(left to right): Tiffanie Clawson, Apprenticeship and Training Representative, U.S. Department of Labor; Tara Hillman-Macleod, Manager of Clinical Services, Grace Health; and Russell Davis, Michigan State Director, Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor
Tiffanie Clawson and Russel Davis of the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship provided Tara Hillman-Macleod of Grace Health with a Certificate of Registration of Apprenticeship Program. Grace Health is partnering with Career Step and Michigan Works to provide a Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program.
Career Step, an online provider of career-focused education and professional training, will provide online training for Grace Health employees who would like to become medical assistants.
“We are very pleased to bring our Medical Assistant program to Grace Health to provide quality training for their employees,” said Glade Tidwell, Career Step Vice President of Academic Partnerships. “This opportunity to train as a medical assistant will allow those who enroll to advance their career and move toward a more secure future.”
Michigan Works provides services and support to Michigan’s workforce development system. Grace Health will provide the tools for people to become successful and Michigan Works and the YOU (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) Program will try to help them get a paying job. Grace Health’s and Michigan Work’s partnership will make our community stronger by providing training and employment for the community.
“Youth Opportunities Unlimited and Michigan Works! Southwest is honored and excited to be working side-by-side with Grace Health on their new Medical Assistant program. We would like to thank Grace Health for including several of YOU participants in this program,” said Eric Stewart, Director of YOU.
It will take staff 6 – 7 months to complete the program and be eligible to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification exam. The Grace Health Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program offers class time as well as hands-on training and clinical experience all designed to equip employees to function as medical assistants.
“This Medical Assistant program will give our employees the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to prepare them to sit for the CCMA national certification exam,” said Dr. Peter Chang, Grace Health President/CEO. “It is exciting to increase employment opportunities and develop our workforce to provide quality care for our patients while giving them a career pathway in healthcare.”
Grace Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and has been serving Calhoun County since 1986, providing care to 1 in 4 County residents. Just over 128,000 services were provided in 2017 for almost 32,000 patients, averaging about 500 new patients each month. Approximately 70% of patients seen at Grace Health either have Medicaid or are uninsured. Grace Health employs just over 340 staff.
The Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program begins periodically. If you are interested in the program, contact Grace Health Human Resources at 966-2600.
(left to right): Peter Chang, MD, MPH, President/CEO, Grace Health; Lori Mendicino, MBA, Regional Account Executive, Career Step; Tara Hillman Macleod, Manager of Clinical Services, Grace Health; Amanda Terpenning, MA, Grace Health; Jill Wise, CMPE, Vice President/COO, Grace Health; Courtney Frantz, RN, Grace Health; and Sandy Schulte, LPN, Grace Health.