Rural health system discusses strategies for hiring young workers

In an American Hospital Association podcast, Susan Wathen, vice president of human resources at Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, discusses how her rural facility finds and retains future health care employees. The Missouri-based health system offers apprenticeships providing on-the-job training for people without health care experience. Once individuals complete the program, they become a patient care technician ─ a similar position to a certified nursing assistant. Hannibal partners with local nursing schools to offer tuition payment in return for a work commitment post-graduation. It also offers stipends to college students who agree to work a front-line job in dietary, environmental services, phlebotomy or as a pharmacy technician.