Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and the nonprofit Angel Reach have agreed to a partnership to create a pathway system to help young adults in the foster system or facing homelessness join the medical industry, according to a March 20 news release.
The gist
The partnership hired five Angel Reach residents into paid patient care technician roles at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. Through this program, the Angel Reach residents were able to work in clinical support roles with no previous health care experience, according to the news release.
The training as part of the program includes, but is not limited to:
- Hands-on experience supporting patient care
- Assisting with daily living activities
- Obtaining vital signs
- Cross-training in patient transport and observation roles
More detailsThe program is now expected to usher in a new batch of hires, and the original five Angel Reach program residents will continue with the program, this time as mentors, according to the news release.
John Voight, Memorial Hermann vice president and chief nursing officer, said his motivation for supporting the program stems from his own experiences in the foster care system.
“I spent time in foster care as a child, so this wasn’t an abstract cause for me,” said Voight. “When I walked through Angel Reach and met these young people, I saw real potential that just needed a real opportunity.”
Quotes of note
- “When young adults are given training, support, and a clear pathway forward, it changes the trajectory of their lives,” said Dan Alexander, CEO and executive director of Angel Reach. “This partnership does exactly that, and Memorial Hermann has shown what it looks like when a healthcare system genuinely invests in the community it serves.”
- “Leading this group has been incredibly rewarding,” said Taylor White, support operations manager for Transport, PCT and CVMP at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. “These individuals bring strong commitment, genuine compassion for patients, and a drive to grow that is remarkable. They are making us better.”
