Monroe County Hospital & Clinics is a full-service, primary care hospital located in south-central Iowa. They’ve been named the top training employer by the Des Moines Register and a top workplace by that publication for 10 consecutive years.
Like many healthcare organizations in rural communities, Monroe County Hospital & Clinics was facing a shortage of qualified candidates. According to Iowa Works, 20% of the state’s 75,000 job openings are in healthcare, with filling positions especially a problem in rural areas.
Meanwhile, Iowa Workforce Development projects there will be 33,215 more Healthcare and Social Assistance jobs in Iowa added by 2032 compared to 2022, with 11,475 annual Healthcare Support roles opening up annually in the state. That includes 5,005 annual openings for Home Health and Personal Care Aides, 3,560 annual openings for Nursing Assistants, 820 annual openings for Medical Assistants and 505 annual openings for Pharmacy Technicians.
Mirroring that data, Monroe County Hospital & Clinics needed more staff in a number of different allied health positions. That required expanding the pool of qualified allied healthcare workers, which for Monroe County Hospital & Clinics meant largely upskilling existing employees into more skilled, high-demand roles.
That goal required an allied healthcare certification training partner and finding a funding source to pay for the program.
MedCerts Partner Solutions Helps Secure Grant Funding
In 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law the Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant, $3 million in funding to support creating a new pipeline of workers to fill high-demand healthcare roles. Eligible work-based learning programs needed to include an earn-and-learn component, such as a registered apprenticeship, upskilling or other types of on-the-job training programs.
In addition to offering healthcare employees online certification training for allied healthcare roles, MedCerts Partner Solutions provides additional support by helping healthcare organizations identify and pursue workforce funding opportunities that align with their staffing priorities and workforce development goals.
Kaylee Siebrecht, the Director of Human Resources at Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, explains how MedCerts Partner Solutions impacted their facility receiving funding from the grant: “MedCerts was a big factor in Monroe County Hospital & Clinics receiving the Iowa Healthcare Credentialing grant. MedCerts engaged a grant writer on our behalf to help with the grant. In addition, my contact at MedCerts spent many hours with me helping write the grant.”
“Because of the help, we received the grant and were able to create an amazing program beyond what I could have ever imagined. I would not have applied for the grant without their help. Also, MedCerts’ support did not stop there. They gave me so many resources to support the grant expectations, were quick to answer my questions and put me in contact with other organizations that could provide program insight.”
The Certification Training Program Up and Running
Once the grant funding was awarded, Monroe County Hospital & Clinics had no problem finding students interested in upskilling through MedCerts. Instead, facing the opposite issue, the facility had to turn down some internal applications because they didn’t have enough positions.
Monroe County Hospital & Clinics has enrolled five students into MedCerts certification training programs so far, including the Surgical Technologist certification training program, the Medical Billing Specialist program, the Pharmacy Technician program and two students enrolled in the Medical Assistant program.
Students moved to a new department and role, as they began to “earn and learn”. They received hands-on training from the department in addition to completing the asynchronous MedCerts training curriculum, including video instruction, virtual simulations and interactive assessments, on their own time. Each student received a Student Success Advisor from MedCerts to help keep them on track and answer any relevant questions.
For students who required clinical hours as part of their certification requirements, the clinical portion of the program occurred at the hospital under Monroe County Hospital & Clinics’ supervision. Once students completed their online MedCerts curriculum, finished their clinic hours and passed their certification test, they were promoted to their new position at the hospital.
Reflecting on the high level of applicant interest in the program and what it represented for learners, Siebrecht explained that opportunities in rural areas like Monroe County are scarce or hard to obtain. She added, “The employees promoted to these roles would have most likely never had an opportunity like this to advance their education, role and wages. Because MedCerts is an online program, our participants were able to complete the coursework without extensive travel and time away from work.”
Impact For Monroe County Hospital & Clinics
For Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, the benefits of teaming up with MedCerts Partner Solutions are clear. Siebrecht explained, “Our partnership with MedCerts has had a positive impact on our workforce. With MedCerts assistance, we were able to create a pipeline of employees for our pharmacy and clinic. We were also able to promote from within for some of these roles, which has had a positive impact on employee engagement and commitment.”
She also observed, “MedCerts programs are built for on-the-job training. Participants in MedCerts are coming out of their coursework fully prepared to take on their new role. This preparedness has saved us on orientation and onboarding costs.”
Monroe County Hospital & Clinics sees MedCerts as a sustainable program to address their allied healthcare staffing challenges and has plans to add additional positions using MedCerts for certification training in the next year.
Conclusion
Many healthcare institutions, not just Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, can benefit from experienced help in pursuing relevant grant opportunities. MedCerts Partner Solutions brings both workforce development knowledge and training delivery experience, helping partners build realistic, implementable projects rather than simply responding to requirements.
Addressing workforce challenges such as talent shortages, incumbent worker advancement and career pathway development, MedCerts Partner Solutions can help employers build fundable projects that support long-term sustainability.
Want more information about how MedCerts Partner Solutions can act as a strategic partner in pursuing grant opportunities? Contact us at [email protected].
