Academy last year.
“At the PCT Academy, people interested in becoming a CA or PCT who do not have a medical background can be hired, attend a six-week course, and then work as a CA or PCT,” Guerrero said. “This course is both a classroom/didactic (teaching) and hands-on class where the clinical educators teach the participants about all aspects of patient care and then take them into our simulation lab and patient care units to get the experience needed to successfully and safely take care of our patients.”
The students also learn about basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection prevention, and case studies – working alongside Flagler Health+ staff to complete their training.
With funding assistance from CareerSource NEFL, the hospital held its first on-site academy classes from July through August last year – resulting in 11 PCTs (pictured above) and four CA’s graduating from the program – who are now working independently as staff members.
“The students were enthusiastic and energetic, and we are happy to have them join our team,” Guerrero said. “We also appreciated the training support we received from CareerSource NEFL that helped us involve more students in the program.
Cullen said she and Guerrero are continuing to look for ways to provide training support to help Flagler Health + attract more people into the healthcare industry – including future involvement in the academy as new classes are assembled.