County legislators meet new OCC president, discuss health programs
Recently Onondaga County legislators had the opportunity to meet with Onondaga Community College’s new president and take a tour of the school’s nursing department.
OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton was joined by others in presenting some of the work, changes and additions the college has been working on for its nursing programs.
Over the last two years, the Onondaga Community College School of Health has expanded its existing healthcare programs such as nursing A.A.S., surgical technology A.A.S., physical therapy assistant A.A.S., health information technology A.A.S., medical assistant workforce certificate, phlebotomy workforce certificate) in response to regional market demand.
New programs include: an evening cohort of nursing A.A.S., paramedic certificate and paramedic A.A.S. (joint program with SUNY Upstate Medical University), health science A.S., health administration A.S., health studies certificate, certified nurse assistant workforce certificate, and home health aide workforce certificate.
The college also is planning to double its capacity in surgical technology A.A.S. and health information technology A.A.S. and to add a licensed practice nurse workforce certificate, emergency medical technician workforce certificate, and medical laboratory assistant A.A.S. within the next one to two years, with further expansion anticipated thereafter.
These new programs require significantly more classroom and laboratory space in which to provide instruction to students prior to placing them in clinical settings in the community. Examples of specific needs include:
Co-location of programs in Ferrante Hall, following relocation of art programs, to support simulation of the multi-disciplinary care-giving model that is used in contemporary healthcare and to create shared laboratories and storage that can accommodate instruction in multiple programs.
Outfitted space to accommodate instruction in certified nurse assistant, which requires a laboratory that replicates a long-term care facility setting, including patient beds, mannequins, ceiling-mounted lifts and Hoyer lifts, patient bathroom with shower, access to physical therapy assistant lab and equipment.
Outfitted space to accommodate instruction in home health aide, which requires a laboratory that replicates a residential home, including kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and bedroom spaces.
Upgrading of deteriorated equipment and expansion of laboratory space for the medical assistant and phlebotomy programs.
Expansion of nursing classrooms and equipment to accommodate program expansion. Introduction of virtual reality lab to expand the range of training that can be offered in preparation for clinical settings.
Expanded surgical technology classroom with contemporary equipment.
Upgraded physical therapy assistant classroom with access to shared certified nurse assistant and nursing lab space.
Two computer classrooms with dual monitors and dedicated lab space with anatomical models and human skeletons to support expansion of the health information technology A.A.S. to an online/hybrid format.
