In April 2010, the Bay Area Community College Consortium convened the Community Colleges and Workforce Investment Boards in the region to consider shared interests in Health Information Technology (Health IT).  Seven areas for potential collaboration were identified, highest among them was learning more about Health IT labor market needs. 
 
We are pleased to announce that a research study, led by the Health Workforce Initiative (California Community College Chancellor's Office Economic and Workforce Development Program) and partially funded  by the WIB-CC project, has been completed and is now available to Community Colleges and WIBs in the region.
 
The Health Workforce Initiative partnered with BW Research Partnership, Inc. (BW Research) to conduct a Health Information Technology Survey of healthcare firms in the 11-county Bay Area (9-county Bay Area plus Monterey and Santa Cruz counties).  John Carrese from the Center of Excellence and Kitty O'Doherty from BACCC provided technical support to HWI and BW Research throughout the study process.
 
We hope this study sheds light on where within the healthcare sector, Health IT skills are most in demand and what those skills are.  The  "Regional Implications" section at the end of the report outlines possibilities for regional collaboration that we hope will provide a path forward for our Community Colleges and WIBs related to this important area within healthcare.
 
To view the entire report, please click on the link below:
 
Bay Area HIT Report
 
We thank you for your interest and look forward to continuing our regional dialogue on Health IT.
 
Sincerely,
 
Linda Zorn, Health Workforce Initiative
John Carrese, Center of Excellence
Kitty O'Doherty, Bay Area Community College Consortium