The Trillium College Advantage

A college education can offer many benefits to individuals. Trillium College prides itself on giving their students a quality education in less time than a conventional college. By reducing the time that it takes to follow a program and thereby graduating sooner, our students start to earn a living years before their counterparts. Less time in school equals more income long term. 

Anyway you look at it, a college education is very beneficial to your life and income earning potential. Below are a few reasons why:

1. Increased earning potential: On average, individuals with a college diploma earn more money over their lifetime than those without one.
2. Better job opportunities: A college diploma can open doors to careers that may not be available to those without one.
3. Networking opportunities: College allows individuals to build professional networks and make connections that can be valuable throughout their careers.
4. Increased life satisfaction: Many individuals report greater life satisfaction after completing a college education.
5. Preparation for the future: A college education can help prepare individuals for the challenges and opportunities of the future by providing a strong foundation of knowledge and skills.

These are just a few examples of the benefits of a college education. Ultimately, the specific benefits of college will vary depending on the individual, their goals, and their experiences but by committing to one of Trillium Colleges many career focused programs, you are making a commitment to yourself and your future. 

COVID-19 Update #7

This update is to speak to the communication regarding the provincial phased plan to re-opening. 

At this time, post-secondary schools are not part of the re-opening plan, including Private Career Colleges. We will continue to complete our theory elements of the programs online, and all practical elements will be scheduled when permitted to do so. Programs that do not have a practical element will remain online for the foreseeable future. 

We recognize that you may be feeling anxious about the future and would like to have timelines to follow, however, that is not a possibility at this time. 

We will continue to keep everyone updated through our communication channels. Please remember that if there are no immediate communications it is because there have been no changes to any of our plans and there is nothing to share. We appreciate your continued patience and professionalism as we wait for more government approvals.

How to Shine as a Personal Support Worker

Have you ever considered becoming a personal support worker?  I have, and after much reading and research, this is what I have learned, and I would love to share how to shine as a PSW with you…

A career in Personal Support Work looks both exciting and rewarding. No two days at work will ever be the same; I love that! Despite what seems like possible challenges that I could face in my job, it looks like an extremely fulfilling option where you can shine with potential. PSWs make a world of difference in the lives of their clients each day by providing them with the support they need. A helping hand, emotional support, and some company. Many clients look to their PSW’s for human interaction and for someone to chat with.

I believe that being a PSW is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, there would need to be a lot of effort to find the right balance in this career. However, the people with huge hearts, extraordinary patience and empathy are incredibly successful at becoming certified Personal Support Workers and find happiness and fulfillment from this rewarding career. Many PSWs build lasting relationships with clients and feel a sense of accomplishment in their role. So, how does someone shine in a career as a PSW?

Shine by building meaningful connections with clients.

The key to being a successful PSW is by building professional but also empathetic relationships with clients. Paying attention to a client’s body language, visual, verbal, and non-verbal cues is very important. It will allow you to know if their care plan is meeting their needs. Some clients experience loneliness, especially in long-term or end of life care. You can shine by being a source of companionship and conversation.

Stay positive.

Clients who are around a positive influence are more likely to think positively. Positive thinking has been linked to health benefits such as decreased stress, lowered depression, and an overall better physical and mental well-being. Adjusting your attitude and taking responsibility for how you react in situations can benefit the client’s health (and your own).

Shine by taking time for yourself.

Are you feeling exhausted, stressed, or drained? Being a PSW is a demanding career that requires physical and mental strength and a growth mindset. Always exercising this strength can deplete your energy stores. Remembering to manage yourself and taking the time to rest and refresh, will allow you to perform your job more effectively and continue to shine.

Treat everyone with respect.

Each client has their own story and deserves to be treated with respect. Despite being in a vulnerable position, clients are human beings who have thoughts, feelings, dreams, and aspirations. Respecting your client will ensure client-centred care and mutual respect.

I know I am ready to shine and become a front line hero in a fulfilling career as a Personal Support Worker, are you? Join an industry that is in high demand and start caring and supporting those who need it most. As a graduate of Trillium College’s PSW program, you may find employment in a variety of settings, including long-term care facilities, home care agencies, senior citizens’ recreation centers, hospitals, group homes, and respite and palliative care centers. We are thankful for Personal Support Workers who make a difference! Fill out the form below and commit to your new career today!

Returning to School as A Mature Student

You have been working for a couple of years as a mature adult, but you do not feel satisfied with the work that you are doing or the position that you’re in. You would love to find a career that makes going to work exciting and fulfilling, but you are not sure where to begin. So, what do you do? The thought of returning starting over and going back to class may seem daunting. You may be worried about what others will think of you or if you will succeed. The reality is, returning back to school is not as intimidating as you may think. It is never too late to better yourself and to make a decision that will have a positive and lasting impact on your life.

What are the benefits of going back to school as a mature student?

Returning with Mature Perspective

Mature students returning to obtain education have a positive attitude toward schoolwork. They are looking to get the most out of their formal education. Which means they are more likely to participate in class discussions and to value lessons. Their higher engagement with courses will ensure the retention of class materials and concepts to prepare them for their future better.

Increased Financial Knowledge and Stability

A good portion of their motivation to do well in courses stems from their monetary investment. Most returning mature students are responsible for paying for their education. Do you feel as though your financial situation is a barrier to getting the right training? Trillium College can help you by figuring out funding, scholarships, or financial aid. Call 1.866.661.2070 today to find out how Trillium College can help you afford adult learning courses or a diploma program.

Responsible Decision Making

Trillium College has found that returning mature students are in a better position to succeed in school. Adults are motivated learners who have fewer social distractions than recent high school graduates. They are highly motivated to succeed and to make a change in their lives. Mature students have a better understanding of what the workforce is like and know what they want and do not want.

It Is Never Too Late!

There is no such thing as returning or upgrading your education too late. There are no age limits or restrictions on becoming a student. Our knowledgeable Career Coaches will help you figure out a schedule that will work for you. We know you have a lot to balance, and we are here to help you!

Set up your future for success and don’t settle for a career that has you frequently checking job listings. At Trillium College, our courses prepare you for your career and help you to succeed. We have knowledgeable Career Coaches to offer you help and extra support along the way. Don’t wait, get your career started today with Trillium College!

Trillium College Supports Front Line Heroes

What exactly does it mean to be a front line hero in Ontario right now? 

While others are practicing physical distancing and working from home, front liners are going in to work during the global pandemic. The job of a front line worker is considered essential, and they work directly with the public to continue to provide services. Whether they are on the front lines working in health care, at grocery stores, as part of the supply chain system for the province and the country, or any other essential-named jobs, they are all fulfilling fundamental duties that we need. We, along with the rest of the nation, THANK them!

Our front liners are heroic people. 

While most of us are being encouraged to stay home or work from home, front line workers have been called upon to continue working during the state of emergency. Their duties have been deemed essential by the Ontario Government, and society simply cannot function without them. While it makes sense that we cannot imagine hospitals or grocery stores being closed, it is crucial to recognize the sacrifice our front-liners are making to help our communities during uncertain times. 

So, what types of jobs do front liners fulfill?

Here are examples of jobs that many of our Trillium College alumni are fulfilling as front line workers:

• Personal Support Workers
• Medical Support Staff
• Pharmaceutical Support Staff 
• Retail Employees
• Supply Chain Workers
• Community Service Workers, and so many more!

Let us honour our heroes. 

Now more than ever, we must do our part to keep our community safe. Following safe protocols saves not only your life but also the people around you, including our front-liners! We have always honoured our graduating students, but we are sending extra positive vibes and support to our alumni front-liners. The Trillium College community is with you!

Are you a Trillium College alumnus working on the front lines or working an essential service job? We want to hear your stories and experience! Reach out to us!

COVID-19 Update #6

Trillium College is committed to ensuring the highest level of safety for our Trillium College Community.  

This update is to speak to the communication regarding the province’s allowance for Regulated Health Professions to begin to return to practice.  

Regulatory colleges that govern the 26 regulated health professions are now beginning to share return to work guidelines and best practices.  Trillium College will adopt any of the relevant elements to include them in our return to the classroom plan. Trillium’s plan will include direction from Public Health Ontario, The Chief Medical Officer, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. These will all have a significant impact on how Trillium will establish the return to campus, classroom, and the reinstatement of all student massage, dental assisting, and esthetics clinics. 

At this point, the provincial green light for these professions to resume practice is only for licensed professionals. The campuses remain closed to the public, and clinics are not operating.  

Unfortunately, we can not predict the unknown or future timelines. However, when it is deemed safe, our goal is to re-open campuses so that students can get back in the classroom and resume their routines. 

We will continue to keep everyone updated through our communication channels.

A Day in The Life of a Medical Office Assistant

Our Medical Office Assistant diploma program prepares students for a career in medical administration. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak , the medical field is experiencing rapid growth, creating demand for a huge range of careers in medical administration.

Our graduates find well-paying jobs in offices, clinics, and hospitals as:

Administrative assistants

Office managers

Medical transcriptionists

Medical billing clerks

Unit/ward clerks

Patient registration clerks

But what does a typical day in the life of a medical office assistant look like? Given the scope of job options, there are many possibilities. Our example graduate, Laura, can fill in the details of what an average workday for her looks like. Although some of the details might change, any job as a medical office assistant will include similar tasks and responsibilities.

A Day in the Life: Laura Smith, Clinic Office Manager

Laura is a 29-year-old graduate who works full-time as Dr. Greene’s office manager. Dr. Greene is a busy cardiologist who splits her time between her private office, where Laura has worked for three years, and the local hospital. Laura’s role is to care for all clerical aspects of Dr. Greene’s practice, while Dr. Greene’s nurse looks after clinical aspects.

8:00 am: Laura arrives at the office, ahead of other staff. She unlocks the door, turns off the alarm and turns on all the computers and tablets. She records a new voicemail stating today’s availability. Laura listens to voicemail messages and checks office email, taking note of any cancellations or urgent messages. She calls patients from her waiting list to fill any same-day cancellation slots.

8:30 am: Greets Doctor Greene and the office nurse as they arrive, updating them on the day’s schedule and any urgent patient messages.

9:00 am: Finally, Laura greets the first patient as he arrives. She confirms his demographics and OHIP information is up-to-date in medical record software. After discovering the patient had recent blood work done that is not on his file, she calls the lab to have it sent over immediately before the doctor sees him.

9:30 am: Then Laura continues registering patients as they arrive. In between patient arrivals, she processes all documents that have arrived since the last work day. She files lab work electronically in patients’ electronic medical records, prints off prescription renewals for the doctor to sign, and sets aside referral requests to deal with later in the day.

10:00 am: The phone is ringing off the hook. Calls include ones from a pharmacist who needs a Limited Use code for a prescription the doctor just sent in, an Emergency Room nurse who is caring for one of Dr. Greene’s patients, and another doctor who wants to speak with Dr. Greene about a mutual patient.

11:00 am: Laura registers a first-time patient and creates electronic medical record for her. She helps the patient fill out basic paperwork and enter her demographics and allergies into her medical record. The new patient forgot her lengthy list of medications at home, so Laura calls her pharmacy to get a list sent over right away for the doctor’s review.

12:00 pm: Lunchtime.

12:30 pm: Next, Laura calls tomorrow’s patients to remind them of their appointments. She leaves messages for any who do not answer, reminding them to bring their health card and list of medications.

1:30 pm: Now it’s time to processes referrals. Laura sorts referrals by urgency, according to office guidelines. She finds appointments for each patient, sending their appointment times and instructions to their referring doctor.

2:30 pm: After finding out that Dr. Greene is attending a conference next Friday that she forgot to mention, Laura begins rescheduling all of that day’s patients. There are few openings in the doctor’s schedule, so this task requires patience and problem-solving.

3:30 pm: Unfortunately a patient arrives without an appointment, explaining that he urgently needs to see the doctor. After asking the patient questions and discussing the situation discreetly with the office nurse, Laura adds him to the day’s schedule.

4:30 pm: However, although the patients should all be gone by now, there are still a few patients to be seen. The doctor is running overtime and patients are restless in the waiting room. Laura stays until all patients are seen, making their follow-up appointments and booking any tests the doctor ordered for them.

5:30 pm: After recording a new voicemail stating that the office is now closed and checking the office e-mail one last time, Laura finishes her workday by turning off the computers and lights, setting the alarm and locking the door.

After reading what a typical day for Laura looks like, it’s clear that working as a medical office assistant is a demanding profession that requires:

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Problem-solving skills

Excellent people skills

A career as a medical office assistant can be immensely rewarding. Medical office assistants act as a liaison between patients who need help and the practitioners who can offer that help. They assist people in their most vulnerable moments and help them navigate the healthcare system. Medical office assistants often make the difference between a patient falling through the cracks or getting the help they need, when they need it.

If you love people, enjoy being organized, and want to make a difference, then a career as a medical office assistant might be the perfect fit for you!

Career Paths With High Demand: Supply Chain Management & Logistics

Supply Chain Management & Logistics is essential to industries worldwide, in fact, the supply chain industry is responsible for $26 trillion per year globally and is only forecasted to increase in demand. (Elementum, 2018) This industry requires focused, driven and smart individuals who are organized. There are not enough qualified people for the amount of jobs that are available since companies allocate a large percentage of funds towards their product being manufactured, moved and stored. Although Supply Chain Management (SCM) has been around for decades, it has evolved with the demand for new products and booming industries.

Globalization is the reason for the expansion of the supply chain demands since companies are outsourcing their manufacturing to other countries to cut costs. However, this creates a more complex supply chain which means supply chain management needs to be educated properly to keep up with the more complicated system to make the correct decisions. Therefore, SCM is needed now more than ever to supply companies with quality products and services in a timely manner.

Individuals in this field are required to have thorough knowledge of procurement combined with understanding of politics, trade, taxation, and customs. The work of SCM does not stop at understanding how the supply chain works. Nonetheless, these individuals play many different roles during a day to keep the flow continuous and beneficial. Ultimately, a supply chain involves multiple facets and qualities such as operations and procurement that keep a company running smoothly, while logistics focuses on the coordination and movement of goods.

There is a shortage of institutions who are dispensing the correct education to succeed with this career path. Above all, students need to be educated but they also need to be prepared for hectic situations, complicated procedures, and ways to deal with real life situations to correctly prepare them for the demands of this career. Not many people make the decision to enter this field of work at college level for lack of knowledge and lack of glamour.

Does this career sound exciting? Here are a couple signs you have a bright future in this industry:

You are fantastic at organizing and planning

Effective supply chain management requires top-notch organization to ensure none of the steps in the process are missed or overseen. Whether you are determining logistics or scheduling delivery, organization and planning are key as a manager to execute day-to-day business.

You meet deadlines with no issues

“A supply chain is the connected network of individuals, organizations, resources, activities, and technologies involved in the manufacture and sale of a product or service.” (Hayes, 2019) Following the plan or strategy to deliver a product or service is crucial to the process. All steps in the SCM process must be met in order to be successful. The ability to meet deadlines is a crucial skill.

You know how to problem solve and are pro-active

As a supply chain manager, apart from following logistics to deliver products or services, you are also expected to use strategy. This includes minimizing shortages, keeping costs down, and even making recommendations to improve overall productivity for efficiency. If you are always thinking critically or great at solving problems efficiently, SCM might just be right for you.

So, if these listed qualities match with your own, we encourage you to explore a career in the growing industry of Supply Chain Management & Logistics! Are you ready to start a new career in Supply Chain Management & Logistics? Fill out the form below to get started in the Supply Chain Management program today. Our knowledgeable Career Coaches will contact you to answer all your questions and guide you to the career best for you.

How to React During A Time of Crisis – COVID-19

The current global COVID-19 pandemic is a rather peculiar and unique situation for students and people worldwide. There are not too many instances in life where we are asked to slow down and stay in. For many of us over the last few weeks, we went from being busy humans on a schedule to being home-bound with minimal to no human interaction. During a crisis, things are out of our control and can change without any warning and we must adjust accordingly. These are uncertain times. What kind of effect can this have on us? Often without a sense of control, we naturally tend to panic, stress, and worry, but it is completely normal.

Health experts recommend these strategies to react appropriately during a time of crisis:

Stay informed during a crisis

Use reliable sources such as official health and government websites to stay informed with what is happening in your local community. Contradictory information is always being circulated on social media and social media is certainly not an accurate source for COVID-19 updates. While it is important to stay up to date with news, remember to keep it at a limit. Overloading with negative information can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Stay informed when necessary and stay calm.

Focus on yourself and your health

Feel your feelings and be aware of them. Vocalize and explain your feelings to someone you trust, write them down, or even express them through activities. Mental health awareness is key in times of crisis. Focus on your health by being attentive and taking necessary precautions. Practice healthy habits and limit your contact with stress-inducing factors. There are many great practices for mental health available online.

Create a plan with strategy

One of the positive outcomes of the current COVID-19 pandemic is the increased time we have. Use this time to create a plan if you haven’t yet! Keep yourself occupied by writing down tasks, activities, jobs, exercises, and things you generally enjoy doing, then do it. Take the time to explore a hobby that you have always wanted to try, or simply enjoy the outdoors with attention to social distancing. Plan what you will do now and then make an action plan of what the future will hold after we overcome the pandemic. Focus on “the now” and worry about this rest when the time comes.

Take action when necessary

Listen to your body if you think you are not feeling well both physically and mentally. Be aware of the COVID-19 symptoms and monitor yourself accordingly. Seeking help if symptoms occur is necessary. The same is necessary if you are feeling mentally unwell or express feelings of hopelessness.

Here are some signs you might benefit from extra help and support:

• You can’t think about anything other than coronavirus or the COVID-19 illness
• Your anxiety interferes in your daily life—for example, you have a hard time doing daily tasks
• You isolate yourself from others when it isn’t necessary
• Feeling hopeless or angry about the situation
• Having a hard time eating or sleeping well
• Experiencing physical symptoms like constant headaches or stomach pains

We recognize this can be a stressful time and it’s normal to feel worried and anxious. It’s also very common for people to display great resilience during times of crisis! After all, pressure is how diamonds are made. This is a time to come together as a society and stay close emotionally if not physically. As the pandemic continues to unfold, let’s act responsibly and reach out when we need support.

Trillium College is committed to ensuring the utmost level of health and safety of our students and staff.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have done our very best to make everyone aware of our actions via social media that we have been taking every measure possible to make decisions that will allow us to continue with a high level of education for our students; as a result we are now fully functioning online while our campuses and closed to the public. We want to respect the urgent need for social distancing that has been mandated by both all levels of government in the province.

Since the onset of our communication updates there have been various types of questions as well as opinions and comments on our social media channels; we understand that many people in the Trillium College Community, as well as the general public are looking for more answers about what the future will hold. Unfortunately, we can not predict the unknown or future timelines, but when it is deemed safe, our goal is to re-open campuses so that students can get back in the classroom and resume their routines.

With a student and staff population of over 1,000 people, along with 1000 moving parts, regulations and rules to follow, everyone needs to know that we have mindfully taken the time required to devise responsible and measured plans that best support students, all of our employees as well as the public.

If you still have questions, the best and most appropriate way to gain clarification is 1 on 1; please reach out to your campus director directly. Everyone’s situation and concerns have their own different unique element to it and this is truly the best way for questions to be addressed. We would like to encourage everyone that, instead of asking questions through comment channels on various social media platforms to please pick up the phone and call us directly. Call 1.855.234.2008 and press the campus extension where you attend.

We will continue to keep everyone updated on a mass scale through our communication channels, but only when there is something to share. That means being patient; reasonable decisions are never made quickly or without thought and planning.

This is a time like no other, and we are all in this together. Trust that we review the situation multiple times daily and if changes to any plans are required in order to adapt to the fluidity of the situation, we will do so.

Thank you