The Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers’ Direct Care Worker Workgroup is addressing the challenges facing direct care workers and the long-term care industry. The Workgroup’s 2007 recommendation report, “Addressing Pennsylvania’s Direct Care Workforce Capacity,” includes strategies for addressing the following: health insurance access, rate-setting and reimbursement, system-wide procurement standards, training and career advancement, and establishing a Governor’s Commission on the Direct Care Workforce. The co-chairs of the Direct Care Workers Workgroup are Kevin Hefty, vice-president for long-term care of SEIU Healthcare, Lori Seiders, organizational development and training manager of Masonic Villages in Elizabethtown and Ralph Trainer, executive director of Abilities in Motion.

 

The Workgroup is rolling out a new, 75-hour personal care attendant training program that will provide a tangible credential and enable graduates to become a nurse aide by way of a career ladder program. Also, the workgroup is collaborating with the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop a new, 120-hour nurse aide curriculum scheduled for implementation within the next two years. Finally, discussions have begun regarding the possible consolidation of all regulatory components of the nurse aide system under one state agency in an effort to streamline all oversight, training, testing and registry procedures.

 

 

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