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By Liam Verster

health care assistants

Interior Health adds over 300 positions to training program

Nov 1, 2022 | 10:39 AM

People looking to pursue a career in health care will be able to access a local training opportunity.

Interior Health is adding 337 positions to its Health Career Access Program (HCAP).

Of those positions, 205 will be in long-term care, 112 will be in home health, and 20 will be part of a new pilot within acute care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

“We’re proud of HCAP, a joint and fully funded training initiative between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, to address the shortage of health care assistants (HCA),” Minister of Health Adrian Dix said.

“This important program combines a paid work component, paid tuition and an educational stipend that creates an entry point to employment in health care.”

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After successfully completing the program, participants will become HCAs and could be hired as health care support workers to provide non-direct care at long-term care, acute care and home health sites.

“The Health Career Access Program is an excellent opportunity to start a career in health care,” said Dorothy Stanton, Health Career Access Program Leader at Interior Health.

“It delivers the needed support in long-term care, home health and acute care environments, while providing financial stability to those completing the program.”

Through HCAP, participants will have financial support to complete the required six to eight months of full-time post-secondary education through the equivalent of a full scholarship. Graduates must sign a 12-month Return of Service Agreement with the health authority in order to qualify for the funding.

Interior Health said the program provides an opportunity for individuals to fill vacant health care positions that support the aging population at home and in facility care.

Details on how to apply for the Health Career Access Program can be found at Interior Health’s website.