Project Summary

Frontline workers received training in health care informatics to handle Asante’s rapidly changing information technology needs, including the emergence of electronic medical records.

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“Personally there is a boost of confidence. It kind of changed my outlook on my whole
life because going from not going to school, college—not feeling like I could—
to now, I feel like I really know what I’m doing in my job.”
—Frontline worker, Asante Health System
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Asante Health System and Rogue Community College developed a one-year Health Care Informatics Assistant Certificate of Completion, equivalent to one-half of an Associate’s of Applied Science degree. Two workers per term participated in the program, receiving instruction online and through courses offered at the workplace and on campus. Courses covered clinical and technology content (e.g., anatomy and physiology), database management, operating systems, medical records, and medical terminology. Workers undertook work-based learning assignments for several courses.

Participants received two days of paid educational release time each week. They used the time to study, attend classes at Rogue Community College, or participate in work-based learning activities at Asante. They had opportunities to job shadow and received support from a college guidance counselor. They also received support from supervisors acting as job coaches, mentors, and preceptors for the work-based learning component of the training. Workers who did not have the prerequisite skills to enter the program first participated in remedial coursework, typically in lower-level math, writing, and computers.

Training Outcomes

  • 25 frontline employees engaged in training; 15 earned a certificate of completion.
  • 7 employees took on health informatics tasks at work. Some were promoted to new full-time positions in health care informatics. Others earned a higher rate of pay when performing informatics-related activities.

Benefits to Frontline Employees

  • A higher rate of pay when performing informatics-related activities

Benefits to Employers

  • Asante met its health care informatics needs and provided an internal career ladder opportunity for workers.
  • Asante retained nearly every worker who enrolled in training.

Changes to Institutional Practice

  • Asante created the health care informatics position and increased pay for informatics-related activities.
  • Rogue established the one-year certificate of completion in health care informatics and the two-year Associate’s of Applied Science degree in computer support with a health care informatics option.