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The thought of a college math class makes Alba Garcia anxious. But the medical assistant and women’s health counselor at Brookside Community Health Center is overcoming her fear in a new program offered at BWH.
School at Work began at BWH this September, affording employees the opportunity to improve job performance through academic skills. Garcia, who plans to go to college for a nursing degree, and seven other BWHers have enrolled in the free program sponsored by Workforce Development.
“I think this class will help give me a better idea of what to expect in the nursing program,” Garcia said. “Especially math—it gives me a chance to practice a little more.”
Human Resources has been working to bring School at Work to BWH for the past year. “The program is incredibly popular, novel and structured specifically for health care,” said career coach Geoff Vercauteren, who instructs the course. “This is a building block for people to strengthen their abilities.”
Hospitals throughout the country use School at Work to prepare employees for entrance to college and to take the next step in their careers. The program offers blended learning, using DVD class instruction, workbook and online activities to benefit people who learn in different ways.
“The SAW Program demonstrates our commitment to provide development opportunities to our employees and ensure that those employees have a place to progress within the organization as they continue to gain additional skills,” said Lisa Ponton, JD, vice president of Human Resources.
So far, the group has been learning skills like time management, writing to-do lists and proper studying habits. Over the next eight months, the course will tackle math, grammar, reading, writing, medical terminology and basic anatomy and physiology.
“The class is challenging. It makes you think, but it doesn’t rush you,” said Patricia Fuller-Murray, a unit coordinator on Shapiro 7, who has been at BWH for ten years and aims to enroll in college courses for medical billing and coding. “Geoff the career coach is great. He guides you and makes you feel comfortable, and you can always call him and meet with him.”
The course is two hours a week, and Workforce Development works with the employees’ managers to help them fill the position during those hours, if needed. “We provide backfill in departments that need it during these times,” said Beverley Sobers, director of Workforce Development. “Individuals who participate in School at Work are paid for the time they are in class through Workforce Development, so they don’t have to use benefit time.”
“I couldn’t pass up this opportunity,” said Fuller-Murray, who has received the full support of operations supervisor Florence Connolly and nurse manager Alison Gilmore, MSN, RN.
Garcia said that her manager, Beth Scanlan, NP, is extremely supportive. “She’s always telling me that I will be a great nurse,” said Garcia, who, like Fuller-Murray, is encouraging her co-workers to sign up for the next class.
Vercauteren said he hopes to offer two simultaneous sessions of the program next year to accommodate more participants. “We’re committed to this program,” he said. “And the participants are, too. They see the value to their lives and where it can take them.”