Health IT workforce program graduates 2,280
This month, 2,280 health IT professionals will graduate from the Community College Consortia to Educate Health IT Professionals program, with 3,000 graduates expected by the end of summer, according to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).
These graduates are part of a broader ONC workforce development program that also includes university-based training, health IT competency examinations and the development of a college-level health IT curriculum, the ONC stated.
Many graduates of the Community College Consortia program are midcareer professionals with prior backgrounds in healthcare or IT, the ONC said. The health IT training provides these professionals with the knowledge to work with providers and hospitals to adopt and achieve meaningful use of EHRs.
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) appropriated $2 billion for health IT programs, including funding for workforce development programs intended to address a need for 50,000 more health IT professionals nationwide. ARRA funds support several key health IT professional development initiatives authorized by the HITECH Act.
The Community College Consortia is made up of five regional groups including 82 member community colleges in all 50 states. By the end of their course of study, students are certified in one of six health IT roles.
The Community College Consortia is on course to graduate an estimated 7,000 health IT professionals by year’s end, ramping up to 10,500 per year by 2012, the ONC added.
These graduates are part of a broader ONC workforce development program that also includes university-based training, health IT competency examinations and the development of a college-level health IT curriculum, the ONC stated.
Many graduates of the Community College Consortia program are midcareer professionals with prior backgrounds in healthcare or IT, the ONC said. The health IT training provides these professionals with the knowledge to work with providers and hospitals to adopt and achieve meaningful use of EHRs.
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) appropriated $2 billion for health IT programs, including funding for workforce development programs intended to address a need for 50,000 more health IT professionals nationwide. ARRA funds support several key health IT professional development initiatives authorized by the HITECH Act.
The Community College Consortia is made up of five regional groups including 82 member community colleges in all 50 states. By the end of their course of study, students are certified in one of six health IT roles.
The Community College Consortia is on course to graduate an estimated 7,000 health IT professionals by year’s end, ramping up to 10,500 per year by 2012, the ONC added.