NEW ORLEANS CAREER CENTER HELPS TURN PANDEMIC JOB LOSSES INTO NEW CAREERS
70 Adults now working as Patient Care Technicians at Ochsner Health and LCMC Health
NEW ORLEANS, La., January 18, 2021 – Since March 2020, nearly 100 adults have completed the Adult Rapid Reskill program conceived by New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) Executive Director Claire Jecklin. This no-cost program has enabled dozens of hospitality workers unemployed by the pandemic go to work in new career paths as Patient Care Technicians (PCTs). Anyone who passes the PCT credentialing test at the end of the program has a guaranteed job offer from a local healthcare organization. Four cohorts of adults ages 19 to 66 have already completed the program, 86 percent of whom are working in PCT positions at Ochsner Health and LCMC Health. A fifth cohort finishes at the end of January.
“It was immediately clear that NOCC was uniquely qualified to help solve two urgent problems created by the pandemic: enormous job losses in our community, and an urgent need for healthcare workers as institutions filled with COVID patients,” said Jecklin. “We already had the credentialed teachers and the employer relationships. Together, we were able to stand up a quality program that has put locals back to work, and, helped ease some of the healthcare workload by adding qualified patient care staff.”
Less than 30 days after statewide shutdown orders were issued, Jecklin, the NOCC staff, and a talent management official at Ochsner Health co-designed and launched the Adult Rapid Reskill program to train and certify PCTs, a position widely seen as an early stepping-stone to becoming a nurse. Entergy provided startup funding to launch this program.
“Thanks to our partnership with NOCC, we were able to turn challenges into opportunities for our organization and for several of our community members,” said Tracey Schiro, Senior Vice President of Risk Management and Chief Human Resources Officer, Ochsner Health. “The necessity for a trained healthcare workforce has never been more important, and this program and similar initiatives can provide our neighbors with fulfilling, stable career opportunities. We look forward to providing more training and resources to our community.” Missy Hopson Sparks, Vice President of Talent Management at Ochsner, co-designed the program with Jecklin.
To date, Ochsner has sponsored three cohorts of adult trainees. LCMC Health has sponsored one cohort; their second group starts Feb. 1st.
“LCMC Health is committed to investing in our community during these difficult times,” said Greg Feirn, CEO, LCMC Health. “Our hospital system serves the healthcare needs of the community, many of whom are part of the hospitality industry. Through this exciting new program, we can address the needs of two valuable local workforces and industries.”
According to the National Healthcareer Association, the credentialing body for allied health and patient care workers, NOCC tested and credentialed the highest number of individuals into these professions in Louisiana in 2020. Last year was NOCC’s first entry into adult workforce training.
About New Orleans Career Center
New Orleans Career Center serves as the technical and career prep hub for Orleans Parish public high school juniors and seniors. Students attend half-day at their own school, and half-day at NOCC. In 2018, NOCC welcomed its first class of 124 into three credential/certification pathways – healthcare, hospitality, and engineering/manufacturing. This year, more than 300 juniors and seniors are pursuing expanded career certifications and credentials at NOCC. NOCC has trained 725 high school students since its founding in 2018.