UPMC Health Plan Launches Program Targeting Underserved Communities to Train and Hire Health IT-Focused Customer Service "Concierges"

Partners Health IT Pittsburgh and Partner4Work Provide Recruitment and Financial Support

PITTSBURGH – (April 6, 2021) – UPMC Health Plan, Health IT Pittsburgh and Partner4Work today announced the launch of a new health information technology (IT) training program for individuals in underserved communities to provide opportunities in the fast-growing field of Health IT. Gathering community resources will help to build a partnership, or cluster, to maximize resources and impact. Program participants will fill technology-driven, customer service roles with an emphasis on applying systems knowledge to database management skills, call center operations and sales functions.

“With the need for skilled IT-focused individuals in healthcare on the rise, it’s important to have a local workforce of skilled professionals ready. This is imperative not only to UPMC Health Plan, but it’s also urgent for our region,” said Dan LaValle, director, Center for Social Impact, UPMC Health Plan.  “That’s why UPMC Health Plan and our partners tailored this program to provide a broad set of high-tech skills for in-demand jobs at UPMC Health Plan and elsewhere.”

The eight-week training program will initially focus on 15 individuals, placed into three, five-members cohorts. Participants will receive instruction and training virtually as they learn their new job skills and after successful completion of the program will work virtually once hired within UPMC Health Plan. The program seeks to maintain a 90 percent retention rate through the hiring, training, hard and soft skill development, and mentoring period before moving participants into long-term, full-time career employment.  

Program participants will earn an hourly rate of at least $15, and training will be delivered by UPMC Health Plan through its award-winning Member Services Department.

Program partners successfully worked together to develop, fund, and execute the employment program. Specifically, Partner4Work developed the recruiting strategy targeting those on Medicaid and worked with UPMC Health Plan officials to secure and screen appropriate candidates. Funding for the project was provided by Health IT Pittsburgh, while UPMC Health Plan will hire program participants and monitor and report program progress and outcomes.

Health IT Pittsburgh is a Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse initiative, established in part for assisting in the development the regions workforce in health information technology. “As an economic development authority, we see the rise and need for health technology careers, which has increased in part due to COVID-19. We are proud to work with our partner organizations to create job training programs and bring life-sustaining careers to underserved communities,” said Diana Cugliari, president and CEO, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse.

Partner4Work is a workforce development organization that seeks to connect funding, expertise, and opportunities to develop a thriving workforce in the Pittsburgh and surrounding region. “We are extremely grateful for the partnership between UPMC Health Plan and Health IT Pittsburgh as we work together to build the workforce of tomorrow right here in Pittsburgh,” said Susie Puskar, chief program officer, Partner4Work.

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