Mercy Health Center offers School at Work program

Mercy Health Center has announced a new opportunity for its employees to advance their careers with the organization.

School at Work is a 21st century workforce development system that brings education and career advice to loyal employees of the health center.

The program provides participants with the skills to move ahead, either by going back to school or seeking a promotion within the hospital. Participants can choose to move ahead in one of four career areas; nursing, allied clinical, clerical and support services.

According to a company statement, School at Work is an opportunity for the health center to grow its workforce and increase its diversity in nursing, allied clinical and front-line leadership positions.

Managers at other Mercy locations that offer the program have reported fewer attendance issues, as well as improvements in confidence, attitude, and job performance. There is no cost to the employee or the department, the statement said.

Although the program does not guarantee a promotion, an average of 17 percent of participants are promoted to a higher level position within 90 days of completing the program, the statement said.

Mercy's goal is to begin the School at Work classes the first week of July with a planned completion date near the second week of March 2011. Before being accepted as a student in the program, each employee must take and pass the Test of Adult Basic Education.

By providing School at Work, Mercy emphasizes retention and advancement of employees in entry-level positions into nursing, clinical, clerical and support roles, the company statement said.

The School at Work Building a Career Ladder in Healthcare program uses the Internet, computer labs, DVDs, and staff coaching to deliver instruction. Participants review basic reading, writing and math skills, improve computer proficiency, study medical terminology, medical ethics, anatomy and physiology.

Students also develop an individual career and learning plan to follow as they attempt to reach their goals.

On a larger scale, 78 employees across Mercy's four-state service area -- Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma -- have graduated from the eight-month program this past year, and 187 employees have graduated from the program since it began in 2004.

Mercy's investment in career development through the program totals more than $260,000.