Role of Hospitals: UK Health Care

Man standing on podium and speaking through microphone. Behind him is the American flag and a poster board featuring the Gerrard County Lions High School Logo and name. To the right of man on the podium is another man sitting down in a table listening.

UK HealthCare views community partners as “a large part of who we are.” The Healthcare Jumpstart Program is a partnership between the health system, Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) and school districts in the state to support students interested in a health care career and also to increase interest in the health care field. In addition, the program will establish a workforce pipeline “to fill critical roles at UK Healthcare and across Kentucky.”

The Healthcare Jumpstart Program offers students an accelerated path to a nursing career by “providing resources and learning opportunities to earn dual credit while in high school so that they can get a head start on their college education,” according to the UK HealthCare announcement. The dual-credit courses are prerequisites for an associate degree in nursing, or ADN.

Students who successfully complete the program at BCTC will be eligible for tuition scholarships and guaranteed employment at UK HealthCare. Program leaders say that Jumpstart students would be able to earn their ADN in less than two years after high school, preparing them to work as a registered nurse. Advanced practice providers from UK HealthCare will teach some of the BCTC courses. According to Mark F. Newman, M.D., UK HealthCare executive vice president of health affairs, “By providing young students with the educational and financial resources to pursue a health care career at an accelerated pace, we’re reinforcing our commitment to creating a healthier Kentucky on every level.” Read more about the program.

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