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Health Services

An estimated 27.1% additional health services workers will be needed by the year 2014 in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association helped develop this Youth Apprenticeship Program to meet the need for skilled entry levelemployees.

Poster: Work Exploration in the Real World, Health Care -- WorkNet poster that lists average wages and job growth expectations for many health care related professions.

New: Health Services Program Guide now available on-line

The Health Services Program Guide and all of its appendices are now available on this site. The complete Guide is a 259 page PDF document, suitable for printing. There are also separate links to the Guide and each individual appendix, if you're only interested in reading or printing individual portions of the Guide.

Work-Based Requirements

Employer mentors are trained to teach youth apprentices the skills and knowledge needed to find entry level employment in the health services industry.

Youth apprentices select two of the five specialty areas for their paid worksite experience (see Skills Standards Checklist) and take related classroom instruction at the local high school, technical college or at the worksite.

The Health program has two options available. The one-year option includes selection of one specialty area and two semesters of classroom instruction which support a minimum of 450 work hours.  The two-year option includes selection of two specialty areas and four semesters of classroom instruction which support 900 work hours.

Related Instruction Requirements

Health Services related instruction focuses on:

• Health Care Foundations (HCF)
  Areas of Therapeutic, Diagnostic and Information Services. Including; testing of specimens, lab and diagnostic imaging, assistive devices, record keeping, insurance verification, coding, and admission/discharge of clients.

• Health Information Management (HIM)
  Areas of business and administrative aspects of health care, records management, information technology duties, detailed documentation and computer work.
  
  
• Medical Assistant (MA)
  Concepts and skills related to the management of a medical office or department, records, insurance, inventory, collecting specimens and laboratory testing and direct client care with procedure administration.
  
  
• Nursing Assistant (NA)
  Direct patient care tasks in a nursing facility, certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA), safety and universal precautions, basic care standards, communications and interpersonal skills.
  
  
• Pharmacy Technician (PHARM)
  Students will achieve skills to assist pharmacists in both hospital and retail pharmacies performing clerical and laboratory functions including; customer service, math and lab skills, and preparation of various pharmaceuticals.

Skill Certificate and Advanced Standing

Graduates of two-year Health Services Youth Apprenticeship programs may be awarded credits in specific Wisconsin Technical College programs.  Check with your local technical college for specific requirements on agreements and obtaining credit. Read Appendix F for more detail.

Downloadable Documents

• Skills Standards Checklist
• Order Form from Dept. of Administration Document Sales Unit
• Health Services Program Guide
• Health Services Youth Apprenticeship Program brochure

Additional Links

• Implementing the New and Revised Health Services YA Curriculum
• Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association (WHA)
• Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC)
• Wisconsin Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
• Wisconsin Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
• Wisconsin Nurse Aide Training and Registry Information