ELLISVILLE –Jones College’s Greene County Center in Leakesville is adding new programs to its already growing number of programs offered to the region. Area healthcare clinics and hospitals have asked Greene County Center Dean, Alan Cook to offer the healthcare related programs like Healthcare Assistant (career pathway certificate), Medical Assistant (academic credit) and Phlebotomy (workforce) because of the increasing need for these skilled personnel.
“We actually started our first phlebotomy class in February and we’re trying to get the Certified Nurse Assistant and Medical Assistant programs started. We did offer an EMT class this semester, but we didn’t have enough people sign up, but we are offering the EMT program for the fall of 2024, and we hope to be able to offer the medical assistant program in the future. We’re also talking about a Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse Bridge program,” said Cook. “I would just love to see the healthcare programs we’re offering in Leakesville take off and serve our community because we have a hospital here and several clinics in Leakesville and the surrounding areas. There is a need.”
Greene County Center’s future healthcare programs currently offered include the phlebotomy course which is a seven-week workforce training program, eight hours a week with day and night class options available. Phlebotomists work in medical facilities including blood banks, like Vitalant, and labs like LabCorp. These professionals prepare individuals to collect blood specimens for clinical laboratories. During the course, students will learn legal and safety aspects of the healthcare industry, medical terminology and basic healthcare procedures preparing graduates for national certification. A phlebotomist’s salary ranges from $15-$23 an hour depending on place of employment.
The Health Care Assistant Program prepares the individual to assist the healthcare team under the direction of a health care professional. Graduates of the one semester program will be awarded the Certificate of Health Care Assistant. Students who complete the program may qualify for employment as Homemakers, Nurse Assistants, Long-term Care Aides, or Home Health Aides. This program combines classroom instruction with laboratory work and clinical practice. The curriculum emphasizes employability skills, job seeking skills, legal aspects of health care, safety in health care, communication and observation skills, medical terminology, and basic health care procedures. Included is basic life support (American Heart Association), body structure and function, human growth and development, and nutrition. Emphasis is placed on common diseases and disorders and skills required to care for the long-term care resident. Successful graduates can earn $15-$25 an hour depending on place of employment.
After completing the Medical Assistant for credit program, successful graduates can earn $13-$22 an hour depending on the place of employment. Cook hopes to be able to offer this program in the fall 2024.
For more information about Health Care Assistant, Medical Assistant or Phlebotomy programs contact the Jones College, Greene County Center by phone at 601-477-4238 or by emailing student navigator, Menyone Barrow at menyone.barrow@jcjc.edu or by visiting the website, https://www.jcjc.edu/workforce/locations/greene-campus/