CANYONS READY TO START TRAINING MEDICAL TECHS SHORTAGE IN FIELD MOUNTING.Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. is poised to create a training program for medical lab technicians, whose numbers nationwide fall far short of the demand. The two-year curriculum would offer hands-on experience in area hospitals, similar to the school's well-respected nursing program. "It seems every day, isn't there a new test to determine if somebody has cancer, or a new disease?" said Sue Albert, dean of Allied Health, which includes the school's nursing department. "Everybody in the U.S. expects to get a full battery of tests and they get aggravated if it takes a week to get (results.)" The delay is due to a dramatic shortage of technicians, who help process lab tests, she said. The shortage of lab techs exceeds that of nurses statewide and across the nation. The program's format was recently approved by the state, where some 7,000 new lab technicians will be needed by 2012, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. 2005 California Labor Market labor market A place where labor is exchanged for wages; an LM is defined by geography, education and technical expertise, occupation, licensure or certification requirements, and job experience Information reports. The college's degree program would have space for roughly 100 students each year. Funding hinges on federal aid. U.S. Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon earmarked $100,000 for the program in a bill passed last week by the House. The measure must navigate the Senate and receive approval from the president. The college must provide $100,000 in seed money or in-kind matching funds Noun 1. matching funds - funds that will be supplied in an amount matching the funds available from other sources cash in hand, finances, funds, monetary resource, pecuniary resource - assets in the form of money , Albert said. The college has formed partnerships with local businesses and medical centers to supplement classroom lessons with hands-on learning. They include Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is a hospital in Mission Hills, California, USA. The hospital has 254 beds, and is part of Providence Health & Services. History and Valley Presbyterian Hospital in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . College of the Canyons hopes to create a model program that could be adopted elsewhere. judy.orourke@dailynews.com (661) 257-5255 |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion