In an effort to reduce the persistent problem of turnover and promote workforce stability, long-term care provider Trilogy Health Services has entered into a partnership that gives its employees easier access to four-year degrees, the company disclosed last Friday. 

Beginning this fall, the University of Louisville School of Nursing will offer Trilogy employees — up to 50 annually — priority admission to its bachelor of science in nursing program. Trilogy will provide scholarship support and part-time, flexible hours to employees who meet admission requirements. 

The program is in keeping with Trilogy’s commitment to long-term career paths, Todd Schmiedeler, senior vice president of foundation and workforce development for Trilogy Health Services, told McKnight’s.

Workforce issues are a major challenge in long-term care. Earlier this month, the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing disclosed its LTPAC Nurse Heroes campaign to combat the problem. 

Louisville-based Trilogy, which operates more than 110 communities with skilled nursing and senior living units in four states, started an apprenticeship in early 2018. It has since drawn 6,000 employees in nursing aide and culinary tracts. Those who complete the program typically receive the equivalent of half an associate’s degree in education, as well as steady pay increases.

“The likelihood is that they’ll be ready and prepared and have the support system that will make their continued pursuit of their nursing degree a reality,” Schmiedeler said. “We want to provide these kinds of educational opportunities in a framework and help employees stay in healthcare, particularly in long-term care.”

The announcement Friday of a new partnership between Trilogy and the university follows the company’s gift earlier this year of $10 million for work-based learning and a commitment to hire 200 Kentucky high school students through the Trilogy Scholar Program. 

Students in that program will complete a 96-hour pre-apprentice externship before beginning a paid position with Trilogy. They will be able to receive on-the-job experience and earn college credit, certifications, paid college tuition and scholarship opportunities.

“We want to empower these students to enter the healthcare field earlier,” Schmiedeler said previously. “That way, they can begin making a positive impact in the lives of others while setting themselves up for success in the future.”

As part of the latest commitment, Trilogy and The Bufford Family Foundation will support the creation of a four-room simulation suite and home healthcare space. The school also plans to purchase a fourth high-fidelity adult patient simulator. 

“On-campus patient simulation labs are essential to educating health care students,” said UofL School of Nursing Dean Sonya R. Hardin, Ph.D., APRN. “Simulators present numerous conditions that students respond to, including difficulty in breathing, seizures and heart attacks. Our students develop clinical judgment and learn how to respond in complex clinical situations.”

Trilogy, a Louisville-based subsidiary of Griffin-American Healthcare REIT III, Inc., has said it is working to create similar recruitment and retention strategies with state and higher education officials in other states.

In addition to reaching into high schools and promoting careers in senior living, Trilogy has seen its two-year retention rate among active nurse aide apprentices increase by 32%. The company awarded about 7,000 certifications in the program’s first two years, and those who complete a tract can serve as mentors to others.

“It’s allowing succes to happen not by chance, but by structure and support,” Schmiedeler said.