Tavaine Salmon decided she wanted to work in the medical field after having negative experiences in health care settings. She wanted to provide better care for patients than she had received so she began researching schools that offered medical training. She found New Community Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI) and enrolled in its Patient Care Technician (PCT) program. She graduated from NCCTI in June and now spends her working hours greeting, registering and assisting patients at the Ferry Street location of Newark Community Health Centers Inc. as a Patient Service Representative (PSR).
The road to her health care career wasn’t easy but with the assistance of NCCTI staff, Salmon was able to complete the program and find employment. Shortly after beginning the PCT program, she became sick and had to take a three-month leave of absence to recover. While she was out, communication with NCCTI staff continued.
“Everybody kept checking on me and making sure that I was ready to come back and I was healed and ready to take it on,” she said. “I’m grateful for that part.”
When she returned to class, PCT Instructor Dr. Ehab Salib monitored her progress, provided practice tests and coached her on what to study so that she would be able to pass the National Healthcareer Association exam. She passed the exam on her first attempt.
Salib praised Salmon for her hard work and dedication to the program.
“She was a very good student, coming in on time, never leaving early, studying hard, doing all her homework in due time, asking reasonable questions related to the subject and showing great interest,” he said.
After graduation, NCCTI Career Services Coordinator Chanda Webb informed Salmon about a job opportunity at Newark Community Health Centers. Salmon was familiar with the Federally Qualified Health Center because Human Resources Recruiter Kobie Brown was a speaker at her graduation. She believed it would be a good fit for her professionally.
“I love the fact that they’re geared towards helping people and making people feel better,” she said. “And they accommodate everybody.”
Salmon applied for the job and after a phone interview and in-person interview was offered the role. She registers patients, makes appointments and checks their insurance. If a patient is without health insurance, she can help set them up through Get Covered New Jersey and Medicaid. Since starting the job in September, Salmon has earned two certifications that allow her to complete health care applications for patients.
Sometimes patients come in frustrated or upset but Salmon always makes a point to be respectful and do what she can to assist everyone she encounters.
“It makes a difference the way you treat them, the way you talk to them. Because sometimes they’re so mad at you and then at the end of the appointment, they come to the front and they say, ‘Thank you so much,’” she said. “That’s something that stays with me.”
Salmon said she loves her job and is grateful she found NCCTI.
“The school is amazing,” she said. “I would recommend it every day.”
In addition to providing the necessary education, NCCTI has relationships with employers and brings representatives to the school to meet with students, answer questions and conduct mock interviews. Students also have the opportunity to visit employer locations, including area hospitals, to see the environment firsthand and meet staff members. The interview process is more comfortable for them when they are speaking with someone they have met before.
NCCTI Director Miguel Pacheco is pleased the school was able to set Salmon up for success.
“Our goal is to help all of our students succeed in their area of study and find employment. I’m happy to say we met both of those goals with Ms. Salmon.”
Salmon interviewed for roles in hospitals as well but ultimately decided to work in a medical office setting so she wouldn’t be away from her children for 12 hours at a time. She lives in Maplewood with her husband and three children, ages 11, 7 and 3.
She’s happy with her decision because she enjoys her job and there is room to grow.
“They tell me you can rise from wherever you are to wherever you need to be here so that’s a good thing,” she said.
NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that is currently enrolling for the following programs: Automotive Technician, Medical Assistant Clinical and Patient Care Technician. For more information, call 973-824-6484, email nccti@newcommunity.org, log onto newcommunitytech.edu or visit 274 South Orange Ave., Newark.
