44% of medical practices say Medical Assistant is the hardest position to recruit for. There are an estimated 114,600 job openings for Medical Assistants each year.
Given the high demand, it’s an ideal role to implement an Incumbent Upskilling program for recruiting. Additionally, with Medical Assistants receiving a median annual wage of $42,000, the program represents upward mobility for many employees.
UnityPoint Health is a hospital network in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. They employ more than 32,000 compassionate and knowledgeable team members, with over 8 million patient visits each year. Their hospitals have received awards both for their patient care and social responsibility.
However, 85% of healthcare facilities have been dealing with a shortage of allied healthcare professionals. To maintain the high level of care UnityPoint Health patients expect and fill vacancies faster, finding creative ways to increase the pool of qualified applicants became essential.
Close the Skill Gap
Industry-recognized Credentials
Time and Cost Effective
UnityPoint Health (UPH) created Career Pathways, an innovative workforce development initiative to increase patient care career opportunities. Through MedCerts Partner Solutions, they offered an expedited online-based educational program for the high-demand allied health role of Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.
Current UPH team members were invited to apply. The tuition for students accepted was 100% subsidized by UnityPoint. Additionally, UPH supplied laboratory materials, academic support and paid all students a salary for 40 hours a week for the duration of the program.
The accelerated coursework featured MedCerts video-based instruction including virtual simulations and engaging games. It also included a 5-part clinical component administered by UnityPoint.
100% Completion Rate
3 cohorts or 39 students total have both started and finished the UnityPoint Health Medical Assistant Career Pathways Program since September 2023.
Job Ready Faster
The program took 3-6 months to complete, with students finishing in as little as 14 weeks. All 39 students completing the program were promoted to Medical Assistants at UPH.
97% Employee Retention Rate
A year after the program began, only one participant no longer works at UPH, showing showing the program making a positive impact on employee retention.
All Students Certified
The program also paid for 1 attempt at the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification examination, administered through the National Healthcareer Association. All 39 students passed the exam, the final step before being placed in open UPH Medical Assistant positions.
“We’ve tried other Medical Assistant programs, but they typically took around two years as students balanced work and their studies. With the new program and MedCerts, employees can advance to Medical Assistant positions in just 14-16 weeks.”
Taurie Curry, Navigator, Career Pathways, UnityPoint HealthSupplemental Income Key
Career Pathways providing both tuition and supplemental income to program participants minimizes the risk for students wanting to start a career at UPH. Dedicated time was set aside during the normal work week for students to work on their MedCerts coursework instead of their current roles. For existing UPH employees looking for career advancement, there was literally no downside to participating
“Thanks to the Career Pathways program, I was able to go from a UnityPoint Health receptionist to a certified clinical medical assistant in only 4 months. It’s changed my life a lot, and I’m very blessed and fortunate.”
Alyssa Eifert, Program Graduate, UnityPoint Clinic, Internal Medicine
MedCerts training programs focus on the in-demand, entry-level healthcare industry. In the Greater Kansas City area, UMKC TalentLink works directly with healthcare employers to establish a partnership with MedCerts.
Together, we can address your ongoing need for qualified talent and build a talent pathway. Upskilling existing employees can be a cost-effective, value-added strategy. Over 1,000 healthcare employers have MedCerts students on staff right now.
UMKC TalentLink and MedCerts offers three distinct Employer Partnership options to directly address vacancies and build talent pipelines.
Contact Jake Akehurst, Executive Director at UMKC TalentLink to learn more
