Creating Pathways to Healthcare Careers: The MA Apprenticeship Model

Purpose: The primary aim of this initiative is to develop a sustainable and affordable approach to expand our ambulatory care clinical workforce. By removing barriers to healthcare careers for our community, we strive to ensure that our healthcare teams reflect the diverse communities we serve.
Background: The medical assistant workforce shortage has posed significant challenges to health care, necessitating innovative methods for recruiting and retaining ambulatory care clinical employees. Medical assistant schools have reported fewer students, and many programs in our operational areas closed during the COVID pandemic. With a high vacancy and turnover rate for our medical assistants, our leadership teams collaborated to create an apprenticeship program designed to meet the increasing demand for trained medical assistants, supporting our mission to be "steadfast in serving all" at Providence.
Methods: The apprenticeship program was structured to provide both didactic education and hands-on experience. Participants were rotated across multiple specialties to gain comprehensive exposure. Preceptors were given additional training and maintained a 2:1 ratio for effective mentorship. Clear expectations were set for all participants, and a thorough interview process ensured suitable candidate selection. Internal references helped identify potential apprentices. A retention plan, including a two-year contract and career laddering opportunities, was implemented to ensure long-term commitment.
Evaluation/outcomes: The program has shown significant success in several areas. Removing barriers: By offering accessible pathways, we attracted community members into the healthcare profession. Ensuring clinical competence: Training was aligned with evidence-based practices, ensuring high-quality patient care. Decreasing transition time: The apprenticeship model reduced the time required for new medical assistants to become effective team members. Foundational experience: Participants gained robust foundational experience across specialties, preparing them for diverse patient needs. Certification success: The program achieved a 100% first-time pass rate for the NHA certification exam. Academic performance: Participants achieved high grades in the didactic program. Professional growth: The program promoted professional growth for preceptors and apprentices alike. Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Ensuring our clinical staff reflects the diverse communities we serve, reinforcing our commitment to DEI principles.
Measures of success: Overall preceptor satisfaction score: 85%. Overall apprentice satisfaction score: 95%. Program completion rate: 80%. Average scores in online program: 101%. NHA first-try pass rate: 100%.
Implications for future cohorts and other organizations: The success of this program has significant implications for future cohorts and other organizations. Key components include program structure: effective rotation setup, leadership structure, and communication channels; preceptor support: additional training, maintaining a 2:1 ratio, and clear communication structures; clear expectations: establishing and communicating clear expectations for all participants; selection process: a thorough and structured interview process to select suitable candidates; internal references: utilizing internal references to identify potential apprentices; and retention plan: implementing a two-year contract, career laddering opportunities, and strategies for long-term retention.
By addressing these elements, the program not only meets the immediate needs of our healthcare system but also provides a model for other organizations to follow. The apprenticeship program represents a proactive and effective solution to the challenges of recruiting and retaining a competent ambulatory care clinical workforce.