Creating Career Pathways in Rural Healthcare

 

Harbor Beach Community Hospital, located in Huron County, is an acute care, emergency, and extended care facility that serves the surrounding community’s medical needs. In addition to the hospital, the organization operates two medical clinics. Like many employers in rural areas, the hospital faces challenges in finding candidates with the necessary credentials to fill critical roles.

To address this need, Harbor Beach Community Hospital established Clinical Medical Assistant and Surgical Technologist Apprenticeship Programs, creating opportunities to train employees and build a skilled workforce from within.

GST Michigan Works! partnered with the hospital to support the development and implementation of these apprenticeship programs. At the time, a Clinical Medical Assistant apprentice had completed her classroom training and was working toward finishing her on-the-job training hours. The hospital also aimed to expand its workforce by hiring additional apprentices for both the Clinical Medical Assistant and Surgical Technologist programs.

Through collaboration, it was determined that the Going PRO Talent Fund would be an ideal resource to help achieve these goals. With support from GST Michigan Works!, a grant application was submitted and successfully awarded for the Going PRO 2025 Cycle 1 funding period.

As a result, the Clinical Medical Assistant apprentice completed her on-the-job training hours, leading to increased skills and higher wages. The grant also provided partial wage reimbursement to the employer during her training period. Having an additional Certified Medical Assistant has helped alleviate staffing challenges within the hospital’s medical clinics.

Investing in apprenticeship programs continues to benefit both the employer and its employees. The hospital can retain and develop talent while creating clear career pathways, and employees gain valuable skills, increased earnings, and the opportunity to grow within an organization they already know and serve.