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March 2007

Best Practices -- Pinckneyville Community Hospital "Grow Your Own"

In 1993, the Board of Pinckneyville Community Hospital began offering $1500 scholarships to individuals who were interested in pursuing a nursing career. Two of these were awarded each year as the Board sought to open a door for individuals who wanted to stay in the community and have a career path at the hospital. In subsequent years, the hospital added two scholarships in technical areas in an effort to meet the future needs of the hospital.

In 1998, the hospital was faced with increasing instances where physicians were being pulled from their office practice during the day to attend to patients in the Emergency Department. In evaluating options on how to keep physicians in the office while still providing coverage in the ER, the hospital decided to send one of its laboratory employees to school to become a physician assistant. After graduation in the summer of 2000, he successfully passed his certification and began covering the Emergency Department during the day on weekdays in September of 2000.

In 2001, the hospital entered into its first agreement with a nursing student that provided free tuition, books, and fees in exchange for returning to work at the hospital.

In 2002, the hospital's Board expanded the program to accommodate more students in both nursing and technical disciplines in an effort to develop its work force for the future.

The scholarship program has enabled 21 individuals to pursue careers in the medical field as follows:

  • One Physician Assistant-Certified
  • Three x-ray technicians
  • A phlebotomist who became an MLT
  • Eight LPNs of whom 4 have become or will become RNs by the summer of 2007
  • A phlebotomist who will become an RN in the summer of 2007
  • A Physical Therapy Assistant who will complete her studies in 2009
  • The program has supported 6 Registered Nurses who wished to obtain bachelor’s degrees. Two graduated in May of 2006, two will graduate in May of 2007, one is on track to graduate in July of 2007 and the sixth one is projecting a 2009 graduation.

Nineteen of the 21 individuals who were supported by the hospital through school are continuing to work at the hospital.

Individuals who have chosen to take advantage of this support have ranged from high school graduates to individuals who were wanted to make career changes as non-traditional students. Nineteen of the 21 individuals who received support also worked at the hospital around their class schedules. These individuals worked holidays, weekends and four hour blocks of time that were coordinated through their respective departments. The hospital funding is forgiven over time based on the terms of the individual agreements.

The program continues to be available for individuals who are seeking careers in healthcare and enjoy the quality of life that is available in Pinckneyville.