a guide to
in southwest and central virginia
HEALTHCARE EDUCATION [ BY THE PUBLISHERS OF OUR HEALTH MAGAZINE ]
our health
2012 healthcare education guide
Guide Contents List of Programs HCG2
An overview of the various colleges and universities in Southwest and Central Virginia that offer degrees, diplomas and certificates in the healthcare field.
Special Feature Focus
A special advertising section highlighting participating colleges and universities with more in-depth information about the health-related education programs offered.
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Bluefield College
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Centra College of Nursing
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Jefferson College of Health Sciences
HCG10 Lynchburg College
List of Programs BLUEFIELD COLLEGE www.dslcc.edu 1000 Dabney Drive • Clifton Forge, Virginia 24422 540.863.2800 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Behavioral Science, Exercise and Sports Science, Psychology, Sport Medicine, Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical and Pre-Pharmacy. Bachelor Degree in Nursing through INSPIRE online degree program. Tuition: Undergraduate $29,120 includes room and board. INSPIRE tuition is $4,020 per semester or $335 per credit hour (additional fees not included).
CENTRA HEALTH LYNCHBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING AND PRACTICAL NURSING www.centrahealth.com/news/centra-jobs/schoolnursing-general-info 1901 Tate Springs Road • Lynchburg, VA 24501 434.947.3070
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Health-related programs offered: Diploma in nursing and Certificate in Practical nursing. Tuition: Total three-year Virginia resident: $23,976
HCG15 Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
CENTRAL VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HCG12 National College
www.cv.cc.va.us 3506 Wards Road • Lynchburg, VA 24502 434.832.7600 Health-related programs offered: Career Studies Certificates in Emergency Medical Technician Basic and Intermediate, Medical Coding, Medical Transcription, Optician Theory, Pharmacy Technology. Associates Degree in Emergency Medical Services Paramedic, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy Tuition: Virginia Resident: $117 per semester hour (plus a $7.50 technology fee and a $5.00 activity fee per credit hour). Out of state residents: $293.60 per semester hour (plus a $7.50 technology fee, a $15.50 capital fee and a $5.50 activity fee per credit hour). Special E-Rate: Only $222 per semester hour for web-based courses with fees included.
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2012 healthcare education guide
DABNEY S. LANCASTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.dslcc.edu 1000 Dabney Drive • Clifton Forge, Virginia 24422 540.863.2800 Health-related programs offered: Available Fall 2013 - Certificate program in Advanced Health Care and Practical Nursing. Associates Degree in Nursing and LPN to RN bridge. Tuition: Virginia Resident: $127 per credit hour. Out of state residents: $319.10 per credit hour.
EDWARD VIA VIRGINIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (VCOM) www.vcom.vt.edu 2265 Kraft Drive • Blacksburg, VA 24060 540.231.4000 Health-related programs offered: Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine. Tuition: $39,000 per year plus fees of $530.00.
HOLLINS UNIVERSITY www.hollins.edu P.O. Box 9707 • Roanoke, VA 24020 800.456.9595 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Pre Med and Pre Vet. Pre Nursing in partnership with Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine in partnership with VCOM. Tuition: $43,295 per year (room, board and other fees included).
JEFFERSON COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES www.jchs.edu 101 Elm Avenue • Roanoke, VA 24013 Health-related programs offered: Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapy Assistant, and Respiratory Therapy. Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Sciences, Healthcare Management, Health Psychology, Health and Exercise Science, Nursing, Emergency Services and Respiratory Therapy. Master Degree in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Physician Assistant. Tuition: Undergraduate Programs- Full time- $21,330, plus fees, Undergraduate Programs- Part time- $620 per credit hour, plus fees, Graduate Program - $665 per credit hour, plus fees. On campus residence available $2,700 per semester and $1,475 for summer session.
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY www.liberty.edu 1971 University Boulevard • Lynchburg, VA 24502 434.582.2000
Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Kinesiology and Nursing. Masters Degree in Public Health. On-line Bachelors Degree in Nursing. On-line Masters Degree in Healthcare Management, Nursing and Public Health. Tuition: Resident undergraduate - $27,018 per year. Graduate - $455 per credit hour. Online undergraduate tuition - $365 per credit hour part-time rate, $325 – full-time. On-line graduate tuition - $505 per credit hour part-time rate, and $465 full-time (additional fees not included).
LYNCHBURG COLLEGE www.lynchburg.edu 1501 Lakeside Drive • Lynchburg, VA 24501 434.544.8100 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science, Exercise Physiology, Health Promotion, Nursing, Pre Health, and Psychology. Master Degree in Nursing, RN to MSN Pathway. Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Tuition: Undergraduate $31,060 per year. Graduate tuition $430 per credit hour. Doctorate tuition $13,300 fall/spring semester and $4,800 summer term (room, board and other fees not included).
NATIONAL COLLEGE - DANVILLE CAMPUS www.national-college.edu Danville Campus 336 Old Riverside Drive • Danville, VA 24541 434.793.6822 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Office Assistant and Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting and Surgical Technology. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).
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2012 healthcare education guide
NATIONAL COLLEGE - HARRISONBURG CAMPUS 1515 Country Club Road • Harrisonburg, VA 22802 540.432.0943 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant and Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting and Surgical Technology. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).
NATIONAL COLLEGE - LYNCHBURG CAMPUS 104 Candlewood Court • Lynchburg, VA 24505 434.239.3500 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant and Specialist, and Pharmacy Technician. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).
NATIONAL COLLEGE - MARTINSVILLE CAMPUS 905 N. Memorial Boulevard • Martinsville, VA 24112 276.632.5621 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant Specialist, and Pharmacy Technician. Associates Degree in Medical Assisting. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).
NATIONAL COLLEGE - ROANOKE CAMPUS 1813 East Main Street • Salem, VA 24153 540.986.1800 Health-related programs offered: Diploma programs in Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Assistant Specialist, and Pharmacy Technician. Associates Degree in Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting and Paramedic. Bachelor Degree in Health Care Management. Tuition: Undergraduate tuition $314 per credit hour (additional fees not included).
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NEW RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.nr.edu 5251 College Drive • Dublin, VA 24084 540.674.3600 or 1.866.462.6722 Health-related programs offered: Associates Degree in Nursing. Certificate programs in Practical Nursing. Tuition: Virginia resident: $127.05 per credit hour. Out- of-state resident: $319.15 per credit hour (includes additional fees).
RANDOPH COLLEGE www.randolphcollege.edu 2500 Rivermount Avenue • Lynchburg, VA 24503 434.947.8000 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Health Service, Psychology, Pre Med and Pre Vet. Tuition: $42,330 per year (room, board and other fees included). Part-time rate $1,295 per credit hour.
RADFORD UNIVERSITY www.radford.edu 801 East Main Street • Radford , VA 24142 540.831.5000 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Exercise Sport and Health Education, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, Pre Pharmacy and Psychology. Masters Degree in Communications Science and Disorders, Counseling and Human Development, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Psychology. Doctorate Degree in Counseling Psychology. Tuition: Virginia resident undergraduate: $16,608 per year (room, board and other fees included). Tuition only $8,590 per year or part-time $359 per credit hour. Out-of-state resident: $28,178 per year (room, board and other fees included). Part-time $841 per credit hour. Graduate and Doctorate program tuitions vary per program and residence. RU School of Nursing (on-line): Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. In-state tuition $435 per credit hour; Out of state $877 per credit hour. Doctor of Physical Therapy – in conjunction with Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital in Roanoke, VA.
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2012 healthcare education guide
ROANOKE COLLEGE www.roanoke.edu 221 College Lane • Salem, VA 24153 540.375.2500 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Biochemistry, Health and Science, Psychology, and Pre Health Programs. Tuition: $46,113 per year (room, board and other fees included).
SKYLINE COLLEGE www.skyline.edu 5234 Airport Road • Roanoke, VA 24012 540.563.8000 Health-related programs offered: Associate Degree in Medical Assisting. Diploma in Practical Nursing. Tuition: Tuition and fees vary per program.
VIRGINIA TECH www.vt.edu 201 Burruss Hall • Blacksburg, VA 24061 540.231.6267 Health-related programs offered: Bachelor Degree in Biological Sciences, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Psychology, Pre Health Professions, and Pre Vet Medicine. Masters Degree in Biological Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical and Vet Science, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Psychology and Public Health. Doctorate of Biological Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical and Vet Science, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, and Psychology. Tuition: Undergraduate in-state: $17,919, out-of-state$32,911 (includes room and board). Graduate school tuition: In-state $593.25 per credit hour and out of state $1,162.50 per credit hour. Tuition varies for Extended Campus, Virtual Campus, Graduate and Veterinary Medicine.
VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.virginiawestern.edu 3094 Colonial Avenue • Roanoke, VA 24015 540.857.VWCC (8922) Health-related programs offered: Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Radiography, and Veterinary Technology. Certificate Programs in Electronic Medical Records Management, Practical Nursing, Radiation Oncology, and Surgical Technology. Tuition: Virginia Resident- $135.09 per credit hour, Non-Virginia Resident- $327.19 per credit hour, NonVirginia Resident E-Rate- $222 per credit hour.
WYTHEVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE www.wcc.vccs.edu 1000 E Main Street • Wytheville, VA 24382 276.223.4700 Health-related programs offered: Certificate programs in Medical Office Clerk and Practical Nursing. Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services- Paramedic, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Care (offered in partnership with Southwest Virginia Community College. Tuition: Virginia resident: $127 per credit hour. Out-of-state resident: $319.10 per credit hour.
VIRGINIA TECH CARILION SCHOOL OF MEDICINE www.vtc.vt.edu 2 Riverside Circle • Roanoke, VA 24016 540.526.2500 Health-related programs offered: Doctorate of Medicine. Tuition: $43,550 per year.
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2012 healthcare education guide • ADVERTORIAL
BLUEFIELD COLLEGE
Bluefield College, Virginia’s premier Christ-Centered liberal arts institution, prepares Registered Nurse Students to receive Baccalaureate in Nursing, using online delivery format. culminating capstone and three of the courses have a corresponding clinical/lab component.
Bluefield College is a Christ-centered liberal arts college in covenant with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. The vision of Bluefield College is to be a nationally recognized Christcentered liberal arts college, preparing innovative learners and transformational leaders to impact the world. The College was founded in 1922 as a two-year college in Bluefield, Virginia and today has grown to a four-year liberal arts college. Bluefield College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30o33-4097; Telephone number 404679-4501) to award the baccalaureate degree. Bluefield College is ranked amount the Top 50 Baccalaureate Colleges in the South in U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges. Bluefield College has offered a degree completion curriculum to serve the community by way of an accelerated, intensive delivery system since the early 1990s. Currently, it offers adult accelerated programs, known as inSPIRE. The inSPIRE program has five options: Management and Leadership, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Public Safety and in January 2012 the online Registered Nurse to Baccalaureate in Nursing (RN-BSN) curriculum was implemented. The Bluefield College School of Nursing (BC SON) innovative online program will be a new model for the RN with a specialized focus in rural health care and will create a career pathway that is community-based, culturally focused, evidence-based, and global in nature. The degree will require 126 credit hours with 37 nursing credit hours over six, eight-week sessions (three academic semesters) with ongoing open enrollment every session. The 37 credit hours are inclusive of a three hour
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The curriculum builds upon the foundation of competencies attained by the registered nurse in the associate degree program; and, broadens the expansion of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and application to impact the quality of healthcare for the client. Courses will be offered using an E-racer platform management system with some asynchronous video streaming, allowing the adult online learners to use visual and auditory senses to learn complex concepts and to improve and augment online learning. Courses in the curriculum are based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice recommended substantive areas and the nursing standards of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an autonomous nursing accreditation agency that contributes to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE works to ensure the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. Dr. Carolyn Lewis, Dean of the BC SON states, “As the landscape of health care reform changes and population shifts affect the delivery of health care priorities, it is imperative that transformation must also happen in nursing and nursing education. The Institute of Medicine Report released in October 2010, a recommendation to increase the proportion of all nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. Higher educational institutions must provide an infrastructure to allow this to happen without compromising academic excellence. We believe our BC SON program meets this challenge. “ Bluefield College online degree programs are designed for adult learners who want to advance their education and career while maintain professional, familial and social commitments. The online programs are convenient, nationally recognized and affordable. The tuition rate is $335.00 per hour and eBooks are included in the rate. These online programs further allow the student to complete their degree without scarifying professional work commitments. For more information about the RN-BSN program call 800.872.0176 or visit www.bluefield.edu/nursing.
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ADVERTORIAL • 2012 healthcare education guide
A two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program is offered at the Centra College of Nursing. The ADN makes it easier for graduates to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. It takes five semesters to complete, and nurses are prepared with the technical proficiencies and competencies to safely practice in multiple settings, she said. Credits obtained from the degree may be transferable to colleges and universities to be applied toward a higher degree. “The program provides a cost-effective, efficient means to become a registered nurse,” said Patti McCue, Sc.D., R.N., MSN, NEA-BC, Centra senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. An associate degree program is one of the three recognized educational paths to becoming a registered nurse. The other two are the diploma program and the baccalaureate program in nursing, the latter of which is traditionally offered at colleges and universities. In addition, all nursing school graduates must pass a national competency exam to become a registered nurse regardless of academic preparation. “Centra recognizes the need to have nurses with a quality education take care of patients in central Virginia,” McCue said. “We understand the importance of the role of the nurse. We want to make sure that the nursing needs of our region are met, and we are committed to meeting these needs.” Centra is relocating the nursing program from Centra Lynchburg General Hospital to a newly renovated 37,000 square foot site located in The Plaza shopping center in mid-town Lynchburg. The new campus features student classrooms, a skills lab, faculty offices and a Center for Medical Simulation and Virtual Learning. The off-campus location meets current academic standards and provides space for expansion for possible additional health programs in the future. One of the most exciting parts of the new campus is its Center for Medical Simulation and Virtual Learning, said McCue. The center is the result of a grant awarded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission to Centra and Lynchburg College. Central Virginia Community College also is participating in the initiative that will provide students with interdisciplinary collaborative experiences that emphasize critical thinking and patient safety. The use of medical simulation is expanding rapidly and expected to become
a standard in nursing and allied health education. Up to 20 percent of clinical hours can be achieved through the use of medical simulation. “Simulation is the latest and most effective type of education in which students can intervene, make decisions and take actions in a highly controlled environment,” said McCue. “The process allows the creation of clinical situations that could not be created in a hospital setting. It also is an excellent way to teach and promote patient safety,” she said. “Students can practice in a controlled environment before working with actual patients.” Perhaps one of the most advantageous aspects of the ADN is the opportunity for students to do their clinical training at Centra’s Lynchburg General and Virginia Baptist hospitals, both of which have obtained Magnet® status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association. The Magnet Recognition Program grants Magnet recognition to organizations where nursing delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job satisfaction, and where there is a low staff nurse turnover rate and appropriate grievance resolution. Magnet status is also said to indicate nursing involvement in data collection and decision-making in patient care delivery. The idea is that nursing leaders value staff nurses, involve them in shaping research-based nursing practice, and encourage and reward them for advancing in nursing practice. Magnet hospitals have open communication between nurses and other members of the healthcare team and an appropriate personnel mix to attain the best patient outcomes and staff work environment. “When students train at Magnet-recognized hospitals, they witness other nurses who are highly satisfied with their jobs and who are empowered to make a lot of decisions,” says McCue. “Our nurses are charged with taking action to provide the best care to patients, and they are respected by physicians for their judgment and clinical decision making. This level of respect for nurses also extends to other clinical disciplines, such as pharmacists, respiratory therapists and registered dietitians, to name a few. Nurses are certainly recognized for their leadership role in managing the care of their patients.”
CENTRA COLLEGE OF NURSING
Centra College of Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing combines exceptional classroom instruction with leading clinical training
All the surrounding colleges, universities and medical training programs have their medical students perform training at Centra Lynchburg General and Virginia Baptist hospitals in part because of their being Magnet organizations. The Magnet recognition, along with Centra’s state-of-theart equipment and staffing efficiencies make it an ideal place for learning and expanding on skills. “A magnet hospital is the perfect place for a nursing student to train, no doubt about it,” continues McCue. “When students complete their clinicals at Centra, they know they want to work in a Magnet-recognized hospital. It’s that much of a difference.” To learn more about the Centra College of Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing, please call 434.200.3070 or visit www.centrahealth.com, keyword ADN, where you can also download the catalog and application packet.
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2012 healthcare education guide • ADVERTORIAL
JEFFERSON COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Jefferson College of Health Sciences: Celebrating 30 years of Healthcare Education Thirty years ago, babies weren’t the only ones being born at Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley. That same year, a small college also greeted the world as part of the hospital, welcoming an inaugural class of around a dozen students to what was then the Carlton Terrace Building on Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke. Initially given the name “Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley College of Health Sciences,” the school was built on the foundations of several “founding schools” that can trace their roots back to 1914. These schools include the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing, the Lewis Gale School of Nursing and the Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley School of Nursing. The major step forward for the Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley College of Health Sciences in 1982 was earning permission to grant associate degrees in Nursing and Respiratory Therapy from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
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Over the next three decades, the school would evolve into a leading light in healthcare education in the Roanoke Valley, the southwest Virginia region and beyond. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the College experienced steady growth, adding to its academic degree options, based on the needs of the local healthcare community. Among the programs that were added during this period were Emergency Health Sciences, Licensed Practical Nursing, Health Services Management and Physical Therapist Assistant. Some of these programs are still being offered at the College today. Additionally, to ensure the school continued its positive growth, Dr. Harry Nickens was hired as the first College President in 1989. Nickens would serve as President for over a decade and would oversee a period of significant change. In the early 1990s, the Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley merged with Roanoke Memorial Hospital, which prompted another name change
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to the “College of Health Sciences.” By extension, the College was also now part of Roanoke Memorial, which greatly expanded the opportunities for student recruitment and clinical rotations in which students could be involved.
partnering with fellow higher education institutions like the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) in providing opportunities for healthcare students to interact and learn together before entering real-world clinical environments. In 2012, Bishop was named the Chair of Interprofessionalism at VTCSOM.
In addition, the College earned the right to offer bachelor’s degree in 1995, opening up opportunities in healthcare education to an entirely new population of students interested in four-year degrees. In 2003, the College experienced further change when it welcomed second President Dr. Carol Seavor and changed its name once again to Jefferson College of Health Sciences (JCHS). Seavor led the institution through some of its most dramatic changes, including nearly doubling the student population from roughly 500 to 1,000 in just five years, and expanding academic programs to a total of 13 in less than a decade. In addition, the College was granted approval to begin offering graduate level degrees in 2005, beginning with a Master of Science in Nursing and adding Master’s degrees in Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant just three years later. In 2010, Dr. Seavor announced her retirement and Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop transitioned from his position as a Vice-President with Carilion Clinic into the Presidency at JCHS. Since that time, the College continues to reach milestone after milestone. In late 2010, JCHS received reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) through 2020. And the academic programs have continued to expand, with new Bachelor of Science degrees now offered in Respiratory Therapy, Health Sciences and an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. In 2011, JCHS also welcomed the Medical Laboratory Science Program from Carilion Clinic as part of our Biomedical Sciences curriculum. Dr. Bishop has led JCHS in embarking on a collaborative program of Interprofessional Education,
To broaden the community’s knowledge of JCHS, an affiliate of Carilion Clinic, President Bishop has also welcomed over 120 leaders to campus from dozens of organizations across the region with a vested interest in healthcare education, including representatives from other colleges and universities, municipal and state governments, local media, private healthcare companies and the professional healthcare community like our colleagues at Carilion Clinic. With 30 years under our belt as a degree-granting institution and an ever-increasing list of new achievements the College has accomplished, it’s only natural to wonder what JCHS may look like three decades into the future in 2042. “Today, we’re continuing on the path charted by my predecessors and mapped out even further in my first years as President,” Bishop said, smiling. “I think the College is well positioned right now due to the hard work and keen, insightful vision that went into creating it in 1982 and in the years since. I think we’re at a place now with about 1,100 students in 11 undergraduate and three graduate degree programs that we can continue to move the College in a positive direction in regard to the needs of a steadily growing healthcare industry. It is still projected that between now and 2018, an additional 4 million jobs will be coming online in healthcare. So, we want to be ready to respond to that growing need.” If you’re interested in a career in healthcare, contact the JCHS Office of Admissions today to get started at 1-888-985-8483, via e-mail at admissions@jchs. edu or online at www.jchs.edu. You can be part of a growing and in-demand profession that gives you the opportunity to care for our families, friends and neighbors every day!
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2012 healthcare education guide • ADVERTORIAL
LYNCHBURG COLLEGE
Lynchburg College is addressing future health care needs by designing programs to meet demands in Central Virginia and beyond. Lynchburg College is addressing future health care needs by designing programs to meet demands in Central Virginia and beyond. The R. N. to M.S.N. pathway that began this fall is the newest endeavor, and a Physician Assistant Program is on the drawing board with plans to begin classes in the summer of 2015. Also, work has begun on a $1.5 million grant for a collaborative education initiative between nursing and the DPT program, which launched in 2010. The R.N. to M.S.N. pathway allows registered nurses to pursue the master of science in nursing without having first completed a bachelor’s degree. “There is already a lot of interest in the program,” said Dr. Jean St. Clair, M.S.N. program director. “Also a lot of folks are now working on the pre-requisites at community colleges so they can enroll as soon as possible,” she added. This summer, Dr. St. Clair and Dr. Linda Andrews, dean of the School of Health Sciences, hit the road to visit Virginia hospitals to promote the program and recruit students.
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LC is the first college in Central Virginia to offer this program and joins 173 other colleges and universities nationwide in an effort to provide advanced nursing education as mandated by accrediting agencies. One such agency is the Magnet system, an accrediting body for hospitals, which is requiring that 100 percent of nurse managers have a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing by January 1, 2013. The agency is also requiring that all nurses who are in supervisory positions receive the M.S.N. by 2020. The Institute of Medicine has made recommendations that 80 percent of all nurses will hold a B.S.N. degree and that the number of doctoral prepared nurses will double in the United States by the year 2020. The majority of nurses nationally and in Virginia do not have bachelor’s degrees. In Virginia, 62 percent of all licensed R.N.s hold either a diploma in nursing or an associate’s degree. The increase of M.S.N.-prepared nurses will be a major factor in resolving the nursing shortage and
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providing optimal health care. Ongoing research shows that the higher the education level of the nurses, the better the patient care.
emergency, and operating room, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, and mental health.
“We are committed to delivering an affordable, desirable nursing program that will help nurses to advance their careers and meet the needs of their employers,” said Dr. Jean St. Clair, M.S.N. program director. “At no time in our nation’s history has the need been greater for higher educated nurses.”
The PA program will be housed in the newly renovated Health Sciences building adjacent to the campus where the DPT program resides.
M.S.N. courses are taught in a hybrid format that combines online and classroom experiences to provide flexibility to working professionals. For hospitals that form a cohort of at least ten students, LC nursing professors will teach the classroom component on site. “The Lynchburg College R.N. to M.S.N. program will decrease the time commitment for the employee and the employer, provide a more cost-effective alternative than two separate degrees, and allow the R.N. to be more competitive for advancement,” Dr. St. Clair said. The Physician Assistant (PA) Program is a master’s level program designed to prepare students to be generalists. “Medicine is full of specialists,” explained Dr. Ed Polloway, dean of graduate studies, “but the physician assistant gets education in multiple areas so he/she can work in any area.” The job outlook for students who complete the program is positive with a projected 30 percent growth in PA positions over the next eight years. The inaugural class and perhaps the second class will be composed of mainly local and regional students due to the convenience factor for students who are considering pursing the PA program but do not have an easy means of attending school. Later, however, the College will be involved with the centralized application system and draw regionally and nationally. The first class will number approximately forty students. The twenty-seven-month curriculum will encompass classroom instruction and clinicals. Students will work with a variety of patients at clinical sites in various disciplines including outpatient, inpatient,
The new Central Virginia Center for Simulation and Virtual Learning, a cooperative venture between LC and Centra, will be available to students in all of LC’s health sciences programs. The center will provide a risk-free environment where students can have clinical experiences without any fear of injuring a real patient. The simulation process involves using computer controlled, high fidelity, state-of-the-art human patient simulators or mannequins who simulate actual human responses to numerous illnesses. Three new simulators will join earlier versions of SimMan and VitaSim Anne, which have been in use for several years. Located on the lower level of the Plaza, the simulation center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013. LC also has an impressive list of established programs including nursing, athletic training, exercise physiology, health promotion, and the Walker Human Performance Laboratory, which provides affordable physiological performance and fitness testing for Lynchburg College students and faculty as well as members of the Lynchburg community. This year 470 athletes have been screened for heart risk at the lab. Lynchburg College has applied for provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Lynchburg College anticipates matriculating its first class in June 2015, pending provisional accreditation in March 2015. Provisional accreditation is an accreditation status for a new PA program that has not yet enrolled students, but at the time of its comprehensive accreditation review, has demonstrated its preparedness to initiate a program in accordance with the accreditation Standards.
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2012 healthcare education guide • ADVERTORIAL
NATIONAL COLLEGE
National College fulfills healthcare needs in our local communities through its in-depth and hands-on medical degree and certificate programs Local Employer Finds Valuable Skills in National Externs and Graduates Mikelle Hall had spent many years as a housewife and mother before returning to school. Interested in the medical field, she looked into colleges in the area that were offering short-term medical degrees and came across the Danville, Virginia Campus. The campus instantly appealed to her because of the small class sizes, the focus on individual attention, and the hands-on nature of the courses.
Beyond having the clinical skills, Mr. Willis explained that the externs that he has worked with also have the needed computer skills that go hand-in-hand with the clinical skills. “It’s really important to have a balance between the two,” says Mr. Willis as he explained how more medical offices are switching to electronic record keeping and having computer skills has become essential in the medical field. “This is a great program,” Mr. Willis said of the National College medical assisting program, “[and] we would certainly entertain the idea of having more externs.”
Emergency Medical Technology students get a first-hand feel in providing life-saving services
Mikelle earned a diploma from the medical billing and coding program in only eight months and then earned an associate’s degree from the medical assisting program. For her externships, she worked with other National students at Internal Medicine Associates, Inc. where she was offered a job as a permanent member of the team. Internal Medicine Associates has a history of partnering with National College in the campus’s extern program and has hired several graduates from among the externs who have worked at their office. “It’s really been helpful for us,” said William Willis, office manager of Internal Medicine Associates and Mikelle’s supervisor, of his office’s partnership with National. He said he has found that National College externs are well prepared to go into the clinical setting. William shares that the National College students and graduates that he has worked with were quick learners, go-getters, enthusiastic, and energetic. “That’s what we really look for [in employees],” he states.
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While classroom instruction is an essential part of the education process for students, applying what they learned to real-life scenarios is just as important. Students enrolled in various healthcare degree and certificate programs at National College get the opportunity to participate in staged emergency situations and put their skills to work. One such example occurred recently when National College instructors created a mock automobile accident for its students in the emergency medical technology – paramedic program. During the training exercise, students arrived at the scene of the accident where they found two cars had collided, leaving injured occupants trapped in the vehicles. Fortunately, while the smashed cars and
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ADVERTORIAL • 2012 healthcare education guide
rescue devices were very real, the “victims” were only imaginary. Students used the College’s real life-saving equipment to practice their skills learned in the classroom by pulling the “victims” from the car and performing life-saving techniques. The students, many of whom currently serve in various volunteer fire and rescue organizations, approached the day’s activities enthusiastically but professionally, with a keen interest in acquiring the knowledge and skills needed by first responders. For many of us, these students are the heroes in training who will one day be called upon to use those skills in saving lives – perhaps even our own.
National’s RMA Prep Course Ensures Success in Local Job Market Graduates of National College’s medical assisting associate degree program have a high pass rate of the Registered Medical Assistant exam (RMA), a test certifying the requisite skills and knowledge that enable one to perform successfully in the medical assisting field. In Lynchburg, 100% of the students in the medical assisting program passed this exam in 8 consecutive terms in 2010 and 2011. According to Susan Coleman, the campus’ director of healthcare education, this success is largely attributed to a review course that focuses specifically on preparing for the RMA exam. This high success rate over so many terms has enabled students to become qualified job candidates in the medical assisting career field of the Lynchburg medical community, particularly through Centra Health’s hospitals and facilities, which include Lynchburg General Hospital and Virginia Baptist Hospital. In addition to the RMA exam review course, the program includes two computer classes and three medical lab classes that utilize up-to-date equipment for hands-on training. Students are also required to complete a medical assisting externship where they put the knowledge they gained in the classroom to use. The campus intends to maintain the high success rate of its students in future terms and will continue to update the program in response to the increasing demands of modern healthcare.
Graduate Finds Her True Passion in Surgical Technology
surgical technology associate’s degree program at the Danville, Virginia campus, loves the job she acquired following graduation. She had always been fascinated by the operating room, so when the time came to choose a college to attend, she decided to research surgical technology programs in her area. Although there were several colleges to choose from near her North Carolina home, Kristina says she chose National College because they offered an associate’s degree program, whereas other schools offered only certificate programs. “If I was going to go and put the effort into it, I wanted a degree out of it,” she says. She credits Director of Surgical Technology Kim Joyce, whom Kristina met when she first visited the campus, with helping solidify her choice to attend National. “She was really excited about the program,” Kristina explains. “That drew me in, because if someone’s not excited about teaching their program, I’m not going to be excited about learning it.” Kristina began taking classes in March 2010 and graduated in June 2012, where she was honored with the E.M. Coulter Award for academic excellence. She completed an externship with the prestigious Wake Forest Baptist Hospital and was offered a fulltime position there upon her graduation. Even though it has taken a while to get to her dream career, Kristina says it has been worth it because she found her true calling. “I made a difference in [my patient’s] life for that moment that they were in my room. I love that feeling,” She says.
Kristina Watlington, a former student from the
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2012 healthcare education guide • ADVERTORIAL
TREE OF LIFE
Tree of Life Ministries partners with Tabernacle of Praise to bring medical mission training to our communities Reverand Jennifer Williams, Coordinator Ministry Health
Mike Dodson, Senior Pastor, Tree of LIfe
Nancy Dodson Bennett Pastor Administrator
Tree of Life Ministries partners with Tabernacle of Praise to bring medical mission training to our communities Tabernacle of Praise, a ministry center for the Missions Training Camp for Medical Missions and Evangelism, has a storied history of helping prepare individuals for mission work both domestically and internationally. Located in Florida, Tabernacle of Praise is the satellite teaching campus for Convenant Bible College and Seminary and home of Victory Television Network and WIAM Radio (www.wiamradio.info). Through its satellite teaching options, Tabernacle of Praise partners with other ministries to extend their classroom options. Through a partnership with Tabernacle of Praise, Tree of Life Ministries in Lynchburg will soon offer faith-based certified nursing assistant (CNA) program training designed to prepare those interested in combining their skills to deliver faith-based care through mission work. Plans are also underway to offer licensed practical nursing (LPN) and registered nurse (RN) faith-based programs. These programs will be offered at Tree of Life in Lynchburg, located at 371 Oakdale Circle, Lynchburg, VA 24502. Another exciting development is the announcement of a two-year degree program in Medical Missions and Evangelism with Theology, which will begin at the Tree of Life Extension Campus on October 23, 2012. This program will follow with advanced degrees, including a PhD.
Angela Graham Director Of Nursing
Dr. Fay Andrist, Co-Chair Ministry Health
The Medical Ministry was founded in 1986 by current Tabernacle of Praise Senior Pastor Nancy Dodson Bennett. Nancy’s experience in medical missions and evangelism was instrumental in bringing the programs to Tabernacle of Praise and thus to other satellite locations. Through the Victory Television Network (VTN) (www. victorytelevisionnetwork.com), people can currently access on-demand ministry programming, missions and health videos and classic, faith-based television programs and movies for both adults and children. There are also plans in place to make VTN available through the Roku device, allowing for transmission directly to a television. Be sure to check the websites for Tree of Life (www.tolm.net) and Tabernacle of Praise (www.praiseatthetop.com) for additional information. Registration for Medical Missions and Evangelism programs will be held September 11 to September 20, 2012 from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Tree of Life campus. The cost of tuition is $150.00 per month. Classes are held every from Tuesday 7 pm -10 PM. For more information, please contact Pastor Nancy at 386.983.7179 or via email at nancy@tolm.net.
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About Tree of Life Ministries The mission of Tree of Life Ministries is to reach everyone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tree of Life Ministries is lead by Pastor Mike Dodson, Sr. Pastor Mike was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia and attended Lynchburg Public Schools, followed by several years of owning and operating a number of successful businesses in the area. After entering full-time ministry, Pastor Mike and his wife Debie began Tree of Life as well as successfully birthing or reviving six churches in Central Virginia. He has served on the Christian Education Board for the Appalachian Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church as well as serving as an Appalachian Conference Board Member, and he currently serves as the Appalachian Conference’s Assistant Superintendent. Pastor Mike also serves on the Bishop’s Council and the Planning and Budgetary Committee for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church with world headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While he is honored to serve in each of these areas, his ministry passion is and always has been pastoring this local church. Pastor Mike and Pastor Nancy are siblings who are proud to dedicate their lives to spreading the word of God for the greater good. We will accomplish this mission by being creative, innovative, and demonstrative in our method of delivering the Gospel message and helping everyone mature in their relationship with Jesus Christ. We will always look at people through the eyes of God.... Not by what a person is....but what they can become; Not by where a person is....but where they can be; Not by what they have....but by what they can have.
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ADVERTORIAL • 2012 healthcare education guide
During the 2011-2012 academic year, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) celebrated its 10th Anniversary since the college was founded. In the last ten years, VCOM has opened a campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, and a branch campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which opened to students in the fall of 2011. Over 900 physicians to date have completed their medical education at VCOM. With a projected physician shortage in the United States, VCOM is leading the effort to increase access to primary care in rural communities. The focus of the college is to recruit and graduate students from, and educate students in, rural and medically underserved areas of Virginia, the Carolinas, and the Appalachian region while developing a sound primary care system with particular emphasis on prevention, enhanced health maintenance, and effective chronic disease management.
Meeting Its Primary Care Mission VCOM has met its goal of recruiting and training students from the Appalachian region, and was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s top primary care producers, with 59% of students entering primary care residency programs. Of the first two classes that completed residency, 54% of graduates who began their studies in primary care have entered into primary care practice. More than 50% of the first class that graduated in 2007 is practicing in the targeted Appalachian region, and many graduates are specializing in fields that have noted regional shortages. VCOM also ranks among medical schools with the highest number of graduates serving our country as military physicians.
Overview
EDWARD VIA VIRGINIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (VCOM)
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Celebrates 10th Anniversary
VCOM is a fully accredited four-year medical school, offering the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic
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Medicine (D.O.). The college provides state-of-the-art medical education and research, and has developed award-winning programs in primary care and global medical outreach. The college’s sport medicine department has cared for athletes at Virginia Tech, Radford University, the 2010 Olympic Ski Team, and the PGA Greenbrier Classic. As the only osteopathic medical school in Virginia, VCOM has become a leading institution in training primary care physicians. The VCOM - Virginia Campus is located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, and includes a state-of-the-art anatomy lab, two theater-style classrooms, and 16 rooms for small-group learning. VCOM partners with 26 Virginia hospitals for students’ clinical training, and has its own clinical practice affiliate, Academic Primary Care Associates at Montgomery Regional Hospital. Over 400 physicians participate as clinical faculty, funded by VCOM, to educate students in clinical settings.
Advanced Technology for Students and the Community The Simulated Medicine and Technology Center is one of the most remarkable aspects of VCOM, committed to embracing new technology and providing all levels of students the opportunity to utilize state-of-theart equipment. The Center features high tech, highfidelity simulator mannequins designed to simulate real medical conditions, such as heart attacks, through pre-programmed scenarios coordinated by physicians on-site. The simulators include three adults, one baby, and one birthing and neonatal resuscitation simulator, all of which can speak or make sounds, breathe, and receive injections. The Center also features standardized patient rooms designed for routine patient examinations and training. The Center is the only one of its type and size in the southeast, and hosts HeartCode™ Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification for health HCG16 www.ourhealthvirginia.com
care professionals. Custom training and scenarios are available to community health care providers such as hospitals, physician offices and athletic programs.
Global Medical Outreach VCOM prepares physicians for the future of medicine by training globally minded, community focused physicians to provide healthcare for the underserved. Students provide care for the uninsured and underserved in Appalachia at health fairs, free clinics, and disaster emergency response, and travel to VCOM partner sites to learn and provide assistance in medically underserved areas of the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras.
Research Programs for the Future of Medicine VCOM has built a strong research program by collaborating with faculty and researchers at Virginia Tech and other institutions, and has received more than $14 million in extramural research funding since 2002. Research at VCOM takes place in three general categories: clinical, educational, and biomedical science. »» Clinical research focuses largely on behavioral medicine, disease prevention, health education, and the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases of humans. »» Educational research improves student learning by developing best practices for excellence in academics. »» Biomedical (or basic science) research, involves investigating health-related issues to answer questions about the basic mechanisms of cell interactions, cell biology, genetic engineering, pathophysiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and biochemistry. These research findings come together in translational or “bench-to-bedside” research, in which the results and insights gained through biomedical research develop into tangible solutions for human health and/
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ADVERTORIAL • 2012 healthcare education guide
Osteopathic medical students must complete the same curriculum requirements for the M.D. degree, plus 200 additional hours of study dedicated to the musculoskeletal system and preventative medicine.
Fast Facts about VCOMVirginia Campus »VCOM » is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
or disorders. This type of research often involves teambased studies, where both physicians and biomedical faculty work closely to address key challenges.
Educating Physicians for Tomorrow’s Healthcare Needs VCOM has created a learning environment where the classroom meets hands-on practical education, helping students to master the values of extraordinary physicians and learn to collaborate with medical teams of allied healthcare workers.
»VCOM » is the second largest medical school in Virginia. With the addition of a second campus in South Carolina, it has a total enrollment of over 700 students and is the largest medical school in the south. »» Tuition is $39,000 annually for both in-state and out-of-state students. »» In the past five years, VCOM has made a positive community impact for economic growth by providing over $191 million to the local economy. To learn more about VCOM, call 540.231.4000 or visit www.vcom.edu.
About Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) are licensed in all 50 states to practice the full scope of medicine and surgery. D.O.s complete a minimum four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, and three to six years of residency training. Osteopathic physicians can practice in any specialty of medicine in which they are residency trained and, like medical doctors (M.D.s), must pass examinations to obtain state licenses. Approximately 65% of osteopathic physicians practice in primary care specialties (family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine and OB-GYN) filling critical needs in rural and medically underserved communities.
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