October 2010 Editorial

Physical Therapist Assistant Program

This year has been an exciting year in preparation for progress and expansion at Labette Community College. LCC received a 5 year, nearly $2M Title III grant. The grant will be used for the start-up of three new Allied Health programs, Physical Therapist Assistant, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Dental Assistant. The addition of these new programs will enhance LCC’s current allied health offerings. LCC is already known throughout the region for our nationally recognized programs in Nursing, Respiratory Care, and Radiography.

The federal grant will allow LCC to become an even bigger force in healthcare education by continuing to train some of the area’s best allied health professionals. Even more graduates will enter the workforce at local hospitals, clinics, and residential care facilities. The timeliness of the addition of the programs goes hand-in-hand with the current LCC Foundation “Pathways to the Future” capital campaign. The capital campaign has raised $6.7M of the $10.5M needed to complete a new state of the art LEED certified health science building, which will house the current allied health programs and the three new programs.

We welcome our newest Program Director/Faculty member, Lisa Bradley, who will be a great addition to our outstanding faculty. Under her guidance and direction she will launch our Physical Therapist Assistant program in fall of 2011. The next two programs will follow suite with Diagnostic Medical Sonography, which will compliment the currently outstanding Radiography program. Students completing coursework for the Radiography program may continue certification with the sonography program to gain valuable career experience before entering the workforce. The third program to be implemented will be the Dental Assistant program.

Over 250 prospective students have inquired about the PTA program.  From this pool of applicants, 25 will be selected for the inaugural class.  We are eager to add the Physical Therapist Assistant program to our other allied health programs here at Labette Community College.  LCC is known throughout the area for producing qualified candidates for employment in the field of allied health.  The enormous response to this program indicates long-term interest and growth in this field. According to Kansas Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, national employment growth projection for PTAs by 2018 is 33%. In addition, our local healthcare facilities will benefit greatly with the influx qualified applicants coming out of our programs.

LCC PTA graduates will work under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist to provide treatment to patients that improve mobility, prevent or lessen physical disabilities, and relieve pain.  Upon graduation, LCC PTA graduates could expect to work along-side other allied health professionals in medical and nursing care facilities, home health, schools, or outpatient rehabilitation centers.

After an extensive search, LCC is excited that Lisa Bradley, PT, will begin her duties on October 25 as the director of the PTA program.  Program application packets will be sent out early in 2011.  The selection of students for the pilot class will take place in the spring of 2011.

Title III funds are being used to purchase equipment and supplies for this new program. The Foundation-owned site at 1401 Main will temporarily provide lab space for the PTA program until completion of the new health science building occurs.

The progress and expansion at LCC is monumental in the history of the college and in the history of healthcare in our community. We are privileged to have such a long-standing, strong relationship with so many area hospitals, doctors, and clinics. With their guidance, and our top-notch faculty, LCC is ready to take on the challenge of continuing and expanding excellence in healthcare education for the communities we serve. We are all certainly excited at our new program offerings as we continue to serve our public.

As always we invite you to visit your campus and take note of the exciting things happening and the opportunities we are providing for our students and their futures.