Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) received $1.66 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to implement Workforce STAT initiatives over the past 3 years across Western Massachusetts. The goal of STCC's Workforce STAT project has been to meet regional healthcare industry needs by transforming - in an accelerated manner - large numbers of interested and willing pre-health students into a prepared, focused, well-qualified, and well-suited healthcare workforce through the following means: 1) early exposure to and awareness-building of healthcare career and coursework realities and choices, 2) hands-on simulation-based education, 3) targeted health program counseling to help students identify if healthcare work overall, and which field in particular, matches their skills, interests, and inclinations, and to foster these students so that they have the confidence and the tools to proceed quickly and strongly toward program graduation, and 4) expansion of STCC's Medical Assisting program. Through Workforce STAT the following capacity building activities have been implemented: Equipped and brought up-to-date simulation labs with lab assistants at four community colleges. Provided simulation training for faculty and lab assistants and a heightened awareness of how to use simulation in healthcare coursework. Developed and delivered an industry-informed curriculum of an entry-level hands-on simulation-based Patient Skills (3) college-credit course to would-be healthcare career seekers at all four community colleges. Developed and delivered high school one-day Medical Encounter learning events and teaching materials. Provided advising/career counseling training to project Targeted Counselors. Delivered Targeted Counseling to students in pre-health and healthcare programs. Established the geographical expansion of the Medical Assisting program at Greenfield Community College. Workforce STAT consisted of 16 partners from four western Massachusetts counties: the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, Franklin/Hampshire Regional Employment Board, and Berkshire County Regional Employment Board| Springfield Technical, Holyoke, Greenfield, and Berkshire Community Colleges| Baystate Health, Berkshire, Holyoke, and Mercy Medical Centers| Springfield Public Schools| The World Is Our Classroom| Mason Square Veterans Outreach Center| MassAHEC Network (Area Health Education Centers)| and the Health Careers Opportunities Project (HCOP). Workforce STAT concludes in August 2012.
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