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The Health Industry Steering Committee

The Health Industry Steering Committee (HISC) is an industry-led and community-sponsored group that exists to collectively address the workforce needs of the healthcare industry in the Greater Austin community.

The HISC utilizes a collaborative approach to close the gap between employer demand for a diverse, trained healthcare workforce and the workforce in need of training and preparation in order to enter healthcare occupations.

Launched by the Capital Area Training Foundation, now Skillpoint Alliance, in 1999, the HISC relocated to Workforce Solutions in January of 2007. HISC members support the operations of the HISC with membership dues and in-kind contributions.

Recognizing that the current nursing workforce shortage requires particular focus and attention, HISC members adopt three strategic priorities.

They are:

There are no chronic shortages or surpluses of registered nurses (RNs) in Central Texas.
The cultural and ethnic heritage of the RN workforce employed by area hospitals reflects regional demographics.
The region will grow more of its own RN workforce.

To support these priorities, the HISC works to:

Expand the higher education pipeline for healthcare career training
Support middle and high school initiatives/activities that provide healthcare career awareness to students
Broker relationships with other community partners/government agencies who support workforce development
Maintain a centralized clinical placement website - www.ctxplacement.org
Leverage partner resources for community healthcare initiatives through fund development

Benefits of Membership

Industry

Relationships with educational institutions that prepare students for their facilities
Improved orientation to facilities
Opportunity to collaborate in seeking grant funding for employee training
Coordination of clinical rotations
Resource for education of legislative and government group

Educator

Facilitate funding for faculty hiring and training (post-secondary)
Coordination of clinical rotations
Community standards for criminal background checks
Community standards for required immunizations
Access to industry speakers for career awareness activities
Funding for limited students’ tuition and other costs
Coordination of clinical rotations
Resource for education of legislative and government group

Student

Exposure to health careers at Nursing and Health Career Academies
Improved access to education because of capacity building
Limited tuition support from grant funding

The HISC welcomes new members and visitors at its quarterly meetings held in February/March, May, September, and December of each year. The HISC pursues its goals through member contributions in standing and ad hoc committees and through various grant projects and community collaborations.

Members are welcome to participate in any or all of these initiatives. Please contact Ana Mejia-Dietche at 512.597.7123 if you would like to learn more about this effort.

Workforce Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available, upon request, to persons with disabilities. Relay Texas: 800.735.2989 (TDD) / 711 (Voice).