A Quarterly On-line Publication of the Central New York Area Health Education Center

Supporting today's health care workforce...
growing tomorrow's

Winter 2008

General Info

• CNYAHEC's Mission
• CNYAHEC's Board of Directors
• CNYAHEC's Service Area Map
• Meet the CNYAHEC Staff 
• CNYAHEC Calendar of Events
• Our NYS AHEC Partners
  
  

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In This Issue

• AHECs Receive DOH & DOL Funding
• Nurse Essay Contest
• InService Solutions
• Summer Camps
• My Health Career
  
  

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CNYAHEC is
a partner in the New York State Area Health Education Center (NYS AHEC) System. 

Welcome to CNYAHEC's first edition of Pulse!

We're pleased to present to you the first issue of Pulse, CNYAHEC's first e-newsletter.  Now in its 7th year of operation, CNYAHEC continues its mission to improve access to quality health care by promoting improvements in the supply, training, development, and distribution of health professionals in our 14-county region.  We invite you to visit our website for a more detailed look at who we are.

We hope you'll enjoy reading about the latest happenings at CNYAHEC and look forward to being of service to you!

Joanne Race Borfitz
Executive Director, CNYAHEC

 The Latest:  AHECs Awarded Funding for Health Care Workforce Development

The Central New York Area Health Education Center (CNYAHEC) and the Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center (R-AHEC) are pleased to announce the receipt of sizeable grant funding from the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Department of Labor.  The funding will support ongoing programs and services to assist workers employed at health care facilities impacted by the Berger Commission in its 2006 report, or by other economic factors.  In response to anticipated changes in the health care workforce, CNYAHEC and R-AHEC sought funding that would support services alleviating any detrimental impact on central and western New York health care.  Twelve central New York health care facilities were targeted for restructuring by the Berger Commission, potentially impacting a significant number of employees. “We’re thrilled to be awarded these grants,” says Joanne Race Borfitz, executive director of CNYAHEC.  “We look forward to working with key stakeholders to create an outstanding system of services for impacted workers.”  

Eighteen western New York health care facilities have been identified for restructure, with some slated to close. “Impact is already being felt throughout our communities as two nursing facilities closed in December.  We’ve already begun to work with about 70 impacted employees from these facilities.  In fact, available grants will fund a pre-LPN and LPN course starting in January 2008,” says Kim Davy, special projects coordinator for R-AHEC. “One of our goals is to ensure delivery of services to create positive outcomes for people who are faced with these changes. There are tremendous opportunities here.”

The grants allow CNYAHEC to serve a 23-county region, and R-AHEC to serve an 8-county region.  Partners in the project include Northern Area Health Education Center, Erie Niagara Health Education Center, numerous One Stop centers, Workforce Investment Boards, health care facilities, unions, and training and educational institutions. “Partnering with people and resources in our communities is the key to making this all come together,” says Davy. “It’s exciting to see what this teamwork can accomplish for our participants."   

Impacted health care workers will have the opportunity to receive free career counseling, skills assessment, training, and job placement services through the AHECs.  These services will allow impacted workers to obtain other suitable employment or acquire additional skills as they transition into new positions in the health care arena.    

CNYAHEC and R-AHEC will also focus on retaining workers in their respective regions in New York state.  “Our goal is to ensure central New York communities continue to receive high quality health care,” says Borfitz.  “The central New York region offers abundant career opportunities in health care, and we’ve just begun putting into place initiatives to create a robust and effective system in which impacted workers can participate to pursue their career goals.”

InService Solutions

Click here for a PDF brochure.  

Summer Camps - Mark Your Calendars!

M.A.S.H. Camps

This summer, students entering 8th and 9th grades for the 2008-2009 school year can beat the summer blahs at M.A.S.H. camp!  Filled with fun and educational activities, M.A.S.H. (Medical Academy of Science and Health) camps provide young learners with hands-on experience working with real health care professionals in real health care settings.  Click here to see when M.A.S.H. camp will be held at your local hospital!

M.A.S.H. Camps are co-sponsored by Excellus. 

 

The landscape of central New York health care is changing.  Consequently, doors to new and exciting health careers are opening every day for health professions students and health professionals.  There is no better time to take advantage of My Health Career®

For students and younger career seekers, My Health Career® offers a self-assessment survey, a career exploration section with detailed job descriptions, a student portfolio with grade tracking and course scheduling capabilities, Recruitment Zones with job openings at area health care facilities, and links to other programs of interest to students.    

For current health professionals, My Health Career® provides career-seekers with information on local activities and entertainment in the central New York region, a professional portfolio section providing resume building and professional progress reports, a professional development section with information on continuing education, Recruitment Zones providing local job opportunities, as well as assessment capablities.  For workers impacted by the Berger Commission Report determinations, NextTrac will soon be available to guide health professionals toward health career goals by providing and ensuring skills assessments, additional training, as well as job placement. 

It's easy to enroll in My Health Career®!  Just click here and follow a few easy steps. Currently, there is no fee for enrolling in My Health Career® or NextTrac.  Whether you're a high school or college student, an non-traditional student, or current health professional looking for something different, My Health Career® and the terrific staff at CNYAHEC are here to help you open the door to your health career!