Healthcare Career Pathways
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing and largest industry sectors in Montana. However, many healthcare facilities struggle to recruit and retain healthcare workers, leaving most of Montana designated as healthcare professional shortage areas (HPSAs). These shortages are even more pronounced in the rural areas in Montana which leads to lower health outcomes for rural Montanans compared to their more urban counterparts.
To help address the healthcare workforce shortage in Montana, the UM OHRP is utilizing evidence-based practices such as career pathways, industry-recognized credentials, and "grow your own" approaches.
The career pathways approach creates multiple on and off-ramps for careers in healthcare for both high school and adult learners. Built into this approach are pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, stackable credentials, and industry-recognized credentials. Three pathways are being created and implemented in the rural communities of the Bitterroot Valley, Hi-Line, and Ruby Valley. These pathways are collaboratively developed with industry partners, K-12 partners, postsecondary partners, and other community-based organizations. To support the grow-your-own model, these pathways focus on making learning accessible in rural areas through distance and online education, so learners do not have to leave their communities to up-skill.
Interested in developing and implementing healthcare career pathways in your community? Contact Lily Apedaile
View the healthcare career poster below to see the different healthcare career options. You can click on the various career options in the poster to learn more about the education, skills, and job requirements.
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education provided financial support for this project. The award totaled $1.8M. The contents are those of the author. They may not reflect the policies of ED, OPE, or the U.S. Government.