Health Cluster: Career Preparation With Results

Volume 35

Number 1

Spring 2004

Health Cluster: Career Preparation With Results

By Ann Houston

Looking for a job? Check out the classifieds in Oklahoma newspapers and it’s easy to see those trained to be a nurse, physician’s assistant, dental hygienist, therapist, technician or in other health-related career won’t be looking for long.

Nationally hospitals are reporting more than 168,000 openings with 126,000 of those for registered nurses. Oklahoma is experiencing its own crunch in those arenas as well.

In response to this shortage, the Oklahoma Health Cluster Institute “Career Preparation With Results” (CPR) has attracted 18 community-based partnership teams from across the state that are working toward solutions for their communities. The institute, sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, was held on March 9-10 at the Tulsa Marriott Southern Hills.

Career Clusters are broad occupational groupings of specific industry based jobs, according to Robin Schott, innovative initiatives and services manager at the state CareerTech agency. In this case the health industry is the focus. The cluster organizes instruction and student experiences from entry through professional levels in the health industry.

“The teams developed action plans addressing specific problems they are facing in their communities in regard to the health industry,” Schott said. “By engaging business partners, educators can further develop and align specific health and academic courses, curriculum and work-based learning experiences for the Health Science Career Cluster.”

Team members included Tech Prep coordinators, local business and industry persons from the health field, technology center administrators and teachers, higher education representatives, and administrators, teachers and/or counselors from participating high schools in the partnership area, as well as representatives from other youth initiatives and community organizations based on local need.

Many of the cluster teams are from Oklahoma’s technology center system including Moore Norman; Caddo Kiowa, Ft. Cobb; Kiamichi at Durant, McAlester and Talihina; Northwest, Alva: High Plains, Woodward; Western, Burns Flat; Pontotoc, Ada; Pioneer, Ponca City; Southwest, Altus; Central Tech, Drumright; Red River, Duncan; Indian Capital, Muskogee; Tulsa Tech and Metro Tech, Oklahoma City. Also Putnam City Schools and Redlands Community College brought teams.

“The teams had an opportunity to select three of 19 content experts who offered expertise and advice on specific problem areas a partnership may be encountering as they enhance their localized strategic plans,” Schott said.