New health care apprenticeship launches at MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center

An exciting new health care opportunity is coming to MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center to help local students to step into the medical field. Lancaster Medical Center, York Technical College and Apprenticeship Carolina have launched a new patient care technician (PCT) apprenticeship program that provides participants with an eight-week, paid apprenticeship combining classroom instruction with on-the-job experience. Students will earn their certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification and have a direct pathway to employment with MUSC Health.

For Jenny Long, the MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center workforce development coordinator, this new program isn’t just exciting and beneficial for participants but for MUSC as a whole.

“I’m super excited about it,” said Long. “Some of these participants will be older adults, but for the most part, they're younger people, and I really enjoy working with that population. So, for me, it feels really good. I'm excited to set the standards for how this is going to work out and the professionalism that's going to go into it.”

PCTs first obtain their CNA certification, and when they begin working in a hospital setting, they take on the title of patient care technician. While they meet South Carolina's certification requirements, hospitals are able to allow them to perform more advanced duties than they typically would in a doctor's office or long-term care facility.

The first cohort for this program will be eight participants who will begin  orientation in early October. Orientation is followed by time in the classroom for five weeks at York Technical College Chester Center. Once their time is complete in the classroom, they’ll begin approximately three weeks of clinical hours at MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center. Long is hopeful that this program gains traction, and they can have multiple cohorts a year.

“I’d love for us to have more than one cohort, with at least one active in the fall, spring and summer. It would be great to see that come together. I’m hopeful we can make it work for the high school and college students who are eager to get involved,” said Long.

The purpose of this PCT program is bigger than just filling positions; it’s about building a pipeline of skilled professionals who will contribute to strengthening the future of rural health care.

“This program represents an important investment in our local workforce and our future,” said J. Scott Broome, CEO, MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center. “By partnering with York Technical College and Apprenticeship Carolina, we are creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to enter health care while helping to address the staffing needs in our region.”

Long has high hopes for the future of this program and believes its participants will want to stay and build their careers right here in South Carolina.

“My hope is that they'll have had such a good experience with this program that they'll want to stay within the MUSC system,” said Long. “Whether it's here, Florence, Charleston or Columbia.”