Health care organizations continue to feel significant workforce challenges as more employees leave the workforce without qualified, trained caregivers to fill those vacant roles. SSM Health in Wisconsin is taking a regionwide, multi-faceted approach to bolster its workforce.
 
The health system has implemented multiple specialty apprenticeship programs – including a new general youth apprenticeship to train dozens of high school juniors and seniors in a variety of health care roles who can earn while they learn whether a career in health care is right for them.
 
“Health care offers many rewarding career paths,” says Sandy Riley, director of career pathways and workforce development at SSM Health in Wisconsin. “We are delighted to welcome anyone interested in a health care career into our hospitals and clinics to experience these important roles for themselves as we seek to help train a new generation of exceptional caregivers in the communities we are privileged to serve.”
 
As part of the new apprenticeship, SSM Health pays for all up-front costs to students, offers paid on-the-job training and provides jobs for the apprentices upon successful completion of their program. It has proven to be an effective way to help grow the next generation of health care workers for Wisconsin.
 
In addition to this new youth apprenticeship program, SSM Health in Wisconsin offers paid training programs for future licensed practical nurses, surgical technologists, and ophthalmic technicians. These training programs also offer instruction and materials to students at no cost and provide jobs upon successful completion.