1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,080 Hello, everyone. This is Jacob Emerson with the 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:03,939 Becker's Payer Issues podcast. 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,120 Thrilled today to be joined by doctor Brandy 4 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,000 Hershberger, who's the chief nursing officer and vice 5 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,179 president of academic affairs at UPMC, 6 00:00:12,684 --> 00:00:15,105 And Dan LaValle is the associate vice president 7 00:00:15,164 --> 00:00:17,904 of community engagement at UPMC Health Plan. 8 00:00:18,204 --> 00:00:20,125 Brandy, Dan, thank you both so much for 9 00:00:20,125 --> 00:00:21,404 taking the time to be with me on 10 00:00:21,404 --> 00:00:23,884 the podcast today. Thanks for having us. Yeah. 11 00:00:23,884 --> 00:00:26,149 Thanks so much, Jacob. Yeah. And before we 12 00:00:26,149 --> 00:00:27,670 dive into everything we wanna talk with you 13 00:00:27,670 --> 00:00:30,149 both about, can you each, tell us a 14 00:00:30,149 --> 00:00:32,310 little bit more about yourselves, your background in 15 00:00:32,310 --> 00:00:33,750 health care, and what it is that you 16 00:00:33,750 --> 00:00:35,450 both do today at UPMC? 17 00:00:36,070 --> 00:00:37,530 Brandy, I'll come to you first. 18 00:00:37,835 --> 00:00:40,734 Sure. Good morning, everyone. I'm doctor Brandy Hirschberger, 19 00:00:40,875 --> 00:00:43,274 chief nursing officer and vice president of academic 20 00:00:43,274 --> 00:00:43,774 affairs. 21 00:00:44,155 --> 00:00:46,315 I've been a nurse for around twenty two 22 00:00:46,315 --> 00:00:49,695 years, a chief nurse for around eight years, 23 00:00:50,250 --> 00:00:52,350 and I actually am a boomeranger. 24 00:00:52,810 --> 00:00:54,750 Grew up as a baby nurse at UPMC, 25 00:00:55,450 --> 00:00:57,049 left for a little bit to get some 26 00:00:57,049 --> 00:00:59,929 for profit experience, and I came back because 27 00:00:59,929 --> 00:01:01,070 I do love UPMC. 28 00:01:01,690 --> 00:01:03,530 And happy to be here with you today 29 00:01:03,530 --> 00:01:04,590 to talk about, 30 00:01:05,034 --> 00:01:07,515 you know, just our apprenticeships and everything that's 31 00:01:07,515 --> 00:01:10,474 going on good in UPMC. So thanks for 32 00:01:10,474 --> 00:01:11,295 having me. 33 00:01:11,755 --> 00:01:14,395 Absolutely. How about you, Dan? It is wonderful 34 00:01:14,395 --> 00:01:16,314 to be with you, Brandy, always. And, Jacob, 35 00:01:16,314 --> 00:01:17,790 thanks. I'm Dan LaValle. 36 00:01:18,250 --> 00:01:20,329 I've been at UPMC just about ten years 37 00:01:20,329 --> 00:01:22,329 now. You know, I'm a native Yinser as 38 00:01:22,329 --> 00:01:24,250 we call it here in Mister Rogers neighborhood 39 00:01:24,250 --> 00:01:26,329 in Pittsburgh. You know, I lead our community 40 00:01:26,329 --> 00:01:28,810 engagement efforts at at UPMC health plan that 41 00:01:28,810 --> 00:01:29,310 includes, 42 00:01:29,695 --> 00:01:31,495 you know, work in our communities workforce, 43 00:01:31,814 --> 00:01:33,655 programming that we'll talk about today to help 44 00:01:33,655 --> 00:01:35,515 our our Medicaid members in particularly, 45 00:01:36,135 --> 00:01:38,135 you know, get, life changing careers. So it's 46 00:01:38,135 --> 00:01:39,575 wonderful to be here and can't wait to 47 00:01:39,575 --> 00:01:40,555 have them to chat. 48 00:01:40,855 --> 00:01:43,334 Fantastic. Well, really glad to have you both, 49 00:01:43,655 --> 00:01:44,875 sitting down with us. 50 00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:47,439 So we're we're here today to talk a 51 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:48,420 little bit about, 52 00:01:49,119 --> 00:01:51,859 workforce development initiatives at UPMC, 53 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,479 and really the success that the health system 54 00:01:54,479 --> 00:01:57,379 is has seen in terms of assisting those, 55 00:01:57,679 --> 00:02:00,099 your your Medicaid members with with finding 56 00:02:00,435 --> 00:02:03,314 meaningful careers within the health system. So, Dan, 57 00:02:03,314 --> 00:02:05,075 why don't you start us off? Talk about 58 00:02:05,075 --> 00:02:07,575 why you're so passionate about this work overall. 59 00:02:08,275 --> 00:02:10,194 Thanks. Thanks, Jacob. And, you know, so our 60 00:02:10,194 --> 00:02:12,675 our journey into into our pathways to work 61 00:02:12,675 --> 00:02:14,514 program as we called it started about five 62 00:02:14,514 --> 00:02:16,829 years ago right in the beginning of the 63 00:02:16,829 --> 00:02:19,009 pandemic. You know, we also had, 64 00:02:19,389 --> 00:02:21,870 at that time, right before the incredibly challenging 65 00:02:21,870 --> 00:02:23,810 time, we had a wonderful partnership, 66 00:02:24,430 --> 00:02:26,349 with our department of human services that had 67 00:02:26,349 --> 00:02:28,269 started something that they called a work supports 68 00:02:28,269 --> 00:02:30,334 program. So just like anytime you get a 69 00:02:30,334 --> 00:02:32,275 new Medicaid member as a as a payer, 70 00:02:32,655 --> 00:02:34,174 you know, they had asked us to help 71 00:02:34,174 --> 00:02:35,935 people find work. It wasn't a requirement, but 72 00:02:35,935 --> 00:02:37,854 it was just help people who wanted to 73 00:02:37,854 --> 00:02:39,694 find work when you were helping them find 74 00:02:39,694 --> 00:02:41,460 a primary care physician. We thought that was 75 00:02:41,540 --> 00:02:43,540 such a neat, you know, effort. And it 76 00:02:43,540 --> 00:02:45,060 and it made us look what can we 77 00:02:45,060 --> 00:02:47,139 do as a system. At the same time, 78 00:02:47,139 --> 00:02:48,900 you know, we have hundreds of thousands of 79 00:02:48,900 --> 00:02:51,700 Medicaid members. Many are already working. We also 80 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:52,920 are the largest nongovernmental 81 00:02:53,300 --> 00:02:55,620 employer, you know, as an integrated system here 82 00:02:55,620 --> 00:02:58,165 in Pennsylvania. So we had an opportunity with 83 00:02:58,165 --> 00:03:00,564 thousands of open jobs and so many people 84 00:03:00,564 --> 00:03:02,564 that were already in our family to make 85 00:03:02,564 --> 00:03:04,905 sure that we were providing, you know, opportunities 86 00:03:04,965 --> 00:03:06,965 for work. And then at that moment, you 87 00:03:06,965 --> 00:03:08,805 know, when the pandemic hit and one in 88 00:03:08,805 --> 00:03:11,125 three of our neighbors were filing jobless claims, 89 00:03:11,125 --> 00:03:12,669 it was time for us, you know, to 90 00:03:12,669 --> 00:03:14,030 step up and to show up in our 91 00:03:14,030 --> 00:03:16,430 communities and help people that had skills, you 92 00:03:16,430 --> 00:03:18,030 know, find careers with us that we're gonna 93 00:03:18,030 --> 00:03:20,030 help care for our communities. So that's how 94 00:03:20,030 --> 00:03:22,349 we started this Pathways to Work program. We're 95 00:03:22,349 --> 00:03:23,949 able to work with Brandy and so many 96 00:03:23,949 --> 00:03:26,205 other leaders on helping to place people in 97 00:03:26,205 --> 00:03:29,185 careers, in apprenticeship programs, other training programs. 98 00:03:29,485 --> 00:03:31,745 It's just been, you know, just a incredible 99 00:03:31,805 --> 00:03:32,865 joy to work, 100 00:03:33,165 --> 00:03:34,925 with you, Brandy, and so many others to 101 00:03:34,925 --> 00:03:36,844 make this program work, and, can't wait to 102 00:03:36,844 --> 00:03:39,209 talk more about it. Yeah. No. It's amazing. 103 00:03:39,209 --> 00:03:40,269 I mean, you're really helping 104 00:03:40,569 --> 00:03:42,750 your members beyond just just benefits. 105 00:03:43,370 --> 00:03:44,889 What about you, Brandy? Why why'd you wanna 106 00:03:44,889 --> 00:03:46,349 get involved in this kind of work? 107 00:03:46,969 --> 00:03:49,289 So and it's a pleasure, you know, working 108 00:03:49,289 --> 00:03:51,229 with the whole team and Dan, 109 00:03:51,615 --> 00:03:52,354 at UPMC. 110 00:03:53,134 --> 00:03:55,235 And part of my role is building pipelines 111 00:03:55,935 --> 00:03:59,215 and, you know, filling those vacant positions that 112 00:03:59,215 --> 00:04:01,314 are meaningful to provide patient care. 113 00:04:01,615 --> 00:04:04,995 And why not helping others seek meaningful, 114 00:04:05,569 --> 00:04:08,689 stable professions in health care and them having 115 00:04:08,689 --> 00:04:11,250 a dream. We're helping them to fulfill the 116 00:04:11,250 --> 00:04:13,909 dream, especially we're gonna get into apprenticeships, 117 00:04:14,610 --> 00:04:17,730 but the apprenticeships help to provide on the 118 00:04:17,730 --> 00:04:18,550 job training 119 00:04:19,105 --> 00:04:21,985 while assisting them with their education cost and 120 00:04:21,985 --> 00:04:22,485 expenses, 121 00:04:23,185 --> 00:04:24,404 and really just 122 00:04:25,024 --> 00:04:26,964 promoting what we have at UPMC. 123 00:04:27,504 --> 00:04:29,764 Some of the times people don't really know. 124 00:04:30,145 --> 00:04:32,705 Yes, they know about nursing, they know about 125 00:04:32,705 --> 00:04:33,605 being a physician, 126 00:04:34,129 --> 00:04:35,990 However, there is a multitude 127 00:04:36,290 --> 00:04:38,050 of careers that we're going to get into 128 00:04:38,050 --> 00:04:39,829 today that helps provide, 129 00:04:40,370 --> 00:04:41,350 you know, services 130 00:04:41,730 --> 00:04:44,209 from a health care arena and provide great 131 00:04:44,209 --> 00:04:45,110 patient care. 132 00:04:45,649 --> 00:04:47,169 Absolutely, and I'm glad you brought that up, 133 00:04:47,169 --> 00:04:49,350 Brandy. Let's talk about what these apprenticeships 134 00:04:49,875 --> 00:04:52,675 look like on the ground. What's available to 135 00:04:52,675 --> 00:04:53,335 your members? 136 00:04:53,795 --> 00:04:55,654 What exactly is the health system offering? 137 00:04:56,275 --> 00:04:58,514 So some of the apprenticeships that we're offering 138 00:04:58,514 --> 00:04:59,175 at UPMC, 139 00:05:00,115 --> 00:05:02,435 we just new and improved, we just got 140 00:05:02,435 --> 00:05:05,009 it approved as our LPN to RN or 141 00:05:05,250 --> 00:05:05,750 RNR 142 00:05:06,210 --> 00:05:08,150 or registered nurse resident 143 00:05:08,689 --> 00:05:09,189 apprenticeship. 144 00:05:09,889 --> 00:05:12,870 So we're very much in the infancy stages 145 00:05:12,930 --> 00:05:15,670 to launch here, in the next few weeks. 146 00:05:15,970 --> 00:05:17,750 We also have a surgical 147 00:05:18,050 --> 00:05:18,550 technologist 148 00:05:18,930 --> 00:05:19,430 apprenticeship 149 00:05:20,004 --> 00:05:22,084 that we're working towards to get it launched 150 00:05:22,084 --> 00:05:24,824 this fall as well sometime in the August 151 00:05:24,964 --> 00:05:25,464 room 152 00:05:25,764 --> 00:05:28,245 and then in the works we have our 153 00:05:28,245 --> 00:05:29,625 imaging or diagnostic 154 00:05:30,324 --> 00:05:31,225 tech apprenticeship 155 00:05:31,685 --> 00:05:33,779 and those are the individuals that take x 156 00:05:33,860 --> 00:05:35,699 rays. So if you have a broken bone, 157 00:05:35,699 --> 00:05:38,259 they're gonna help. So we're working towards that 158 00:05:38,259 --> 00:05:40,360 to launch this far fall 159 00:05:40,740 --> 00:05:41,800 and then the pharmacy 160 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:42,919 tech apprenticeship, 161 00:05:43,459 --> 00:05:45,000 which they are instrumental 162 00:05:45,379 --> 00:05:46,535 in our pharmacies pharmacies 163 00:05:47,154 --> 00:05:49,254 to really help prepare medications, 164 00:05:49,555 --> 00:05:51,555 get our meds to our patients, and so 165 00:05:51,555 --> 00:05:53,814 forth. And, Dan, I know you also, 166 00:05:54,275 --> 00:05:55,254 have a few apprenticeships 167 00:05:55,555 --> 00:05:58,115 too. Wow. Brandy, that is incredible. I like 168 00:05:58,115 --> 00:05:59,555 hearing you. I can't wait for the fall. 169 00:05:59,555 --> 00:06:00,939 This is just gonna be a beautiful day 170 00:06:00,939 --> 00:06:02,699 in the neighborhood. I think Jacob too, one 171 00:06:02,699 --> 00:06:04,379 of the the first kind of first one 172 00:06:04,379 --> 00:06:06,459 that we had that we saw some success 173 00:06:06,459 --> 00:06:07,819 to see where, you know, some of our 174 00:06:07,819 --> 00:06:09,339 other leaders could look and see what they 175 00:06:09,339 --> 00:06:11,660 could do was in facilities maintenance. And I 176 00:06:11,660 --> 00:06:13,579 think, you know, as as we all know, 177 00:06:13,579 --> 00:06:15,019 when you think the world pressure, if you 178 00:06:15,019 --> 00:06:16,425 think a lot of the the trades and 179 00:06:16,545 --> 00:06:18,225 which is wonderful, and they've laid the path 180 00:06:18,225 --> 00:06:19,904 for that. And I think we saw that 181 00:06:19,904 --> 00:06:21,264 we were, you know, having an an an 182 00:06:21,264 --> 00:06:23,904 aging workforce and facilities maintenance across our 40 183 00:06:23,904 --> 00:06:25,845 plus hospitals and other locations. 184 00:06:26,145 --> 00:06:28,145 You know, our leaders took a chance, built 185 00:06:28,145 --> 00:06:29,899 a program, you know, that where people get 186 00:06:29,899 --> 00:06:31,579 some education here at one of our community 187 00:06:31,579 --> 00:06:33,819 colleges and and other partners, and then are 188 00:06:33,819 --> 00:06:36,539 able to work in our hospitals starting starting 189 00:06:36,539 --> 00:06:38,219 young to make sure we're showing, you know, 190 00:06:38,219 --> 00:06:39,740 what the the careers can be in getting 191 00:06:39,740 --> 00:06:41,259 into some of the schools. So that was 192 00:06:41,259 --> 00:06:42,944 kind of the gateway. We saw some of 193 00:06:42,944 --> 00:06:45,345 that work, built some, you know, ability to, 194 00:06:45,584 --> 00:06:47,024 you know, make sure that we could replicate 195 00:06:47,024 --> 00:06:48,785 a model that, you know, we we believe 196 00:06:48,785 --> 00:06:49,985 this could be the model for the country 197 00:06:49,985 --> 00:06:51,425 and how a how a health care system 198 00:06:51,425 --> 00:06:54,064 can, you know, build apprenticeships that also hire 199 00:06:54,064 --> 00:06:56,225 individuals with barriers to work or off Medicaid. 200 00:06:56,225 --> 00:06:57,605 So it's just a beautiful day. 201 00:06:57,910 --> 00:07:00,230 Absolutely. It's so exciting, and it really it 202 00:07:00,230 --> 00:07:02,790 spans the entire spectrum of what's available at 203 00:07:02,790 --> 00:07:04,329 the health system, it sounds like. 204 00:07:05,110 --> 00:07:05,930 And congratulations 205 00:07:06,230 --> 00:07:07,910 on on the nursing one this fall. That's 206 00:07:07,910 --> 00:07:08,649 very exciting. 207 00:07:09,509 --> 00:07:11,029 Dan, can you expand a little bit for 208 00:07:11,029 --> 00:07:12,904 us in terms of on the ground, what 209 00:07:12,904 --> 00:07:15,144 these individuals are are seeing, what they're receiving 210 00:07:15,144 --> 00:07:17,064 in terms of the benefits of participating in 211 00:07:17,064 --> 00:07:18,044 something like this? 212 00:07:18,504 --> 00:07:19,785 Yeah. So, you know, I think at the 213 00:07:19,785 --> 00:07:21,144 beginning of our our journey, it was a 214 00:07:21,144 --> 00:07:22,904 couple things. Like, we, at first, wanna make 215 00:07:22,904 --> 00:07:24,425 sure that people who have skills can get 216 00:07:24,425 --> 00:07:26,169 right into careers if they can. But then 217 00:07:26,169 --> 00:07:28,569 if they desired some preemployment training, we built 218 00:07:28,569 --> 00:07:30,970 a couple new programs there that were great, 219 00:07:30,970 --> 00:07:33,289 five, six week programs that people could get 220 00:07:33,289 --> 00:07:34,889 in and get into a, you know, a 221 00:07:34,889 --> 00:07:37,209 career mostly entry level fields. I think what's 222 00:07:37,209 --> 00:07:38,669 beautiful about apprenticeships 223 00:07:39,129 --> 00:07:40,735 is that you're able to work, go to 224 00:07:40,735 --> 00:07:42,654 school at the same time, and get other 225 00:07:42,654 --> 00:07:45,375 supportive services, which has been great. Helping people 226 00:07:45,375 --> 00:07:46,115 with transportation, 227 00:07:46,654 --> 00:07:49,134 with materials, books, whatever it might be. You 228 00:07:49,134 --> 00:07:51,854 know, I can't say enough about our department 229 00:07:51,854 --> 00:07:53,555 of labor and industry here in the Commonwealth 230 00:07:53,615 --> 00:07:56,009 and the governor's vision and secretary Walker here 231 00:07:56,089 --> 00:07:58,350 around how they've looked at new sector apprenticeships 232 00:07:58,410 --> 00:08:00,650 to make it available to people like me 233 00:08:00,650 --> 00:08:02,330 and Brandy to to to try this and 234 00:08:02,330 --> 00:08:04,509 to try to build it because the benefits, 235 00:08:04,650 --> 00:08:06,089 you know, are right there. And we've seen 236 00:08:06,089 --> 00:08:08,810 incredible retention rates, you know, with other employers 237 00:08:08,810 --> 00:08:10,650 and other, you know, sectors, and we're seeing 238 00:08:10,650 --> 00:08:12,334 that here. So I think that's kind of 239 00:08:12,334 --> 00:08:14,314 the piece, kind of the wrap around supports, 240 00:08:14,454 --> 00:08:16,134 you know, that that last quite a bit 241 00:08:16,134 --> 00:08:17,814 longer than a three or four week program. 242 00:08:17,814 --> 00:08:19,035 So that's a big benefit, 243 00:08:19,574 --> 00:08:21,414 and also can't say enough about our workforce 244 00:08:21,414 --> 00:08:23,495 investment board partnerships and, you know, how they're 245 00:08:23,495 --> 00:08:24,935 willing to take a chance with us to 246 00:08:24,935 --> 00:08:25,914 make something work. 247 00:08:26,319 --> 00:08:28,160 Absolutely. And it's it's very it's exciting to 248 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:29,920 hear that this has been supported by by 249 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,740 the state as well. It would be, incredible 250 00:08:32,799 --> 00:08:34,000 if this is a model that could be 251 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,279 spread, like you said, to the to the 252 00:08:35,279 --> 00:08:37,039 rest of the country and to across other 253 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:37,539 systems. 254 00:08:38,875 --> 00:08:40,955 Brandy, can you talk a little bit about, 255 00:08:41,434 --> 00:08:42,495 what's the apprenticeship 256 00:08:43,355 --> 00:08:44,254 grant that UPMC 257 00:08:44,715 --> 00:08:47,195 most recently received, and what's the amount here? 258 00:08:47,195 --> 00:08:49,295 What in dollars? What are we talking about? 259 00:08:50,235 --> 00:08:52,830 Sure. So, Jacob, first, we are honored and 260 00:08:52,830 --> 00:08:54,450 grateful to be the recipients 261 00:08:54,830 --> 00:08:57,889 of this grant. It is actually the supporting 262 00:08:58,190 --> 00:08:58,690 Pennsylvania's 263 00:08:59,470 --> 00:09:03,009 health care sector through apprenticeships and pre apprenticeships 264 00:09:03,309 --> 00:09:07,205 grant program. And we received $400,000 265 00:09:07,205 --> 00:09:08,745 to support these apprenticeships. 266 00:09:09,284 --> 00:09:12,024 And it's the four apprenticeships I talked about. 267 00:09:12,485 --> 00:09:12,985 And 268 00:09:13,365 --> 00:09:16,184 it will be instrumental. This will be providing 269 00:09:16,404 --> 00:09:16,904 funding 270 00:09:17,205 --> 00:09:18,825 that will support the apprentice. 271 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:21,399 And it will help with wages, 272 00:09:21,779 --> 00:09:23,639 books, tuition, uniforms, 273 00:09:24,259 --> 00:09:26,759 you name it. It helps this individual 274 00:09:27,139 --> 00:09:28,360 or these individuals 275 00:09:28,660 --> 00:09:30,279 in this apprenticeship program 276 00:09:30,820 --> 00:09:32,519 to, as I talked about, 277 00:09:32,899 --> 00:09:35,080 get the career of their dreams. 278 00:09:35,504 --> 00:09:36,325 And specifically 279 00:09:36,705 --> 00:09:39,504 with the LPN to RN apprenticeship program and 280 00:09:39,504 --> 00:09:41,345 can I highlight we're the first in the 281 00:09:41,345 --> 00:09:41,845 state 282 00:09:42,384 --> 00:09:44,085 to get this apprenticeship 283 00:09:44,625 --> 00:09:47,605 so then people in the state can duplicate 284 00:09:47,919 --> 00:09:50,899 this apprenticeship will be phenomenal to help LPNs 285 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:52,179 get their RN 286 00:09:52,879 --> 00:09:55,679 and then come into our workforce, stay in 287 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:56,179 Pennsylvania 288 00:09:56,879 --> 00:09:58,660 and get wage reimbursement, 289 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,440 get help with tuition and so forth? And 290 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,945 the other apprenticeships will as well. So this 291 00:10:03,945 --> 00:10:06,764 grant is instrumental, and that's why it's important 292 00:10:06,825 --> 00:10:08,825 to have additional grants like this in the 293 00:10:08,825 --> 00:10:09,325 future 294 00:10:09,785 --> 00:10:10,925 to help apprentices 295 00:10:11,545 --> 00:10:13,545 and to help our workforce and grow them 296 00:10:13,545 --> 00:10:14,764 in the state of Pennsylvania. 297 00:10:15,839 --> 00:10:17,919 Absolutely. So it's not just providing them that 298 00:10:17,919 --> 00:10:20,399 career and education support, but also everything that 299 00:10:20,399 --> 00:10:22,240 comes along with it as well, the tuition, 300 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,159 the books, all all that good stuff. It's 301 00:10:24,159 --> 00:10:24,659 amazing. 302 00:10:25,839 --> 00:10:28,079 Dan, in in terms of the work that 303 00:10:28,079 --> 00:10:29,839 you're doing, how do you how do people 304 00:10:29,839 --> 00:10:31,375 find out about this? How do they apply? 305 00:10:31,375 --> 00:10:32,274 How do they actually, 306 00:10:33,054 --> 00:10:35,235 you know, take advantage of something like this? 307 00:10:35,534 --> 00:10:37,774 Yeah. It's a great question, Jacob. You know, 308 00:10:37,774 --> 00:10:39,054 I think for us, you know, in our 309 00:10:39,054 --> 00:10:40,894 our pathways to work model that we have, 310 00:10:40,894 --> 00:10:43,134 we will show up anywhere, anytime, whether it's 311 00:10:43,134 --> 00:10:45,769 a thousand people or one person that's interested 312 00:10:46,070 --> 00:10:48,309 in a career with us or or elsewhere. 313 00:10:48,309 --> 00:10:49,750 So what we've tried to do is make 314 00:10:49,750 --> 00:10:51,750 sure that we have recruiters. We call them 315 00:10:51,750 --> 00:10:52,950 dream makers, and they go out in the 316 00:10:52,950 --> 00:10:54,710 community with me and and and our team 317 00:10:54,710 --> 00:10:57,144 and and others to just share about careers, 318 00:10:57,144 --> 00:10:58,585 to share that we have a place here 319 00:10:58,585 --> 00:11:00,904 to help navigate. We work with other workforce 320 00:11:00,904 --> 00:11:03,625 development partners, schools, of course, but then training 321 00:11:03,625 --> 00:11:05,804 organizations, community based organizations 322 00:11:06,264 --> 00:11:07,545 to make sure that they know if they 323 00:11:07,545 --> 00:11:09,785 have someone interested in a career that they 324 00:11:09,785 --> 00:11:11,429 can reach out. So we've had five years 325 00:11:11,429 --> 00:11:13,669 of building trust here to make sure that, 326 00:11:13,669 --> 00:11:15,350 you know, when people see us, they know 327 00:11:15,350 --> 00:11:17,029 that we will help. It's not a guarantee 328 00:11:17,029 --> 00:11:18,710 of a job always, but it's a guarantee 329 00:11:18,710 --> 00:11:20,950 to have somebody there to help navigate, and 330 00:11:20,950 --> 00:11:23,190 we're gonna use that model for these apprenticeship 331 00:11:23,190 --> 00:11:24,950 programs that Brandy was going in to make 332 00:11:24,950 --> 00:11:27,134 sure that we're working in our schools, working 333 00:11:27,134 --> 00:11:29,934 in our neighborhoods that have higher unemployment rates, 334 00:11:29,934 --> 00:11:32,095 you know, where people, you know, just desire 335 00:11:32,095 --> 00:11:33,934 to have a, you know, a potential life 336 00:11:33,934 --> 00:11:35,615 changing career. So I think it's all about 337 00:11:35,615 --> 00:11:37,615 first just showing up and making sure that 338 00:11:37,615 --> 00:11:39,695 we're showing up everywhere where people have an 339 00:11:39,695 --> 00:11:42,139 interest in careers, but then really communicating, what 340 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:43,060 this 341 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,799 training programs look like, what an apprenticeship program 342 00:11:45,799 --> 00:11:47,240 looks like to make sure we have no 343 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:48,840 no wrong door to enter our pathways to 344 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,320 work program, which we love. And Absolutely. Jacob 345 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:53,720 and Dan, if I can add too, not 346 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:54,860 only will the apprentice 347 00:11:55,445 --> 00:11:56,105 be a UPMC 348 00:11:56,404 --> 00:11:56,904 employee, 349 00:11:57,365 --> 00:11:59,605 but they will be in school. So you 350 00:11:59,605 --> 00:12:01,605 will be a student and an employee because 351 00:12:01,605 --> 00:12:04,725 you're receiving valuable training, learning from the best 352 00:12:04,725 --> 00:12:05,784 to be the best, 353 00:12:06,245 --> 00:12:08,600 and you will find the apprenticeship 354 00:12:10,100 --> 00:12:10,420 specifically, 355 00:12:10,980 --> 00:12:15,320 as a career on upmccareers.com 356 00:12:15,460 --> 00:12:16,899 and it will be labeled as such. And 357 00:12:16,899 --> 00:12:19,639 you apply just like a regular employee would 358 00:12:19,779 --> 00:12:22,120 and then you will be into The Apprentice. 359 00:12:22,524 --> 00:12:25,024 And then with our either our own UPMC 360 00:12:25,245 --> 00:12:28,044 schools or with our academic partners, you'll have 361 00:12:28,044 --> 00:12:29,985 to meet the requirements for application 362 00:12:30,524 --> 00:12:32,945 for a student, but it's a dual role. 363 00:12:33,565 --> 00:12:36,784 So specifically towards some of our apprenticeships within, 364 00:12:37,485 --> 00:12:40,040 the LPN to RN, the search tech imaging, 365 00:12:40,259 --> 00:12:41,240 and pharm tech. 366 00:12:42,420 --> 00:12:44,340 Perfect. Yeah. I appreciate that tag on there, 367 00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:46,680 Brandy, on exactly how someone would access this. 368 00:12:47,860 --> 00:12:49,300 One thing I do wanna ask you both 369 00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:51,620 about because, obviously, as you both know, this 370 00:12:51,620 --> 00:12:54,855 is a very quickly changing and evolving industry, 371 00:12:54,995 --> 00:12:55,975 health care overall. 372 00:12:56,834 --> 00:12:58,834 So how do these apprenticeships how does this 373 00:12:58,834 --> 00:13:00,534 financial support that you're offering 374 00:13:00,914 --> 00:13:03,235 members, how does that adapt to meet the 375 00:13:03,235 --> 00:13:06,929 demands of of a very quickly changing industry? 376 00:13:07,629 --> 00:13:09,230 Can you talk about that, Dan? I mean, 377 00:13:09,230 --> 00:13:11,949 how does this how does this program stay 378 00:13:11,949 --> 00:13:12,449 flexible? 379 00:13:13,470 --> 00:13:14,829 Yeah. I'll I'll start, and then I know 380 00:13:14,829 --> 00:13:16,634 Brandy can can rock through. I I think, 381 00:13:16,715 --> 00:13:18,875 you know, for us, it's all about making 382 00:13:18,875 --> 00:13:20,794 sure that we help people find the right 383 00:13:20,794 --> 00:13:22,475 fit, and that may not be the first 384 00:13:22,475 --> 00:13:23,995 time. You know? It's it's just maybe they 385 00:13:23,995 --> 00:13:25,274 get into a career as a as a 386 00:13:25,274 --> 00:13:27,294 patient care tech and wanna become a nurse 387 00:13:27,434 --> 00:13:29,035 and, you know, can go along that that 388 00:13:29,035 --> 00:13:30,419 journey. So I think for us, 389 00:13:30,980 --> 00:13:33,620 that's key. And then also making sure that, 390 00:13:33,620 --> 00:13:35,539 you know, that we are right there, you 391 00:13:35,539 --> 00:13:38,100 know, partnering with our public sector and the 392 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:39,860 private sector here together. I think that's what's 393 00:13:39,860 --> 00:13:42,179 made this beautiful is that we learned, you 394 00:13:42,179 --> 00:13:44,500 know, pretty quickly. Okay. An an imaging career 395 00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:46,764 and that that pathway, that education pipeline that 396 00:13:46,764 --> 00:13:49,084 Brandy can go into more is perfect for 397 00:13:49,084 --> 00:13:51,404 an apprenticeship, you know, and perfect to learn 398 00:13:51,404 --> 00:13:52,764 a bit on the job and get this 399 00:13:52,764 --> 00:13:54,125 done even if we just make sure that 400 00:13:54,125 --> 00:13:55,565 we, you know, get get through the part 401 00:13:55,565 --> 00:13:57,084 of getting it registered and and get it 402 00:13:57,084 --> 00:13:59,004 moving. So I I see that as adapting, 403 00:13:59,004 --> 00:14:00,450 and I think the beautiful thing is, you 404 00:14:00,529 --> 00:14:02,129 you know, once we've we we continue to 405 00:14:02,129 --> 00:14:04,129 have bits of success, and then that just 406 00:14:04,129 --> 00:14:06,129 brings more partners and passionate people on to, 407 00:14:06,129 --> 00:14:07,570 you know, make this work in other areas. 408 00:14:07,570 --> 00:14:09,029 I don't know. Brandy, what do you think? 409 00:14:09,490 --> 00:14:13,250 Yeah. And Jacob and Dan, those individuals that 410 00:14:13,250 --> 00:14:16,534 come in as an EVS employee that says, 411 00:14:16,674 --> 00:14:17,815 I wanna be a pharm 412 00:14:18,195 --> 00:14:20,195 tech. We have the means and the pathway 413 00:14:20,195 --> 00:14:22,835 to get them there. And one of our 414 00:14:22,835 --> 00:14:25,335 brand new, hopefully, proved apprenticeships 415 00:14:26,034 --> 00:14:28,559 for pharm tech will help an individual be 416 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,679 successful for wages and all the reimbursement and 417 00:14:31,679 --> 00:14:33,139 all the covering of expenses. 418 00:14:33,759 --> 00:14:34,259 These 419 00:14:34,639 --> 00:14:38,179 apprenticeship programs and workforce development pathways 420 00:14:38,799 --> 00:14:41,264 really help individuals who never thought it was 421 00:14:41,345 --> 00:14:43,985 possible to pursue their dream career. And it 422 00:14:43,985 --> 00:14:45,504 could be in nursing and say, I get 423 00:14:45,504 --> 00:14:48,065 into nursing and this isn't for me. And 424 00:14:48,065 --> 00:14:51,205 then I flip to imaging and that's okay. 425 00:14:51,504 --> 00:14:53,920 But we have a multitude of of directions 426 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,500 that an individual can go providing the valuable 427 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:57,620 skills and instructions. 428 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,139 And these apprenticeship programs and the grant funding 429 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:02,340 is the funding. 430 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,139 It is so important to keep our pipelines 431 00:15:05,554 --> 00:15:07,654 to fill our vacant workforce positions 432 00:15:08,034 --> 00:15:10,375 while giving people the opportunity 433 00:15:10,914 --> 00:15:13,174 to pursue these valuable careers. 434 00:15:14,434 --> 00:15:16,595 And why not? Learning from the best to 435 00:15:16,595 --> 00:15:17,495 be the best. 436 00:15:18,110 --> 00:15:20,909 We give valuable instruction and provide them on 437 00:15:20,909 --> 00:15:23,250 the job training to pursue these careers. 438 00:15:24,350 --> 00:15:26,509 Wonderful. Well, before we go, I'd I'd love 439 00:15:26,509 --> 00:15:28,750 to get any final thoughts, last tidbits of 440 00:15:28,750 --> 00:15:31,304 advice you wanna offer all the other health 441 00:15:31,304 --> 00:15:33,625 care leaders listening in from all over the 442 00:15:33,625 --> 00:15:36,204 country. Brandy, why don't you start us off? 443 00:15:36,745 --> 00:15:39,404 I'm just gonna say, why would you not 444 00:15:39,625 --> 00:15:40,444 want apprenticeships 445 00:15:41,625 --> 00:15:42,924 in health care arena? 446 00:15:43,709 --> 00:15:45,789 You know, we need to be innovative, so 447 00:15:45,789 --> 00:15:47,389 this isn't the time to sit on the 448 00:15:47,389 --> 00:15:49,570 sidelines. Let's be innovative together. 449 00:15:50,110 --> 00:15:52,429 So you create an apprenticeship, I create an 450 00:15:52,429 --> 00:15:54,990 apprenticeship, and we're just gonna duplicate it because 451 00:15:54,990 --> 00:15:57,230 we're going to feel the workforce. We're going 452 00:15:57,230 --> 00:15:58,929 to feel the pipeline need, 453 00:15:59,285 --> 00:16:02,404 and then getting exposure out to our middle 454 00:16:02,404 --> 00:16:03,465 and high school students 455 00:16:03,845 --> 00:16:04,985 are so important 456 00:16:05,605 --> 00:16:06,105 because 457 00:16:06,644 --> 00:16:08,585 we need to talk about the multitude 458 00:16:09,605 --> 00:16:10,424 of professions 459 00:16:10,965 --> 00:16:12,345 in our buildings today 460 00:16:12,710 --> 00:16:13,610 so that people 461 00:16:14,149 --> 00:16:15,850 will go towards those professions 462 00:16:16,389 --> 00:16:16,889 and 463 00:16:17,429 --> 00:16:18,250 have careers, 464 00:16:18,629 --> 00:16:21,110 have dream careers. That's what we're all about 465 00:16:21,110 --> 00:16:22,570 is making dreams happen. 466 00:16:23,350 --> 00:16:25,644 And, Dan, your closing thoughts for us? I 467 00:16:25,644 --> 00:16:26,845 I I love it, Brandy. It does make 468 00:16:26,845 --> 00:16:29,245 me think about our our kinda third person 469 00:16:29,245 --> 00:16:30,764 who's not with us today, our our our 470 00:16:30,764 --> 00:16:32,524 HR leader. He always says we have every 471 00:16:32,524 --> 00:16:35,184 career but a firefighter here at at UPMC, 472 00:16:35,644 --> 00:16:37,164 and it's true. You know? And that's the 473 00:16:37,164 --> 00:16:39,129 beautiful thing. There's a fit for everybody, but 474 00:16:39,129 --> 00:16:40,649 that's up to us to continue to show 475 00:16:40,649 --> 00:16:42,730 up and communicate that. I would say, Jacob, 476 00:16:42,730 --> 00:16:44,250 one of the biggest things for us that's 477 00:16:44,250 --> 00:16:46,250 that's helped us along the way is going 478 00:16:46,250 --> 00:16:48,649 to meet our workforce investment boards. You know, 479 00:16:48,649 --> 00:16:50,750 every county has one or group of counties 480 00:16:50,889 --> 00:16:52,889 and just showing up and try trying things, 481 00:16:52,889 --> 00:16:54,764 being a little bit vulnerable to try to, 482 00:16:54,764 --> 00:16:56,285 you know, figure out what what might work 483 00:16:56,285 --> 00:16:57,884 and, you know, even if something doesn't work, 484 00:16:57,884 --> 00:16:59,404 just trying the next. And that's how we've 485 00:16:59,404 --> 00:17:02,205 gotten here, just with common goals of trying 486 00:17:02,205 --> 00:17:04,285 to help our communities and help our, you 487 00:17:04,285 --> 00:17:06,204 know, impact that we wanna make in in 488 00:17:06,204 --> 00:17:08,470 those communities and, just, you know, be with, 489 00:17:08,470 --> 00:17:09,669 you know, those that are that are ready 490 00:17:09,669 --> 00:17:11,190 to make a life changing difference, you know, 491 00:17:11,190 --> 00:17:12,630 through a life changing career. So we we 492 00:17:12,630 --> 00:17:13,829 love it. I would say that's the biggest 493 00:17:13,829 --> 00:17:15,190 thing, though. That's helped us along the way 494 00:17:15,190 --> 00:17:17,029 is our our workforce boards and then, of 495 00:17:17,029 --> 00:17:18,869 course, the labor and industry team that's just 496 00:17:18,869 --> 00:17:20,710 been wonderful here in the Commonwealth. And, you 497 00:17:20,710 --> 00:17:22,244 know, we know that's everywhere. We're happy to 498 00:17:22,244 --> 00:17:24,484 talk to anybody anytime who wants to talk 499 00:17:24,484 --> 00:17:25,465 about this journey. 500 00:17:25,924 --> 00:17:28,325 Fantastic. Well, you you can really feel the 501 00:17:28,325 --> 00:17:30,505 passion you both have for for this work 502 00:17:30,565 --> 00:17:32,724 and for the people you serve coming through 503 00:17:32,724 --> 00:17:34,005 through the screen right now. So, 504 00:17:34,890 --> 00:17:37,609 just really appreciate Dan, doctor Hershberger for for 505 00:17:37,609 --> 00:17:39,289 taking the time to sit down with us 506 00:17:39,289 --> 00:17:42,009 and for sharing about the impactful work going 507 00:17:42,009 --> 00:17:44,650 on under under your leadership at UPMC. We 508 00:17:44,650 --> 00:17:47,230 really appreciate it. Thank you. Our pleasure. 509 00:17:47,846 --> 00:17:49,606 And to our listeners, if you'd like to 510 00:17:49,606 --> 00:17:51,926 listen to more podcasts from Becker's Healthcare, you 511 00:17:51,926 --> 00:17:54,586 can visit beckershospitalreview.com.