Description:

MercyOne, a healthcare provider in Des Moines, Iowa, faced significant staffing shortages in Medical Assistant (MA) positions, leading to canceled hours and procedures. To address this challenge, MercyOne partnered with OpusVi to develop an innovative apprentice-style MA training program.

The Challenge:

MercyOne grappled with several critical issues impacting its operations and patient care. The primary challenge was a significant shortage of Medical Assistants (MAs), which led to the cancellation of hours and procedures, disrupting the continuity and quality of patient services. Retention issues compounded this shortage, as the existing MA training programs yielded low graduation and retention rates, further exacerbating the staffing crisis.

Moreover, MercyOne recognized many of their non-clinical staff members, such as receptionists, patient transport staff and environmental services personnel, had the potential to advance in their careers but needed more training and qualifications. There was a clear need to create a pathway for these employees to rise to clinical roles, which would not only fill the MA vacancies but also enhance employee satisfaction and retention. To address these multifaceted challenges, MercyOne turned to OpusVi for a solution that could simultaneously increase the supply of qualified MAs, improve retention rates and provide career advancement opportunities for their existing workforce.