SACRAMENTO--“I applaud Governor Newsom and all the health care professional leaders who came together to develop temporary flexibility expanding their current areas of practice, extending the ability for all of them to maximize their ability to meet the need during this crisis,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa).
The Governor has made it clear that to address the exponential growth in COVID-19 cases, the state needs more physicians (MD, DO), including medical students; pharmacists; dentists; nurse practitioners, physician assistants; nurses (RN, LVN, CNA), including nursing students; behavioral health professionals (psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, LCSW, LMFT, LPCC); respiratory therapists; paramedics; medical assistants and emergency medical technicians to play a role and established the new “California Health Corps” for that purpose.
“As a health care provider and someone who is trying to contain health care costs, I do support us, going forward, having meaningful discussions about how we can maximize the education and training of health care workers on a more permanent basis,” said Wood. “My work in 2018 as a member of California’s Future Health Care Workforce Commission really reinforced my belief in that.”
Students who are almost done with their education and training will be compensated. If health care workers want to see how this works, visit the new website.
“I’m also very thankful for Facebook’s contribution of $25 million to help support these professionals pay for room and board expenses as they are sent to different areas throughout California where they may not call home,” said Wood.
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