Saint Alphonsus Health System of Boise, Idaho, has started offering a student loan repayment program for workers in some clinical roles.
The purpose of the program is to attract and retain clinicians for hard-to-fill positions at the health system's four hospitals, which serve a catchment area that spans parts of Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada.
The program is designed for students pursuing specific positions, including certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurses, surgical technologists and radiologic technologists. Saint Alphonsus will make loan repayment contributions over a three-year employment period for those who qualify.
Both incoming and employed colleagues can apply for the program. The repayment only applies to new, not already accrued, debt.
Saint Alphonsus is the first Trinity Health system to pilot this approach, according to Brooke Thrasher, Saint Alphonsus chief human resources officer.
Thrasher says Saint Alphonsus is offering the repayment program because it recognizes the significant financial burdens that many young adults face when pursuing health care careers. "By offering substantial student loan repayment assistance, we aim to alleviate this burden, attract top-tier talent and ensure that our communities continue to receive exceptional care," she says.
Saint Alphonsus is offering the program in partnership with the Clasp, an employee recruitment company that seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment, according to a press release.