School at Work (SAW) "Building a Career Ladder in Health Care" Program Graduates Record Number in the 13 Chicago-Area Hospitals in 2010

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Catalyst Learning Co. (CLC) has begun its graduation ceremonies for more than 140 working adult students at 13 hospitals in Chicago for the School at Work (SAW) "Building a Career Ladder in Healthcare" Program. This is a national record for one city and is an example of a workforce development program in action, servicing participants and health care needs. The SAW project was strongly supported with funding from Central States Service Employment Redevelopment (SER) and the Chicago Department of Community Development (DCD). The project provided front-line, incumbent health care workers with the education, skills and confidence to advance in their careers, opening up other academic opportunities for these workers to enter nursing and other fields.

An example of rapid success for participants in SAW can be found at Saint Anthony’s Hospital on Chicago’s Southwest side. Their first 2008 graduates moved up into higher-paying health care careers where there have been shortages, and, by setting an example of achieve from possibility, the Metropolitan Chicago Health Care Council recommended that DCD fund a citywide expansion of SAW up to 150 employees.

Participating hospitals in the SAW project are: Advocate South Suburban, Children’s Memorial Medical Center, Sinai Health System, Norwegian-American Hospital, Our Lady of Resurrection, Resurrection Medical Center, Roseland Community Hospital, South Shore Hospital, Saint Anthony Hospital, St. James Hospital and Health Centers, Swedish Covenant Hospital, and University of Chicago Medical Center.

The students generally achieve high levels of self-esteem and are motivated to take action to train and seek higher education to achieve higher-paying health care positions at their hospitals, explained David Hanson, executive director of DCD’s Business Development Services unit. This, in turn, opens doors to possibilities within their lives and their neighborhoods, he added.

The SAW program has been highly successful nationwide, and stories of graduates are inspirational. Elizabeth Snow King participated in School at Work at Williamson Medical Center, and was recently promoted from housekeeping to unit secretary in the hospital’s critical care unit. She said, "I saw an improvement in myself that I didn’t think possible."

Jazette L. Moffitt is a 2009 graduate of SAW at Saint Anthony Hospital. This Medical Claims Analyst credited the experience with improving her quality of life. "It caused me to think on a larger scale about what I want to do for my children, my employer, and helped me know that I can achieve a goal if I plan and prepare."

These adults have been able to learn skills that set them up to achieve their goals and serve their communities in ways they only imagined. "This Chicago project affects the most residents in an urban area in SAW’s history. SAW will continue to graduate its recent participants in the Chicago region through October this year and it has maintained workforce development opportunities that continue expand in the area’s hospitals due to growth and retention," said Lynn Fischer, CLC CEO and founder.

"I commend SAW leaders in all our hospitals and the students for their dedication to excellence in health care. Together, we are making Chicagoland a better place to live, work, and raise families," according to Mayor Richard M. Daley’s recent letter to Michael Englehart, CEO of Advocate South Suburban Hospital, and all the participating CEOs. Advocate South Suburban Hospital completed its graduation ceremony in August.

The average graduate will see an increase in income to their bottom-line salary from participation in this program, contributing to the city’s overall economic development as well quality health care services. On average, approximately 17 percent of the project participants will receive a job advancement within 90 days of graduation, according to company numbers. From the same data, an additional 33 percent will eventually enroll in continuing education.

Completed and Upcoming Graduation Dates Announced:
Swedish Covenant Hospital– 8/24
Saint Anthony Hospital – 8/26
St. James Hospital and Health Centers – 9/8
South Shore Hospital – 9/10
University of Chicago Medical Center – 9/30
Mercy Hospital & Medical Center – 9/30
Resurrection Medical Center & Our Lady of the Resurrection – 10/5
Advocate South Suburban – 10/6
Children’s Memorial Medical Center – 10/6 (tentative)

Catalyst Learning Company, a health care workforce development company based in Louisville, KY, is the provider of School at Work, Expanding your Career and Health care Opportunities and CareerCare. SAW and ECHO are career development systems for entry and mid-level employees. The programs use a blended learning model, involving the Internet and DVD technology, peer discussion, and personal coaching. CareerCare is a web-based career planning tool designed exclusively for the health care industry. These products support Catalyst Learning’s vision to dramatically increase the number of hard-working adults who are able to achieve the American dream. Learn more by visiting www.catalystlearning.com.