Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) recently received more than $73,000 from the Vermont Training Program (VTP).

CVMC is experiencing recruiting challenges for Licensed Nursing Associate (LNA) and Clinical Care Associate (CCA) positions at both the main hospital and their Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing center. CCAs work in clinical practices performing important clinical and administrative functions. LNAs work in CVMC’s skilled nursing facility and hospital taking care of residents and patients.

“Right now, we have the lowest unemployment rate in Vermont’s history,” said Robert Patterson, Vice President of Human Resources and Clinical Operations. “We realized that we couldn’t just wait for qualified people to apply for jobs. We need to invest in our current workforce to offer trainings that allow them to fill key positions at the hospital. This VTP grant helped us do just that.”

With the assistance of the VTP grant CVMC created a CCA and LNA dual-track career ladder academy, that will allow current employees to attend classes and trainings while still being paid their full-time wage. As employees learn new clinical and administrative functions, their pay increases.

“Central Vermont Medical Center continues to be innovative and progressive in developing programs that lead to fulfilling careers in the healthcare industry,” said Jamie Stewart, Executive Director of the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation. “As a critical local resource, CVMC is also a primary economic driver. This investment in their workforce ensures that CVMC will continue to provide the high quality of healthcare they are known for and employees will enjoy a path to a quality career.”