Ochsner Health System and the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) have partnered to expand the successful Ochsner Medical Assistant Training Program to the River Parishes.
This program is a tuition-free Medical Assistant training and development program targeted to the unemployed and underemployed of St. John, St. James and St. Charles parishes through funding provided by the River Parishes Workforce Development Board and the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Launched in New Orleans in 2013, the four-month Medical Assistant Training Program features accelerated classroom, clinical and on-the-job training and addresses both the need for certified Medical Assistants (MAs) and the need to build additional career pathways. Additionally, the program includes training for students to be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). More than 550 MAs are currently part of the Ochsner team, and they play an increasingly important role in healthcare delivery. These professionals are typically the first and last to see a patient, taking vitals and translating patients’ concerns to the physician before circling back at the end of the appointment to take questions and schedule follow-ups.
“As the healthcare landscape continues to change, there is an ever-growing need for well-trained healthcare professionals,” said Missy Sparks, PhD, associate vice president of talent management, Ochsner Health System. “Programs like the Ochsner Medical Assistant Training Program are important in creating opportunities where they may not have existed before and identifying the next generation of healthcare professionals. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring this impactful program to the people of the River Parishes community.”
To be eligible to apply, the applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalency, successful completion of drug screen and criminal background check and ability to commit to the 20-week program. After successfully completing the program and hiring requirements, 100% of the graduates will have the opportunity to interview for positions and 75% or more will be hired as a full-time Medical Assistant at one of the Ochsner Health Centers in the Southeast Louisiana area.
Since its inception, more than 100 individuals have completed the Medical Assistant Training Program and 94 percent are still part of our team today. Additionally, more than 400 Ochsner employees have received additional MA training to further develop their skills and increase their scope of practice.
Enrollment for the spring 2017 session is now open and there will be two informational sessions open to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling. For more information on the Ochsner Medical Assistant Training Program, please email workforce@ochsner.org or call LWC at 985-783-5090 or 985-331-3795