Baystate Health programs help develop a high-performing workforce
To encourage community members and local students to train and study for health care careers and to offer educational opportunities and advancement for current employees, Baystate Health in Springfield, Mass., leads several workforce development programs:
- Observerships, or job shadowing opportunities, help individuals 18 years or older to learn about health career options and the occupational skills needed. Designed for career exploration, not hands-on training, observerships are supervised by Baystate employees and are uncompensated.
- Externships and internships provide training for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students enrolled in an accredited program at a school, college or university that has an affiliation agreement with Baystate Health. Each year, more than 600 allied health students participate in these externships and internships with the health system.
- Clinical rotations offer education and training to advanced practitioner students, including current Baystate Health employees, who are enrolled in nurse practitioner, graduate nursing or physician assistant degree programs. Advanced practitioner student placements at the health system are in high demand, and its AP fellowship program in primary care was the first in Massachusetts to receive accreditation with distinction.
With these programs, Baystate Health aims to develop a high-performing workforce and train the next generation of providers in delivering team-based, person-centered care.