Concorde Staff
To meet the increasing need for skilled healthcare workers, Concorde and HCA Florida Healthcare have formed an exciting new partnership. This collaborative program offers valuable upskilling opportunities for HCA Florida Healthcare employees, helping them advance their careers and contribute to a growing healthcare workforce.
By combining Concorde's Sterile Processing Program with HCA Florida Healthcare's extensive statewide network of hospitals and resources, this partnership offers accessible and flexible pathways for professional growth, positively impacting the lives of healthcare professionals and the communities they serve.
A Shared Vision Takes Root: Upskilling Florida's Healthcare Workforce
Launched in May 2024, the initial pilot program in both the West Florida and East Florida divisions was a collaboration between HCA Florida Healthcare and Concorde made possible by Soraya Papillon, HCA Healthcare Division Program Manager and Workforce Development COE.
The program was subsequently streamlined and expanded to include the North Florida and South Atlantic Divisions.
The partnership between HCA Florida Healthcare and Concorde stemmed from a shared desire to make upskilling opportunities more accessible and flexible for healthcare professionals.
"We saw a huge gap in the need for entry-level workers within our facilities," said Jenn Bodnar, HCA Healthcare Division Program Manager, Workforce Development.
"One of the biggest issues our hospitals, and hospitals everywhere, struggle with is not only filling immediate openings but also developing a pipeline of talent to fill needs in the future,” she continued.
“What’s exciting is that we’re expanding the bandwidth. A lot of departments are understaffed; they can’t support that internal training themselves. That’s why we look to external training providers like Concorde,” Bodnar said.
This collaborative effort directly addresses the critical shortage of entry-level healthcare workers like sterile processors, a challenge intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the healthcare industry continues to face unprecedented staffing shortages, HCA Florida Healthcare and Concorde aim to build a pipeline of qualified professionals ready to step into these vital roles.
Flexibility Fuels Success: Adapting to the Needs of Healthcare Professionals
A key element of the program's success lies in its flexibility, catering to the demanding schedules of healthcare professionals. The blended learning approach, combining online and in-person instruction, provides a supportive environment for those balancing work and personal responsibilities.
“We explored accelerated programs with the understanding that our trainees are full-time employees," said Papillon. "The program needed to be uniquely flexible—whether hybrid, fully online and self-paced. When considering the best fit for our employees, Concorde made sense.”
Papillon continued, “We sought a partner committed to ensuring an exceptional student experience from start to finish."
Bodnar added, “Having colleagues from a variety of backgrounds, we wanted to select a program that would promote success. There is so much flexibility in Concorde’s approach to teaching and learning, which allows for students to have constant access to resources and tools to ensure they are passing and finishing the program.”
Soraya Papillon, HCA Healthcare Division Program Manager, Workforce Development COE
Celebrating Successes: How the Program is Making a Difference
This emphasis on hands-on learning and close collaboration with the Concorde team has already produced positive results. Bodnar proudly highlighted the achievements of participants in her West Florida division.
"There’s been multiple successes, but the big one is one of my surgical services directors. She said, ‘By the end of 2024, we became fully staffed in the department thanks to the training and upskilling of our internal workers.’"
The program’s impact is further exemplified by inspiring stories, such as one shared by a participant: "It was a very good program and taught me a lot of things that really helped me do my job. I was also able to bring some of my new knowledge and share it with my team members, which has helped our department. It was a really good experience!"
Papillon recounted the participant’s experience, highlighting their initiative to drive improvement. The director was open and receptive, recognizing the value of the insights gained from the Concorde program and embracing the ideas “because they believed in the program," Papillon shared.
Jenn Bodnar, HCA Healthcare Division Program Manager, Workforce Development
The Role of Real-World Experience in Our Partnership
At the heart of Concorde’s collaboration with HCA is the invaluable real-world experience provided by instructors like Lamone Green. He shared, “The first experience I had with the partnership was insightful—it helped me open up how we communicate both internally and externally,” he noted.
Lamone emphasized the importance of tailoring education to real-world applications, particularly in fields like sterile processing. “We help students connect the dots, filling in gaps in their knowledge and ensuring they are fully prepared for the job,” he explained.
Flexibility is another cornerstone of the program. “The fact that it’s fully online with access to instructors throughout the week is a game-changer for working professionals,” Lamone shared.
This structure allows participants to balance their studies with work and family commitments, helping them prioritize their goals without sacrificing other responsibilities.
"What’s exciting about this program is how it bridges classroom training with hands-on clinical experience directly within HCA facilities, which allows for seamless learning and application of skills," he said proudly.
The Road Ahead: Building the Concorde-HCA Florida Healthcare Partnership
Building on the early successes of the pilot program, HCA Florida Healthcare and Concorde are exploring new initiatives to further enhance career development opportunities for employees. These potential initiatives include:
Expanding the Program Enterprise-Wide
The positive outcomes observed in the pilot program have sparked interest in expanding its availability across all HCA Healthcare’s Florida divisions. This expansion would allow employees statewide to access valuable upskilling opportunities.
“I would love to see this program elevated—that we can offer it not just to the state of Florida but grow this program enterprise-wide,” Papillon said.
“Right now, it feels like a pilot. But ultimately, I think with the success of the program and how we’ve been managing it—hands-on, working closely with the students, working closely with Concorde—the program’s success is going to speak for itself in the coming year.”
Creating New Career Pathways
HCA Florida Healthcare is dedicated to fostering a culture of growth and development for its employees. One goal is to create a comprehensive career roadmap that outlines clear pathways for advancement and offers a wide range of opportunities for professional growth.
“This is just the first step in showing our employees we are invested in creating more opportunities in their professional growth and development,” Bodnar said.
“We plan to continue to build more career pathways and upskilling training options for our colleagues. It’s really exciting to be a part of this huge impact and shift in promoting career development and pipeline and showing these individuals we value their work and their commitment to the care of others.”
These initiatives reflect HCA Florida Healthcare’s commitment to investing in its employees' professional development and cultivating a sustainable, highly skilled healthcare workforce for the future.
Collaboration for Growth: Empowering Healthcare Professionals
The partnership between HCA Florida Healthcare and Concorde is a shining example of how collaboration and a shared vision can address critical workforce needs.
By investing in their employees' professional development, HCA Florida Healthcare is not only transforming the lives of its healthcare professionals but also ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care.
As this partnership continues to evolve and expand, it holds the promise of creating a brighter future for healthcare in Florida and beyond.
Learn More About Concorde and HCA Florida Healthcare
Through partnerships with leading healthcare providers like HCA Florida Healthcare, Concorde helps build pathways to fulfilling healthcare careers while addressing critical workforce needs.
Visit our Partner page to explore how we’re collaborating with organizations like HCA to transform lives and shape the future of healthcare.
To learn more about HCA Florida Healthcare’s dedication to employee development and innovation, visit their website to discover how they’re investing in their team and redefining the future of care.
