Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital helps workers learn English through partnership

Thanks to a partnership between Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Iowa Western Community College, employees at Jennie Edmundson have had the opportunity to take English as a second language courses.

“This is just the starting point,” said Jenene VandenBurg, vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer. “This is really about workforce development and a bigger picture in healthcare."

Vandenburg said that a lot of non-English speaking employees at the hospital also don’t have high school diplomas or an equivalent credential, and she hopes that by boosting communication skills opens the door to more educational opportunities.

“It's very motivating,” Jeidi Perez said. “It's a pleasant atmosphere. You know, we all have the same goal of learning English, and it has also helped me, even though it's not much, to communicate with other departments and patients.”

The program launched in August and started with 11 employees for the first session, the second session began in October and added three new students in addition to the original 11. The second session ends on Dec. 18.

The Daily Nonpareil: Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital helps workers learn English through partnership