The University of Missouri–St. Louis is opening pathways for people to train for careers in healthcare in less than six months through a new partnership with Preppy, a StraighterLine company that provides an innovative online platform that connects learners with affordable, accessible career and certification training.
The partnership through UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center includes programs to help students become medical assistants, surgical technologists or sterile processing technicians or to work in medical billing and coding. Each program is offered 100% online and gives students the flexibility to study at their own pace. Students can enroll on a rolling basis, and graduates will earn a Certificate of Completion from UMSL and be certified and ready to enter the job market.
“UMSL continues to work to develop educational opportunities that align with the workforce needs of the St. Louis area and beyond,” said Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement. “By partnering with Preppy, we can provide high-impact, future-focused programs that equip our students with the skills they need to work and find success in our region’s thriving healthcare industry. The programs give them a flexible way to meet their career goals in a timeline that works for them and that doesn’t require them to put their lives on hold.”
Program highlights:
- Students in the medical assistant program will learn the basics of patient care, including facilities standards and safety practices, how to communicate effectively and professionally with patients, how to take vital signs and perform patient prep, pharmacology and medication administration, and how to assist physicians in surgeries, diagnostic testing and lab procedures.
- The surgical technologist program will teach students operating room fundamentals and the role of the surgical tech on the OR team. They’ll learn sterile techniques and infection control, anatomy and medical terminology used in surgical settings, and OR setup procedures, including surgical instruments and equipment.
- The sterile processing technician program will give students knowledge and skills in sterilization methods, decontamination and infection control; surgical instrument identification and handling; operating room supply and inventory management; and healthcare regulations, including HIPAA and safety standards.
- The medical billing and coding program will help students develop a strong foundation in the coding systems, billing processes and standards used in healthcare; understand medical terminology and healthcare workflows; know how to use ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS coding systems; learn about insurance claims and billing processes; and understand compliance, including HIPAA and industry standards.
Missouri is projected to see about 2,600 annual openings across occupations aligned with the new programs, with employment for medical assistants and medical equipment preparers expected to grow by double digits through 2034, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.
Each program will prepare students for the relevant certification exams and provide exam vouchers at no extra cost. Students will also have the opportunity to receive resume guidance, interview prep and career coaching as well as support finding externship opportunities for hands-on training and access to an extensive healthcare career network.
“As an opportunity company, we have committed to helping 250,000 people enter allied health careers by 2031,” said Matt Hullett, CEO of StraighterLine. “Reaching that goal means building partnerships in communities where these professionals are needed and connecting people with careers where they want to live. UMSL gives us a trusted local partner to help make that possible in the St. Louis region.”
For more information, and to enroll in programs, visit: https://healthcerts.umsl.edu.
