Initiative:
Addressing Healthcare Access: Health Care Workforce Shortage
District funds committed to date:Purpose:
To support the development of a strong, local healthcare workforce.
A well-trained and accessible workforce is the cornerstone of the health delivery system. The ability of our region to thrive economically is also forever linked to the availability of a high quality, skilled workforce. Charting the Course: A Coachella Valley Healthcare Workforce Needs Assessment was commissioned by the Desert Healthcare District in 2009 (click here for the report).
As part of our commitment to support the healthcare workforce needs of the region, the Desert Healthcare District has been working in collaboration with local hospitals, educational institutions, workforce development, local healthcare industry partners and the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership to expand and enhance the pipeline for new healthcare workers.
The District has awarded grants to expand and equip local healthcare teaching facilities, create new certificate and degree programs, enhance teaching capacity, develop healthcare industry councils, research and prepare technical studies, support career exploration for students and fund nursing and health career scholarships. Future registered physicians, nurses, licensed vocational nurses, therapists, managers, teachers, techs, and other allied health workers are helping to fill the pipeline as a result of these collaborations and grants.
College of the Desert Training
2003 to 2014
GOAL: Fast track evening and weekend nursing program ($150,000)
STATUS: 2003
GOAL: Endow the director of nursing position, which cements the ability to recruit, admit and educate students
STATUS: 2007-2009
GOAL: EMT medical training
STATUS: 2013-2014
Expanding Teaching Facilities
2003 to 2024
GOAL: Build Health Science Building
STATUS: Completed 2006
GOAL: RN to BSN Program
STATUS: 50 Cohorts achieving their Bachelor of Nursing Degree
2004 - 2007 & 2008 to 2011
GOAL: iHub Accelerator Campus – development of the Health and Medical Innovation Center
STATUS:
GOAL: Develop residency training programs and clinical clerkships in partnership with Desert Regional Medical Center, Borrego Community Health Foundation, the Riverside County Family Care Center and other healthcare facilities
STATUS:
GOAL: Build a telemedicine infrastructure in the District that will link students and medical residents at District locations to the education programs in Riverside and beyond, as well as enable telemedicine consults for FQHC patients to specialists outside the region
STATUS: