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ASU to work with Appalachian Regional Healthcare |
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Thursday, 02 February 2006 |
by NICK IANNIELLO
Intern News Reporter
An affiliation agreement with Appalachian Regional Health Care System and Appalachian State University will provide more funding and space for the university’s allied health sciences department.
“It is our belief that what we are attempting to do together will
eventually result in an enhanced quality of life for this region of
North Carolina and beyond,” President and CEO of Watauga Medical Center
Richard Sparks said in a letter to Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock.
“Fittingly, that is why Appalachian State University and Appalachian Regional Healthcare Systems exist,” Sparks said.
Appalachian Regional Health Care System first approved the affiliation
agreement at its board of trustees meeting Oct. 7. The Appalachian
State University Board of Trustees accepted the agreement at its Dec. 2
meeting.
Under the provisions of the agreement, Watauga Hospital has contributed
$500,000 to the university and pledged the use of a recently purchased
nine-acre plot of land at State Farm Road and Deerfield Road for the
continued expansion of the program.
The university has set aside the use of University Hall, currently the
location of the Appalachian Cultural Museum, as the beginning site for
the program.
The agreement also provides for the collaboration of staff, facilities
and other resources for the success of the program and its future
expansion.
According to Allied Health in North Carolina, in 2005, allied health
professionals represented 60 percent of all health care providers.
These providers help take care of much of the overload of patients that
physicians receive.
Due to the current overload of patients in current health care
situations, there is growing demand for allied health care providers.
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System consists of Watauga Medical
Center, Charles A. Cannon Jr. Memorial Hospital and its subsidiaries.
The allied health sciences program will begin in fall 2006 and will offer a bachelor of science in nursing.
The program, which is based on the Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education and American Association of Colleges of Nursing guidelines,
is designed to offer students who are already registered nurses a
chance to further their education.
Classes will contain anywhere from 20-25 students and will be taught on the main campus and at University Hall.
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