LBW Community College, Mizell Memorial Hospital and Opp High School announced the formation of a new partnership to offer health-related jobs to students of Opp High School on Friday October. 20.
An upcoming Student Care Technician (PCT) course for senior and junior secondary school pupils will start in January 2024. The course will run in a single semester. It will not just train students to become a Patient Care Technician, but will additionally expose the student through guest lecturers and field excursions, to a variety of other careers in healthcare. Students will also be CPR certified in the course.
The course will be taught at Opp High School. Opp High School campus and after completion the students will receive the career tech certification that is now required for graduation from high school. The course’s curriculum is offered by LBW and it will be instructed by a professor from Mizell Memorial Hospital. After completing the course students will receive an award of $500 to attend LBW Community College provided by the Mizell Memorial Hospital Foundation and will also be given priority consideration for jobs for employment at Mizell Memorial Hospital.
Matt Blake, principal of Opp High School, spoke at the official launch of the program.
“I would like to inform you how thrilled we are about giving our children the chance to obtain a second certification, and have the chance to make it easier to get into LBW and the workforce, and hopefully ensure they stay in our region,” Blake said.
The partnership between these three parties illustrates how beneficial these partnerships could be beneficial for students and future employers, and the general public.
“This is a fantastic chance to introduce young people to healthcare careers, and also invest in the future of the youth from our local community. I’m confident that this partnership will produce amazing healthcare workers in the coming years to help our community. I’d like to thank both Dr. Kelley and Mr. Blake for their work in creating this partnership. We are delighted to have this opportunity and are looking at the potential success which will be available by Opp High School students through this program.” Mizell Memorial Hospital CEO Mitchell Myers said.
LBW is continuing to demonstrate its dedication to training healthcare workers through this collaboration. It currently offers college-level nursing courses and also education programs for Emergency Medical Technicians and Ultrasound Technicians and Physical Therapy Assistants.
“LBW is dedicated to provide pathways in the field of healthcare that offer upward mobility. This is a significant move in the direction of our local community. The goal of the program is to offer an uncreditable Patient Care Technician course that aligns with a credential that is valuable which will ultimately lead to a position in the healthcare sector as well as a smooth integration into one of the LBW’s healthcare programs.” LBWCC President Dr. Brock Kelley said.
For more information about this brand-new Patient Care Technology program, contact Opp High School career coach Courtney Blake at 334-493-4561.
The article LBWCC works with Mizell and Opp High School on healthcare career pathways appeared in The Andalusia Star-News.
