HCC participates in TWC training grant consortium
HCC receives more than $300,000 to train CHRISTUS
employees
Houston Community College received more than $300,000 as part of a Texas
Workforce Commission grant totaling more than $1.2 million to provide
training to CHRISTUS Health System Associates. HCC delivers technical
training for the IT staff of the CHRISTUS Health Support Center
including system managers, software engineers and computer field service
technicians. Training is also planned for nurses and administrative
staff.
HCC is an integral part of this TWC grant, which has been awarded to
Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, Texas. A consortium of
colleges will provide training to CHRISTUS Health organizations in
various regions between May 2011 and July 2012.
“CHRISTUS Health’s complex Information Technology Center provides
innovative technology to deliver the most efficient and highest quality
care possible for thousands of patients throughout our organization,”
said Karen Hale, Director, Information Management Learning &
Development, CHRISTUS Health. “The CHRISTUS Health Information
Management group will also utilize this grant opportunity to improve the
skills of our technical associates, thereby increasing their potential
career growth opportunities.”
According to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, the healthcare industry is
one of the most powerful economic forces in the Gulf Coast Region and is
expected to add nearly 110,000 jobs by 2016, an increase of 42.8
percent.
Healthcare is experiencing significant employment growth despite the
current economic downturn. Many of the healthcare occupations included
in the CHRISTUS program are identified by the Gulf Coast Workforce Board
High-Skill, High-Growth Occupations list as those most likely to have
chronic labor shortages and will be in high demand in the near future.
The overall goal of the Skills Development Fund is to increase the skill
level and wages of the Texas workforce. HCC is a major player in helping
to reach that goal.
