Maria Santiago, the CEO and Director of Home Health Aide Training Institute (HHATI),
Maria Santiago has always been helping people, stemming back to her childhood when she would assist in daily happenings in her hometown. She has always found joy in doing what is in her power to improve the lives of those around her, prompting her to take the journey to launch her own healthcare training company, Home Health Aide Training Institute (HHATI).
Santiago, the recent recipient of the Presidential Tribute of Excellence Award, has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry and, via HHATI, offers students the best educational courses in the respective healthcare fields that they have aspirations of working in. The lone caveat, however, is that they must take pride and have joy in wanting to help others.
“If I was the designated driver, I would never feel as if people come into my path by chance,” said Santiago. “There is no designation. If you’re designated to meet me and I can help you in some way that helps improve your life, whether you are a student that studies with us or a patient that receives treatment from one of our graduates, then I did my part.”
Aside from her work as the director of HHATI, she is also an advocate for numerous non-profit Go Fund Me campaigns for people suffering with debilitating conditions and serves as a volunteer in her community at functions and events too.
“If we get a call for someone who is sick or suffering and they can’t afford care, we will try to send a volunteer to help,” she stated. “We will typically offer our students the opportunity for real-world experiences and volunteerism to go care for the patient, but of course never placing them in a situation where they are not qualified to do so.”
The Home Health Aide Training Institute (HHATI) is not only nationally-recognized but also licensed and approved by the New York State Education Department. Students who come through the doors range in age from as young as 17 years old to as high as 65+, proving it is never too late to garner new skills and knowledge in assisting and helping others. In fact, Santiago and her team has seen a staggering 3,000 students come through the doors, graduate and go out into the world to improve the lives of patients, all in just six years of operation.
HHATI currently spotlights five signature pillars in its curriculum, a 40-hour Personal Care Assistance (PCA) course, an 83-hour Home Health Aide (HHA) course, a 125-hour Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course, Coordinator courses and Infection Control training.
The Personal Care Assistance course focuses on healthcare professionals who will be working in patient’s homes and similar environments. They will be dedicating themselves to assisting and serving individuals with their health-related needs and daily activities.
Coordinator courses span over 50 hours of training, including the planning, coordination and scheduling for various home care agencies. The total hours are split with 25 in the classroom, and the other half dedicated to agency work in the field.
Home Health Aide training includes preparing the healthcare professional to assist patients, at their homes, in daily activities and basic tasks that could range from eating, bathing, grooming, moving, exercising, toileting and other basic and daily functions.
The Infection Control courses also include training in COVID-19 treatment for patients. The course helps healthcare professionals identify, potentially prevent or control diseases before they can both occur or spread. Methods in robe and disrobing are included, while practices in safety and proper distance are taught as well.
The final course in the curriculum offers 125 hours of training as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Budding healthcare professionals will garner the necessary knowledge and skills to perform basic aide and nursing duties while serving at either a hospital, nursing home or both.
Santiago and her team also work to place all graduates for employment in their fields while actively contributing to the future of healthcare, one student at a time.
“Everyone has a journey. No one comes into our lives by chance,” said Santiago. “We train our dedicated student body to provide home and nursing care all across the country, whether professionals want to travel to another place or practice in the state where they already live.”
About Maria Santiago
Maria Santiago is the CEO and Director of Home Health Aide Training Institute (HHATI), which trains and certifies home health aides, PCAs and CNAs. She recently won the Presidential Tribute of Excellence Award and her team has taught over 3,000 students to date. For more information about getting involved in home healthcare, please visit www.hhati.com
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