Camden’s newest public-private partnership with Cooper University Health Care focuses on growing the employee pool for medical coding positions by providing free education and training — and the promise of a job.
The Cooper Health Careers Initiative was developed in partnership with the Camden County Board of Freeholders, Camden County One Stop, Camden County College, Camden County Workforce Development Board, Camden County Technical Schools and Hopeworks N Camden — the latter two of which are administrative partners to find qualified applicants for rolling admissions.
Students who are selected to participate, upon completion of the course, will get an internship at Cooper for on-hands training. If, after completing that, they meet pre-employment qualifications, they could get a full-time job as a medical coder at Cooper.
Each participant costs $12,000, covered by the public-private funding.
George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care, said the initiative is yet another example of Cooper’s commitment to the revitalization of Camden.
“The Cooper Health Careers Initiative is another example of the commitment we all share to ensure that the people of Camden benefit from the revitalization of our city,” he said. “Working with Camden County and Hopeworks, Cooper is creating opportunities for Camden residents to receive the education, training, and support they need to start a good paying career as a medical coder.”
Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young said the program will open doors for Camden students into sustainable, vibrant careers.
“Cooper is stepping up to the plate and identifying talented students who are driven to succeed to become the future of their organization and the county is playing a critical role in job training to ensure we have a successful initiative,” he said.
Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez also lauded the new program.
“As Camden’s medical institutions and ‘eds and meds’ corridor continues to grow, there will be a greater demand for these types of jobs,” she said.