The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a contract with Boston Reed College to offer certification courses next semester in Electronic Health Records System Technologist and EKG Technician through the TUSD Adult School.
The Health Records Tech class will be online based and the EKG Tech class will be classroom based.
Adult School Principal Alice Pollard said the courses were selected for curriculum incorporation based on a needs assessment from the Stanislaus County Economic Development and Workforce Alliance.
“After speaking with (the Alliance) it was determined there is a definite need in these two areas of the medical field. Modesto Junior College has dropped their EKG program and counselors were looking for places to send students,” she said.
Both courses will offer certificates of completion and will prepare students for state testing and certification requirements. The EKG course will cost students about $2,100 and the Health Records Tech will cost $3,600. Enrollment in the EKG class will be limited to about 30 students per semester. The spring 2012 semester will begin Jan. 23, 2012 and registration for classes opens on Jan. 9, 2012. Catalogs will be delivered to Turlock and surrounding area homes around Dec. 26.
Alliance WorkNet Development Director Jeff Rowe said the courses could very well fill employer needs in the coming months and years. Rowe noted that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is opening a 1,700 bed prisoner hospital in December 2013. Also, the Veterans Administration will be opening an outpatient clinic in Modesto by 2014.
“Our population is aging and in general healthcare has been a growing demand area even during a recession, it is growing. In statewide projections there will be about 500 new jobs each year for EKG technicians and 630 per year for health information technicians,” said Rowe. “Before investing time and money I would encourage potential students to do research on their own. Call local healthcare providers and find out what their needs will be.”
To contact Jonathan McCorkell, e-mail jmccorkell@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.
