Essentia Health-Fargo celebrates first graduate of surgical technologist apprenticeship program – American Hospital Association

Report on Essentia Health-Fargo’s Surgical Technologist Apprenticeship Program and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Essentia Health-Fargo has successfully graduated the first participant from its registered surgical technologist apprenticeship program. This initiative directly addresses critical workforce shortages in the healthcare sector while concurrently advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Program Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The program strengthens local healthcare infrastructure by creating a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals to address a national shortage of surgical technologists. This enhances the capacity of the health system to provide safe and effective surgical care for the community.

• Addressing Workforce Gaps: The program was established to counter a shortage driven by an aging population and a decline in accredited training programs, directly supporting the health and well-being of the community.
• Investing in Local Talent: By training and retaining local employees, the initiative ensures that skilled healthcare professionals remain in the community, contributing to a resilient and sustainable local health service.

SDG 4: Quality Education & SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The apprenticeship offers an alternative educational pathway, promoting lifelong learning and creating opportunities for decent work and career advancement. It serves as a model for inclusive and equitable vocational training.

1. Accessible Vocational Training: The 12-month program, registered by the U.S. Department of Labor, combines hands-on training, mentorship, and formal instruction, allowing employees to gain qualifications without returning to full-time education.
2. Career Advancement: The initiative removes barriers to career progression, enabling employees like the first graduate, Tessa Connors, to transition from roles such as a sterile processing technician into a specialized surgical position.
3. Creation of Skilled Jobs: The program produces highly skilled professionals for full and productive employment, contributing to local economic growth and ensuring a stable, qualified workforce.

Outcomes and Future Projections

The graduation of the program’s first apprentice marks a significant milestone. The graduate is now preparing for professional certification and will join Essentia’s specialized general and cardiovascular surgery team. This successful outcome validates the program as an effective strategy for workforce development that aligns with global sustainability objectives by investing in people, promoting quality education, and strengthening community health services.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article discusses a program designed to address a “national shortage of surgical technologists.” By training and graduating skilled professionals like Tessa Connors, Essentia Health-Fargo is strengthening its health workforce, which is crucial for providing quality surgical care and ensuring the well-being of patients in the community.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The core of the article is the “registered surgical technologist apprenticeship program.” This 12-month initiative provides an alternative educational pathway that “combines hands-on training, mentorship and formal instruction.” It removes barriers for individuals like the graduate who wanted to “transition into surgery without returning to school full-time,” thereby promoting inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The program is a direct response to workforce gaps and aims to create “highly skilled professionals who will work and live in our community.” By “investing in our employees” and “finding local talent,” the initiative promotes sustained, inclusive economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work. It provides a clear path for career advancement and secures a skilled job for its graduates.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce. The article directly addresses this by describing a program created to train and retain surgical technologists to fill a “national shortage.” The initiative is a clear investment in the development and training of the local health workforce.

• Under SDG 4: Quality Education

  • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The apprenticeship is a vocational program designed to equip participants with the specific, technical skills required to be a surgical technologist, leading directly to employment.

• Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The program’s goal is to produce “highly skilled professionals” who are then employed by the hospital, as seen with the first graduate who will “join Essentia’s ‘red team’.”
  • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. The apprenticeship model provides a direct pathway from training to employment, targeting individuals seeking career advancement and preventing them from being outside the workforce or educational system.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicators for SDG 3 (Target 3.c)

  • Number of trained and certified health workers: The article celebrates the “first graduate” of the program, Tessa Connors, who is now “preparing for her certification exam.” The number of graduates per year would be a direct indicator of progress in strengthening the health workforce.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 4 (Target 4.4)

  • Number of participants in vocational training programs: The existence of the program and its first graduate implies a system for tracking enrollment and completion. The number of people completing the 12-month apprenticeship is a clear measure.
  • Transition rate from education to employment: The article states the graduate will join Essentia’s surgical team, indicating a successful transition. Tracking the percentage of graduates who gain employment in the field post-apprenticeship would be a key indicator.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 8 (Target 8.5 & 8.6)

  • Creation of skilled jobs in the local community: The program is explicitly designed to have graduates “work and live in our community.” The number of jobs filled by program graduates is a direct measure of its impact on local employment.
  • Number of employees receiving on-the-job training/upskilling: The program is an example of an employer “investing in our employees.” The first graduate was already an employee who used the program for “career advancement.” The number of existing employees who complete the program is an indicator of upskilling.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: aha.org