WHO: The COE-LTC is an industry partnership for long term care in the County. The COE-LTC steering committee is made up of representatives from key stakeholders in Lancaster County's long term care industry - including administrators, DON's, HR representatives, and staff educators from long term care facilities, and representatives from hospice, hospital, educational partners, home health/agency and department of aging. (complete list of the current COE-LTC members)

WHY: COE-LTC representatives provide input to the Workforce Investment Board on critical workforce-related issues facing the long term care industry in Lancaster County and they play an essential role in selecting, piloting, evaluating and approving the initiatives that the WIB subsequently implements. By working together in partnership, all members of the group have benefited from research-based, state-of-the-industry programs and best practices that have been carefully monitored and evaluated to ensure they meet the outcomes defined by the members of the group. All of these initiatives are provided at no cost to the members of the group. They are paid for through funding secured by the Workforce Investment Board. Our firm belief is that by working collaboratively, we can "raise all ships" and provide opportunities and programs that would be cost-prohibitive for a single facility to pursue on their own.

WHAT: The programs that have come out of the COE-LTC to date have included:

WHEN: We meet quarterly. To find out more about joining the Center of Excellence in Long Term Care Practice Steering Committee, contact Melanie G. Snyder, Project Manager, Healthcare Initiatives at (717) 361-2722 or via email at melaniegsnyder@yahoo.com

CAREER AWARENESS INITIATIVES

• a media campaign to highlight health care careers and provide recognition to health care workers - key purpose was to "fill the pipeline" in nursing, CNA and allied health training programs offered by Lancaster General, Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, and HACC-Lancaster
• Youth healthcare and long term care exploration programs including annual healthcare career fairs, "Gold Collar Careers Night" and summer healthcare career camps for youth to continue to encourage youth and their parents to consider pursuing a career in healthcare, long term care and allied health fields

CULTURE CHANGE and EMPLOYEE RETENTION INITIATIVES

For Executive Leadership:
• Leading Change: Creating a Culture of Retention
• Metrics for Long Term Care/Healthcare: Assessing Outcomes and Impact of Your Organizational Learning and Culture Change Initiatives
• Turnover Analysis Tools

For Supervisors:

• Coaching Approach to Supervision
• Diversity Issues and Strategies for Success in Long Term Care: A Forum for Supervisors

For Direct Care Workers:

• End of Life/Palliative Care training: “Your Caring Presence: Supporting Residents and Families at End of Life”
• 3P Teambuilding, Communication and Problem Solving Skills for Direct Care Staff

For Staff Educators:

• Coaching Supervision Train-the-Trainer
• 3P Teambuilding, Communication and Problem Solving Train-the-Trainer
• End of Life/Palliative Care training (“Your Caring Presence”) Train-the-Facilitator