The mission of CHEN is to facilitate health care providers and other interested parties in Lane County to come together as an employer consortium with the focus of facilitating interest and promoting capacity building in health related careers, coaching in career pathways and promoting quality education in the field of health care. This website contains links to information on many careers within the health care industry as well as links to employer and training provider websites. Job descriptions, program descriptions and application information are included.

See website for details on: A map of the rural areas in Oregon eligible for Loan Repayment; Oregon Rural Health Services Loan Repayment Program for those in healthcare training; The Oregon Nursing Services Program; Public Health Nursing Leadership in Oregon; Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program; Physician Incentive Payment Fact Sheet.

Contract education partnerships that increase the number of graduates from Oregon's nursing education programs. Operated in local communities with individual college partners, and soon, a statewide distance learning program in partnership with the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education.

To address the needs of underserved populations, the Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Health Systems Planning participates in the NHSC program through which certain health care providers are offered scholarships or loan repayments for serving in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in Oregon.

The Oregon Office of Rural Health Recruitment and Retention Program has been helping rural Oregon recruit and retain primary care health care professionals since 1979. Over this period of time, it has become increasingly apparent that recruitment is far larger than individuals and practices; it includes all interested parties. Whole communities are involved in the recruitment of a practitioner and their families — from schools to businesses. We recruit only for rural Oregon and understand that rural communities offer wonderfully unique opportunities for providers to practice and live. We also understand the challenges facing rural communities in competition with urban areas nationally for a shrinking supply of providers. Let us assist you.

OCNE is a collaboration of Oregon nursing programs dedicated to educating future nurses. Faculty from eight community colleges and Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing have created a shared curriculum taught on all consortium campuses. Through OCNE, students can complete coursework for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from OHSU without ever leaving their home campus. Students on community college campuses have the option of completing the associate of applied science degree in nursing and being eligible to sit for the RN licensure exam and/or continuing directly to distance delivered senior level OHSU and other university coursework required for the Bachelor's degree.

Pathways to Advancement is a student-centered, demand-driven statewide initiative. The initiative is focused on increasing the number of Oregonians attaining degrees, certificates and credentials in demand occupations and easing student transitions across the education continuum. Oregon's community colleges are developing model programs that realign curriculum, provide alternative delivery methods as well as flexibility for adults to gain skills and advance in the labor market more quickly to address employer and student needs. Career Pathways approaches in four transition arenas across the education continuum: secondary to postsecondary, pre-college (ABE/GED/ESL/DE) "bridges" to credit postsecondary, postsecondary education for skills upgrading and career changers, and community college to university.

The Office of Health Systems Planning, Oregon's Department of Human Services, runs the Physician Visa Waiver Program which serves Oregon Health Plan and low income patients. These international medical graduates, who completed residencies or fellowships in the U.S., come from 21 countries and fill positions that could not be filled by U.S. physicians. The program allows Oregon to sponsor 30 J-1 Waiver applications per federal fiscal year; doctors work in federally designated shortage areas. A $2000 application fee to implement and fund the program is paid by clinics where J-1 physicians are placed.

The FCC has launched a website that provides a consolidated source of information about its Rural Health Care Pilot Program. The FCC's pilot program is an innovative, enhanced funding initiative intended to help public and non-profit health care providers construct state- and region-wide broadband networks to provide telehealth and telemedicine services throughout the nation.

OSA is sponsoring tuition free simulation education and training programs. Foundations for Simulation Education is a two-day overview for up to 15 trainees. The intent of the course is to deliver general simulation principles and give the trainee hands-on initial experience with high-fidelity simulation. This course is targeted to those wishing to understand the basic foundations of being a simulation specialist. See website for details, application and training dates.

SWR is a campaign modeled after the nursing and teaching professions.  Supported by a national coalition of social work organizations, NASW is the leading force in SWR on a national and state level.  The core purpose of SWR is to reinvest in our profession by engaging in professional advocacy through state/federal legislation, educating the public about the value of social workers, retaining and supporting the current social work labor force and recruiting future social workers.

The VIM Clinic provides health care to residents of Deschutes County who have no medical insurance and meet the Clinic's eligibility criteria. The Clinic, which opened for clients on March 29, 2004, is the result of dedicated community leaders, many benefactors and our most important asset, our volunteers. VIM Mission: To improve the health and wellness of the medically uninsured through the engagement of professionals, community partners and dedicated volunteers. VIM Vision: To become a premier model of effective, integrated, volunteer-based healthcare.

This is a program of preparation for RN licensure and practice for nurses who have earned their credentials outside of the United States. The ultimate goal is successful employment as nurses in Oregon or Southwest Washington. Student financial assistance may be available.