USU Eastern Press Release
With health professions being one of the fastest growing allied-health careers, Utah State University Eastern is expanding its offerings from four to seven programs beginning spring semester 2019. These programs do not include the LPN and RN programs already being offered.
According to Michele Lyman, director of Eastern’s health professions, “In addition to phlebotomy, certified nursing assistant, EMT and medical assistant, the university is offering surgical technician, pharmacy technician and medical lab technician.”
These health care professions work in health care teams to make the health care system function by providing a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and direct patient care and support services that are critical to the other health professionals they work with and the patients they serve, according to Eastern’s webpage.
Some programs are two-year programs while others are either one or two semesters and one gives a certificate of completion. Some require prerequisites, which can be taken at USU Eastern. Concurrent enrollment students can take the prerequisites while in high school and enter a program their freshman year.
The curriculum is standardized across the three campuses, Price, Moab and Blanding, with faculty and advisers located on each campus. Some of the classes will be broadcast across USU’s system, Lyman said. Some of the programs require externships: on the job training.
She points out that USU Eastern’s health professions offers programs for many of the fastest growing allied health careers. The goal of each program is to provide excellent training resources for students to enter the workforce as well prepared, confident and professional employees.
Students in any of the seven-health care profession programs are eligible for federal funding (FAFSA) or scholarships to help pay their tuition.
The second-floor west wing of the Reeves Building is being remodeled into labs, classrooms and offices for the programs, which begin in January 2019. To apply for the programs or talk to an academic adviser, go to the USU Eastern health professions website: usueastern.edu/health-professions/
“There is a desperate need in rural areas for every program we offer,” Lyman said. “As soon as our students graduate, they have a job. An added bonus is they do not have to move away from their homes to work in the health profession. Jobs are now available throughout rural Utah plus in metropolitan areas.”