HCA Florida West Hospital celebrates successful first year for students in Career Pathways to a Healthier Florida program

HCA Florida West Hospital is celebrating a successful first year of a three-year grant program by congratulating hundreds of local high school students for learning more about healthcare, including pursuing potential careers in the field.

HCA Healthcare Foundation, through its Healthier Tomorrow Fund, announced a $1 million grant last year to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations to help fund its Career Pathways to a Healthier Florida program. The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation received $60,000 to increase the number of students preparing for and passing the Patient Care Technician Certification (CPCT) exam, and to increase student involvement in organizations such as HOSA, a global student-led organization that raises awareness of opportunities in healthcare.

“Right now, I’m working toward my CCMA certification and my Pharmacy Tech certification. Recently, a chiropractor came to speak with us, and I was honestly shocked at how many different opportunities there are in that field,” said Olivia Courington. “If I could give any advice to students thinking about joining this program, I’d tell them to take full advantage of every certification offered. It really sets you up for success later in life, especially in college.”

In the program’s first year, participating students have learned about anatomy, medical terminology and healthcare ethics. Study exams were made available to students who wanted to learn essential Patient Care Tech skills, which prepared them for clinical rotations at local hospitals. Students collectively received nearly 70 hours of hands-on experience and a total of 38 healthcare industry certifications were earned.

 “HCA Florida West Hospital is honored to help strengthen our future healthcare workforce in partnership with the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation, providing high school students real-world experience that can lead to rewarding healthcare careers,” said Karl Leistikow, CEO of HCA Florida West Hospital. “We look forward to seeing this program continue to grow and provide more students with opportunities to learn new skills that will benefit both them as individuals and the entire community.”  

The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation is among 15 local education foundations in Florida that received grants from HCA Healthcare’s Healthier Tomorrow Fund and are participating in the initiative. Across the state, the initiative has already exceeded its goals in the first year, including:

• 42% increase across all 15 programs.
• 1,767 certifications earned by students statewide.
• 100% of surveyed students reported increased interest in healthcare careers.

The grant focuses on Title I high schools to positively impact both the students’ futures and the future of healthcare in Escambia County and statewide by increasing the number of students pursuing healthcare careers after graduation.