Worcester Business Journal Special Editions

C O O L S T U F F 2 0 2 2 • A Guide to Career Opportunities in Central Mass. 13 at UMass Memorial Medical Center, in Worcester. It's an industry with almost countless career options. While people are always going to need to seek medical attention, there are a lot of healthcare jobs outside of the traditional doctor and nurse roles immediately coming to mind. Healthcare providers in offices and networks of all sizes work with and rely upon a large staff to keep the operation running, and that's espe- cially true for a system the size of UMass, which includes multiple hospitals and UMass Memorial Medical Group, which employs a fleet of primary care doctors and other specialists. The more doctors and nurses there are, the more support staff they'll need. Precourt points to departments and roles related to information technology, transpor- tation, and skilled trades. There's options like human resources, communications, finance, and facilities maintenance, among others. What ties these medical and non-medical roles together in any healthcare network is they come together to support the same end goal: providing care for patients. An IT spe- cialist might write the code allowing a sur- gery to take place, Precourt said, and facili- ties personnel might install lights in an operating room to the same end. "You're making a difference in your com- munity," he said. Different care models Community is literally the name of the game at facilities like the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, which is headquartered in Worcester and main- tains outposts in Framingham and Milford. Founded in 1972, the health center serves about 30,000 patients at its family practice. The practice is holistic, covering a wide array of preventive services, including optometry, dental care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, as well as LGBTQ services, including a transgender practice. "A community health center is true family medicine," said Amaryllis Teixeira, a family nurse practitioner at Kennedy. A more intimate medical setting, it's common, she said, for entire families to receive care at the cen- ter, and for patients to keep coming back for many, many years. Staff at the health center are able to really get to know their patients, and know they are often serving people who belong to vul- nerable population groups. The center reports 90% of its patient base is considered low-income, with 14% living in public housing. The patient population is diverse, with 53% self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino, and 71% best served by speaking in a language other than English. Some 84 languages are represented among patients, overall. "For everyone, going into health care has its own drive," Teixeira said, of what drew her to her career in community health. "I think, personally speaking, it was the desire to help people that otherwise wouldn't have any access." Hours and compensation When it comes to healthcare careers in Central Massachusetts, virtually any work arrangement is on the table. From traditional 40-hour work weeks, to part-time, per-diem pay, and flexible work-from-home positions, virtually all options are available. It really depends on a combination of which part of the industry a prospective employee pursues, in tandem with their personal needs. "We understand that we are making a Pros • Working with the community • Many different job specialities available • A stable, high-demand industry • Provides options for entry-level, low-credential positions • Mission-minded work Cons • Can work long hours depending on the job type • Smaller nonprofits may pay less • Burnout is a possibility, especially after the COVID pandemic • There is an ongoing nursing shortage, which can cause stress on staff and patients WORKING IN HEALTH CARE Amaryllis Teixeira The Kennedy Community Health Center serves about 30,000 patients annually. PHOTO | COURTESY OF EDWARD M. KENNEDY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

• Cover