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September 17, 2015 - 2:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - As need grows for health-care assistants in the region a program at Thompson Rivers University aims to get more students out working more quickly.
Funding for the program was announced earlier this week, with the province providing the local university with $275,000 to open up 32 new spaces in the program. The funding was offered to programs running a year or less and TRU won the call for proposals.
The shorter health education program is aimed at helping to address the immediate needs of communities requiring more professionals to meet local demand. Health-care assistants can work in a variety of settings, from acute care to residential care to independent or assisted living.
"One of our top priorities is increasing student success and serving our community," school president Dr. Alan Shaver says in a media release. "Our students need short-duration training that's affordable, close to home and that will help them serve the needs of their community. In a few short months, this group will be working and knowing everyday they are making a difference in someone's life."
Currently there are more than 50,000 health-care assistants registered with B.C. Care Aide and Community Health Worker registry.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015