Catholic Health East, Drexel University to Offer Unique Educational Benefit to Nurses.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2002

In an initiative that addresses the nationwide shortage of nurses, Catholic Health East (CHE) has partnered with Drexel University to provide more than 10,000 CHE nurses in 11 states with a unique opportunity to further their education through an online program.

As a result of a special partnership signed in mid-November, CHE nurses now have the opportunity to take courses and/or earn BSN and MSN degrees part-time through online access to lectures, reading materials, assignments and exams. This new initiative will help nurses advance their education conveniently and affordably while remaining in the work environment.

"We're excited to offer this outstanding educational opportunity to our nurses who play a key role in the delivery of health care services in the communities we serve," said Peter Giammalvo, Vice President, Leadership Formation, CHE. "With much of the country facing a critical shortage of nurses, educating, retaining and recruiting nurses is one of our highest priorities. We're hopeful this new program will clearly demonstrate this commitment and help us add nurses in the workforce."

Another online component of the CHE/Drexel collaboration is aimed at recruiting new nurses through an innovative Web site that Drexel has launched at http://www.careersfornurses.com. Visited by nursing professionals, students and recent graduates of community colleges, the site will feature nursing employment opportunities and educational benefits offered at CHE facilities.

"The online format of these courses offers convenience for working nurses who would otherwise have to quit their jobs to go back to college," said Dr. Tom Samph, President and CEO of Drexel e-Learning, the University's subsidiary for online education. "Through this relationship we want to assist CHE recruit, retain and further develop qualified nursing personnel in an era of acute nursing shortages."

CHE nurses, can interact with their instructors and classmates via e-mail and Web-based "threaded discussions."

The online program includes an RN-to-BSN degree completion component for RNs with an option to earn credits toward a master's degree while taking upper-division BSN courses, and several MSN programs in nursing education, leadership and management, nurse practitioner specializations and other specializations as well.

Participants will be assisted with expenses through the Regional Health Corporations various education benefit programs. Employees of CHE organizations are offered a 25 percent discount on tuition. In addition, CHE nurses can earn up to six graduate credits or 12 undergraduate credits for work-based educational experiences.

"By bringing greater flexibility and convenience to the educational process, we hope this online program will encourage widespread participation at CHE so that our nurses can realize their development goals and help the organization as a whole enhance the level of service provided to our patients," said Giammalvo.

About CHE

CHE is a multi-institutional Catholic health system, which is co-sponsored by 13 religious congregations and Hope Ministries, a Public Juridic Person within Catholic Health East. CHE provides the means to ensure the continuation of the Catholic identity and operational strength of the Sponsors' health ministries, which are located within 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida.

The System includes 31 acute care facilities, 39 free-standing and hospital-based skilled nursing facilities, 21 residential facilities, three free-standing behavioral health facilities, 29 home health agencies, a managed care plan and numerous ambulatory and community-based health services with more than 14,000 beds. CHE facilities employ 43,000 full-time employees as partners in ministry.

About Drexel

Drexel University is one of America's leading private academic institutions. Based in Philadelphia, Drexel consists of eight colleges and three schools offering 175 degree programs to approximately 16,000 students.

A leader in curricular and technological innovation, Drexel became the first major university to operate a fully wireless campus in 2000 and the first wireless Web portal service, DrexelOne Mobile, for students in 2002.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions serves more than 1,500 students and has a national reputation as a leader in nursing education, with its origins dating back to the former Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (est. 1864) and the Hahnemann Medical College. A pioneer in online education, the College of Nursing and Health Professions has offered online programs since 1997.