Highlights of the Healthcare Career Opportunities Forum

Sawmill Inn
March 29th, 2007

Sponsored by: Itasca Community College Foundation’s DIALOGUE NORTH Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, and Itasca Economic Development

The Healthcare Career Opportunities Forum was the 22nd in a series of forums held to provide the opportunity to learn and talk about an issue of interest to the community. All forums are open to the public.

In a recent survey conducted by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber and Itasca Economic Development of anticipated employment growth in the Itasca area from 2007-12, the three major Itasca County healthcare facilities indicated a future high demand for healthcare professions. Over 180 openings for registered and licensed practical nurses are anticipated within the next five years. Other medical career positions including physicians, admissions clerks, patient account representatives and nursing assistants top the list of future career opportunities locally.

Since 2004 approximately $94 million has been invested in healthcare facilities in Itasca County. Itasca Community College and its Northeast Minnesota partnering colleges have the initial training resources available to prepare a workforce to take advantage of this huge financial investment and the healthcare job opportunities available.

The forum was sponsored by Itasca Community College Foundation’s Dialogue North, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and IEDC. Over 130 people attended the forum, including approximately 70 very engaged students from area schools interested in learning about career opportunities in the Itasca area.

Keynote speaker: Jim Hanko, President and CEO of North Country Health Services in Bemidji , was the keynote speaker. Jim is a member of the Minnesota Hospital Association and current chair of its Workforce Development Committee. Jim discussed the ever increasing demand for health care professionals in the state and specifically northern Minnesota due to the aging population. A copy of Mr. Hanko’s PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded by clicking on Health Care Workforce Presentation.

Panelists: On a local level, representatives of the Bigfork Valley Hospital , Deer River Health Care and Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital participated on the panel to highlight future career opportunities in the Itasca area. Panelists included Randy Herme, Rehabilitation Services Manager at Bigfork Valley Hospital ; Keith Pearson, Director of Pharmacy at Bigfork Valley Hospital ; Kathy Holtberg, Chief Nursing Officer at Deer River HealthCare Center ; Mathias Salmela, RN, Educational & Surgical Services at Deer River HealthCare Center ; Kim Morse, Diagnostic Imaging at Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital; Julie Koski, Healthcare Infomatics, employed by SISU. Dr. Barbara McDonald , Dean of Academic Affairs at ICC served as panel moderator.

For anyone interested in learning more about healthcare career opportunities the following websites were recommended: www.learntocare.org and www.myfirstday.org.