The Lancaster Regional Medical Center and Community Hospital of Lancaster Allied Health Lab/Nursing includes a classroom, hospital beds, computer laboratory and a hospital-like wing. Some of the endowment went toward initial purchases to equip the lab, including diagnostic equipment, and computerized simulated body systems. Qualified faculty members at the Lancaster Campus can now teach the required skills nurses and allied health care workers need in order to be successful in today's health care field.
"Health care is certainly one of the areas with the greatest employment opportunities in this region and across the country," says Dan Witmer, chair of the Lancaster Campus Educational Investment Campaign and member of the Board of Directors of the HACC Foundation. "The Lancaster Campus is here to meet employment needs of the community, and the partnership with Lancaster Regional and Community Hospital is one way to accomplish that. We are looking forward to joining with other organizations and invite them to work with us to support workforce development in Lancaster County."
"By investing in the Lancaster Campus Allied Health lab, Lancaster Regional and Community Hospital play a role in meeting the tremendous need for health care graduates that can move smoothly, straight into employment," says C. Scott Campbell, Executive Director, Administrator of Lancaster Regional Medical Center.
"Working closely with the college will afford us the opportunity to be familiar with the capabilities and qualifications of potential employees," adds Maureen Gallo, Executive Director, Administrator of Community Hospital of Lancaster.
Additionally, the partnership with HACC's Lancaster Campus is a proactive step to ease the health care shortage in Lancaster County.
"It's a win-win for the students, the business community, and the college," says Dr. Mike Klunk, dean of the Lancaster Campus. "As a community college, we are charged with providing college-level instruction and keeping the cost affordable. With this generous gift from Lancaster Regional and Community Hospital, we will be able to appropriately train the region's future nurses and allied health professionals, and help keep it affordable. Lancaster Regional and Community Hospital, in turn, will be able to hire new nurses that are qualified, as well using the Lancaster Campus for their professional development."
Organizations interested in contributing to the Educational Investment Campaign can do so by calling the HACC Foundation, at (717) 780-2583, or the Lancaster Campus at (717) 358-2978.