By Jeff Murphy,
July 23, 2018
WARRENSBURG, MO – To help meet a training need in the medical field, the University
of Central Missouri and the Full Employment Council, Inc. (FEC) are partnering to
make possible a new short-term certificate program in Sterile Processing. The program
meeting International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management
(AHCSMV) standards is going to be launched in August as a pilot initiative.
“We believe the program is needed because of the work conducted locally by the Full
Employment Council,” said Scott Boyce, who represents Workforce Central at UCM. He
added that it also is in response to the needs of Kansas City area hospitals as expressed
by Shawn Petersen, who serves as Sterile Processing Department Manager at The University
of Kansas Health System and president of the Kansas City Metro Chapter of the International
Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHFCSMM).
The collaboration between the FEC, which is the designated Kansas City area workforce
development agency, UCM - Professional Education, and IAHCSMM, the Kansas City occupational
association, ensures students are positioned to succeed through industry-informed
curriculum and supportive service for those who are eligible. UCM is designing the
Sterile Processing certificate program. FEC, which convened the partnership, has been
working with hospitals to confirm the need and interest in the program, and is assisting
with scholarships for students.
"This is another creative, out-of-the-box, just-in-time, industry-informed training
collaboration between the University of Central Missouri and the FEC,” said Shelley
Penn, senior vice president/chief operations officer for the FEC. “It is developed
in response to current and future workforce needs as indicated by area hospitals."
According to Boyce, the university is still seeking hospital partners that are willing
to host clinical experiences for students. Interested medical facilities are urged
to contact him, preferably by email at boyce@ucmo.edu, or they may call 816-875-3927
ext. 110.
Sterile processing relates to service within a hospital in which medical and surgical
supplies and equipment, are cleaned, prepared, processed and stored, and issued for
the treatment of patients.
Boyce noted that data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows positive job
growth in this employment sector. The projected employment change from 2016 to 2026
is 6,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 11 percent, which is faster than average.
To learn more about tuition assistance for current employees and new hires or to interview
students in training, contact the FEC by email at both, Shelley Penn at spenn@feckc.org
and Rohina Behmann, director – Employment Development, at rbehmann@feckc.org. Individuals
can call Penn at 816-471-2330 ext. 1299 and Behmann at 816-471-2330 ext. 1480 or call
her cell phone at 816-716-8454.
About the University of Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri is a comprehensive state university that serves
nearly 12,500 students between its main campus in Warrensburg and its metropolitan
area programs, UCM-Lee’s Summit, which are housed in the new Missouri Innovation Campus.
UCM offers many undergraduate and graduate programs in addition to working with organizations
such as the Full Employment Council and numerous business partners to provide short-term
training to meet specific needs. Learn more at ucmo.edu.
About the Full Employment Council, Inc. (FEC)
The Full Employment Council, Inc. (FEC) is the designated strategic workforce organization
for the Greater Kansas City Missouri Area and Managing Entity/Fiscal Agent for the
Kansas City & Vicinity Workforce Development Board and the Eastern Jasckson County
Workforce Development Board.
