CBBC News

CBBC Career College recently hosted a webinar, “The Demand for Healthcare Professionals,” where Bonnie Gardner, Vice President of Student Enrollment and Financial Services, was joined by panelists Kayla Miller, a Dental Instructor, Dr. Ron Chafe, a practicing dentist, and Greg Cole, a Career and Employment Specialist at CBBC. The discussion focused on the pressing need for healthcare professionals in Nova Scotia, the various programs CBBC offers, and how these programs are addressing critical workforce shortages.

Urgent Demand for Healthcare Professionals

Bonnie Gardner opened the webinar with a striking statistic: the Nova Scotia Health Authority currently has 12,000 open positions for healthcare professionals across the province. This number includes roles for medical office administrators, continuing care assistants (CCAs), dental assistants, and medical lab assistants (MLAs). The need is particularly dire in rural areas, where access to healthcare services is more limited.

Healthcare Workers, Key Areas of Need:

• Dental Assistants: The demand for dental assistants is particularly high, not just in Nova Scotia but across Canada. The province’s aging population and the increase in dental care needs, compounded by new government programs providing free dental care, have created a critical shortage. Kayla Miller emphasized that nearly every day, she receives calls from dental offices desperately seeking trained dental assistants.
• Medical Lab Assistants (MLAs): According to Greg Cole, medical lab assistants are in such high demand that around 97% of CBBC’s students are hired before graduation. Nova Scotia Health and the IWK Health Centre are frequently hiring students in training to ensure they have a pipeline of qualified professionals ready to enter the workforce.
• Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs): Nova Scotia currently offers free tuition for domestic students enrolling in the CCA program until the end of the year, underscoring the importance of filling these positions in the province’s healthcare infrastructure. Rural healthcare facilities are especially in need of trained CCAs to care for the elderly and vulnerable populations.

CBBC’s Healthcare Programs Helping to Fill the Gap

CBBC Career College is at the forefront of providing the necessary training to meet the growing demand for healthcare professionals. The college offers several healthcare-related programs, including:

• Dental Assistant (Distance Program): This innovative program allows students to complete their coursework online while gaining hands-on experience at a local dental office. Students travel to the CBBC campus in Sydney for practical training, ensuring they are well-prepared to enter the workforce.
• Medical Office Administration (MOA): CBBC’s MOA program prepares students for roles in medical administration, a field with 196 open positions in Nova Scotia alone.
• Continuing Care Assistant (CCA): The province’s tuition-free program for CCAs has already filled many seats for September, but CBBC continues to offer courses for those interested in this critical role.
• Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA): CBBC’s Medical Laboratory Assistant program trains students for positions in clinical laboratories, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. With a high demand for medical lab assistants in Nova Scotia, this program prepares graduates for a critical role in the healthcare system. Many students are hired before graduation, ensuring a smooth transition into the workforce.

Looking Ahead, the Future for Healthcare Professionals

Nova Scotia’s healthcare system faces unprecedented challenges, with an aging population and increased demand for services across the board. The panelists were unanimous in their belief that programs like those offered by CBBC Career College will play a crucial role in addressing the province’s healthcare shortages. Whether it’s dental assistants, medical office administrators, or medical lab assistants, the need for skilled professionals is more urgent than ever.

As Bonnie Gardner concluded, “We need a whole lot more heroes in our healthcare field.” If you are considering a career in healthcare, now is the time to act. CBBC Career College offers regular program starts, including the Dental Assistant Distance Program beginning in January 2025, the MOA program in November, and the CCA program with rolling admissions.

See the full webinar below

For more information or to register for one of these programs, please contact CBBC Career College today. The healthcare industry in Nova Scotia needs you!

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