The U.S. Department of Labor is accepting applications for $13.2 million in grant funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create and implement an online platform that will boost access to healthcare career opportunities, including occupations such as medical records and health information technicians.
The grants will be awarded in two categories: (1) Healthcare Virtual Career Platform (HVCP), and (2) Enhancing the Ability of Community- and Faith-Based Organizations to Deliver Virtual Career Exploration Services, Including Healthcare Careers.
Under Category 1, The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will award one grant for up to $6.6 million to develop and operate an HVCP. Eligible applicants for Category 1 include private nonprofit organizations with a nationally-focused mission.
The ETA is interested a platform that will emphasize opportunities within health technology and healthcare support occupations and that will expand access to healthcare career information, especially to diverse populations.
"Increasing access to information and resources on healthcare careers will help more workers enter this growing industry," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This funding will support the creation of an easy-to-use online platform, which will allow individuals to access this information quickly and conveniently from their homes, any One-Stop Career Center or the local library."
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-11 Edition), medical records and health information technicians held about 172,500 jobs in 2008, and this number is expected to grow much faster than the average, seeing an increase of 20 percent or more.
"The increasing use of electronic health records (EHR) will continue to broaden and alter the job responsibilities of health information technicians," the handbook reads. "For example, with the use of EHRs, technicians must be familiar with EHR computer software, maintaining EHR security, and analyzing electronic data to improve healthcare information. Health information technicians use EHR software to maintain data on patient safety, patterns of disease, and disease treatment and outcome. Technicians also may assist with improving EHR software usability and may contribute to the development and maintenance of health information networks."
ETA expects to make grant awards under this solicitation for grant applications by June 30, 2010, and also expects that the grant start date will be July 1, 2010.
To view the full solicitation for grant application, click here.
