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August 15, 2022 – The Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s acute care teaching hospital, Lakeside Medical Center, is partnering with Palm Beach State College (PBSC) to support healthcare workforce needs and provide continuing education to hospital staff in the underserved, rural region known as the Glades.  The hospital, which this year was named the most racially inclusive hospital in the country by the Lown Institute, sees this collaboration as a way to open the door for local students to receive training and employment in the health care field.

From left: Dr. LaTanya McNeal, Executive Dean, PBSC Belle Glade campus and Janet Moreland, APRN, MSN, LHRM, Associate Vice President, Lakeside Medical Center

“Lakeside Medical Center, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s rural teaching hospital, is proud of this innovative partnership with the Palm Beach State College Belle Glade campus,” said Janet Moreland, APRN, MSN, LHRM, the hospital’s Associate Vice President. “We look forward to showing students the hospital’s many rewarding career opportunities so they’ll consider joining our healthcare team to serve the Glades communities following graduation. This win-win collaboration also affords our hospital staff opportunities to advance their skills through continuing education courses at the college.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Lakeside Medical Center and believe this strategic partnership will greatly benefit both organizations,” said Dr. LaTanya McNeal, executive dean of the PBSC Belle Glade campus. “Our students will now get the opportunity to learn about the many great career opportunities at Lakeside through a tour of the hospital and their ambassador program. The partnership will also bring hospital staff to the Belle Glade campus as we jointly plan a series of lunch and learn workshops on health-related topics, develop career seminars and panels on health-related fields for students.”

The partnership will increase students’ exposure to health care through onsite internships in areas like nursing, pharmacy, radiology, phlebotomy, respiratory, information technology, and business services. In turn, the collaboration will also create a pipeline for PBSC graduates to fill hospital vacancies.

“Recruiting medical professionals who provide direct patient care is an ongoing challenge in health care,” said Darcy J. Davis, Health Care District CEO. “To help address this challenge locally, the Health Care District is pleased to collaborate with Palm Beach State College’s Belle Glade campus to create an academic pathway for students that leads to a rewarding healthcare profession and also benefits our staff, patients and the entire Glades region.”

 

About the Health Care District

The Health Care District of Palm Beach County provides primary medical care and dental services for adults and children at the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics, a coordinated and lifesaving Trauma System that includes two FAA-certified Trauma Hawk air ambulances, registered nurses in nearly 170 public schools, short and long-term skilled nursing at the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Riviera Beach, and acute care at its teaching hospital, Lakeside Medical Center, which is accredited by The Joint Commission and serves the rural Glades’ communities.