Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Breaking News

Local News

Discussion

November 21, 2008

Getting back into the work force

Area training center reaching out to former employees who have been laid off from regional jobs

By Rich Flowers News Editor

When a company closes or cuts back on personnel, workers can suddenly find themselves in search of a new career.

East Texas Career Training Center in Tyler is offering a course that can help former employees of Goodyear, Tyler Pipe — who have cut back their work forces — and others without work transition into the Medical Provider Specialist Field.

Doris Vick, an ETCTC instructor, said many of the former Goodyear plant employees are still without work and facing the end of certain benefits. The center offers an opportunity for the former Goodyear workers and others like them to get the training they need to make a career change.

“Not all of the Goodyear employees lost their jobs at the same time,” Vick said. “Some of them have benefits that would allow them to get training that they are not using.”

ETCTC representative Albert Bromchill said the center offers an intensive 336-clock-hour program that is competed in 42 days. Students will learn to perform duties and responsibilities relating to the financial billing and collection of revenue from health care payers reimbursable for patient medical care services.

Upon completion, students will receive a certificate signifying that they are ready for entry-level employment in a medical practice, hospital, clinic or related medical or health care organizations.

Vick said an example of the kind of job the course prepares the student for would be the person you see at the nursing station at a hospital. The graduates do not give medical care, but provide other functions vital to the medical field.

“They’ll learn (health privacy) regulations, and the coding and processing of bills,” Vick said.

Vick’s knowledge was gained from employment with insurance payers and medical providers spanning more than 20 years.

“I graduated from Athens High School in 1969. Back then there were no jobs in Athens except for a few manufacturing jobs,” Vick said.

“I left the area and went to Dallas and worked there for many years. Now I’ve returned to teach what I’ve learned from experience.”

Health care is a huge industry nationwide, Vick said. Athens, Tyler and Dallas all have hospitals, clinics and other health-related job opportunities.

“Even when the economy is down,” Vick said, “health care is a pretty stable source of revenue.”

The center classroom is designed to accommodate 12 students. The first class is being filled to start in late December or January.

“The small class allows for student-teacher interface,” Vick said. “They can get a head start on what they’re learning.

East Texas Career Training Center, Inc. is approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges division. ETCTC is Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) certified. The goal of the WIA Certification Process is to assist members of the workforce in finding quality training programs meeting their educational needs. The process provides standards that training providers must meet in order to receive WIA training dollars.

Text Only
Local News
  • Commissioners re-appoint three current Fair Park Board members

    The Henderson County Commissioners Court, by a 3 to 2 vote, Tuesday, voted to re-appoint three current members of the Fair Park Board to new terms.
    Chairman Bob Miars and members Ken Hayes and Mark Davis were chosen to serve an additional two years, with their terms to run through Dec. 31, 2013.

    February 7, 2012

  • Walmart workers cooperate with APD

    Walmart employees and the Athens Police Department spoiled a scheme to steal televisions from the store, Monday afternoon, leading to three arrests.

    February 7, 2012

  • Man named in plane theft

    Had it not been presence of a truck that authorities were able to trace to a Nacogdoches man, the search for a plane stolen from Athens Airport might be as difficult as finding a single bird in the sky.
    The 1980 model Cessna reported missing on Jan. 28 was recovered Monday by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, which had been assisting the Athens Police Department in the case.

    February 7, 2012

  • Hornet dance.JPG Dancin’ with Henry

    Four-year-old Janiyah Ray gets funky during halftime of the Athens Hornets' varsity boys game against Rusk last Friday at AHS Gym. Henry the Hornet (also known as Will Carter) began a dance routine as halftime began, and Ray couldn't help but run out of the stands and join in — much to the delight of the home crowd.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-7 Bel Air kids.jpg Students help honor veterans

    Congressman Jeb Hensarling is asking students across the 5th Congressional District to help him honor the service and sacrifice of veterans by participating in the annual Valentines for Vets program. Pictured are students at Bel Air Elementary who took part in the project. In the front row are Kaytlen Hurley, Meagan Miranda, Coralyn Happel, Reagan Farley, Emily Rodriguez, Julian Cazares and Camryn Pair. In the second row are Alondra Carillo, Louis Delagarza, Morgan Gould, Alexis Robles, Caroline Moore, Madison Wilson and Renee Campbell. In back are Amy Gould, Caleb Humphries and Ricardo Sanchez.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Airplane theft suspect arrested

    Authorities in Nacogdoches County arrested a man Monday in connection with an airplane stolen from the Athens Municipal Airport last month.

    February 6, 2012

  • Accident investigation continues

    PAYNE SPRINGS — Police in this community are investigating an accident on State Highway 198 last Friday, involving a small car which sideswiped a 1996 GMC Z-71 truck, which was pulling a 16-foot utility trailer.

    February 6, 2012

  • Political parties continue waiting game Monday

    Henderson County Republican and Democratic leaders continued to play the waiting game Monday concerning the upcoming primary elections.
    County Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez said that as of Monday afternoon, progress had been made toward getting an agreement on contested redistricting maps.
    “Nothing is set in stone yet,” Hernandez said.

    February 6, 2012

  • APD arrest suspect with multiple recorded arrests

    The Athens Police Department made a felony drug arrest at a traffic stop on Friday night.
    Karen Louise Harris, 48, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (one gram to four grams).

    February 6, 2012

  • Woman stopped, arrested in GBC

    GUN BARREL CITY  — Donna Jean Schultz, 43, of GBC was stopped by a Henderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy last Friday at about 6 p.m. for a minor traffic violation near CJ’s parking lot off State Highway 334 and U.S. Highway 175.
    The minor traffic violation proved to be the least of her problems. 

    February 6, 2012