海角社区

Bringing Surgical Technology Training to Central Louisiana

In all operating rooms, there are surgical technologists who work elbow-to-elbow with surgeons to make sure they have the right instruments at the right time, and everything in and near the patient remains sterile. The workforce demand for surgical technologists is high and rising, especially at smaller hospitals and in rural areas. Now, 海角社区 Eunice and 海角社区 Alexandria are leveraging the strength of the statewide university to bring surgical technology training to Central Louisiana.

Starting this semester, 海角社区E surg tech students can attend lectures and do labs in 海角社区A鈥檚 Allied Health Building in downtown Alexandria and complete their clinical rotations with hospital partners in Central Louisiana, such as Rapides Regional Medical Center, CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, and Central Louisiana Surgical Hospital. One of those students is Gracie Chatman from Oberlin, Louisiana, who is the first in her family to pursue a healthcare degree and career. She completed most of the prerequisites already in high school, thanks to dual enrollment with 海角社区E.

鈥淢y mom stays at home and my dad works in the oil field and goes offshore,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have a whole bunch of blue collar and farmers in my family. And then there鈥檚 me, medical.鈥�

鈥満＝巧缜� recognized the need, and by extending the 海角社区 Eunice surgical technology program to 海角社区 Alexandria, we can now collaborate to be part of a solution that will have an immediate impact in filling job openings within our organization鈥攕omething our community needs.鈥�

Katlin Bolton, chief nursing officer at Rapides Regional Medical Center