Patient Care Specialist graduate finds rewarding job in healthcare field

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — A recent graduate of the Patient Care Specialist (PCS) program at Wallace State Community College is pleased with the training she received and how quickly she was able to find a job in the healthcare field.
Tiffany Brooks of Hanceville graduated from the Patient Care Specialist program at Wallace State in the spring of this year after starting the program in fall of 2015. She is now working at Surgical Arts, P.C., as a medical assistant, using her certifications in CPR, Certified Nursing Assistant and EKG Technician in the practice.
“I act as a liaison between the doctor and his patients,” Brooks said. “Having the background from the PCS program at Wallace State has given me the knowledge and skills needed to better assist the patients with their medical needs.”
Brooks said she performs a variety of jobs throughout her day, which starts with gathering patient charts and checking vital signs for each patient coming through triage. “I take them to the rooms, providing a gown if needed, and help the nurses with gathering the appropriate instruments for procedures, as well as washing and packaging instruments throughout the day,” she added. “I assist with wound care, such as removing staples and dressings, as well as sterilizing the rooms when the patients leave.”
She said her job is “very rewarding” and would recommend the Patient Care Specialist program to others who are seeking a quick pathway toward a job in the healthcare field.
“What I liked best about the PCS program at Wallace State was the unlimited access to the learning centers and being assigned a Career Coach who helped me manage day-to-day as well as prepare me for graduation and job placement,” Brooks said. “The instructors at Wallace State also provided me with the tools that I needed to become successful in the program. They provided access to the labs and scheduled time in the simulation center, as well as evaluation during clinicals.
“Being a part of the Patient Care Specialist program gave me the foundation that I needed to learn the basics of healthcare through the simulation center and through the classes I was able to participate in,” she added. “Walking across the stage at graduation was a proud moment for me, knowing that I now have the knowledge and confidence to apply for jobs that I had not previously qualified for.”
The Patient Care Specialist program at Wallace State is a program developed as part of BOOST: Better Occupational Outcomes with Simulation Training – New Pathways to Healthcare Careers, to expand and improve the college’s ability to deliver education and career training programs as well as improve student employability in the healthcare sector.
The foundation of the program consists of Certified Nursing Assistant content, which enables students to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Examination and be listed in the Alabama Nurse Aid Registry. Additional certification is earned as an Electrocardiography Technician. Specialized courses in nursing, medical assistant and emergency medical services are included in the program of study.
Applications are now being accepted for the PCS program. For more information, contact Tanya Shearer at 256.352.7857 or tanya.shearer@wallacestate.edu. You may also visit the Patient Care Specialist program page at www.wallacestate.edu or the program’s Facebook page at  www.facebook.com/wallacestatepcs/.