LC State launches Healthcare Education Center, helps Idaho lead the way in allied health

LEWISTON, Idaho – Work continues at Lewis-Clark State College to expand offerings for students interested in healthcare professions and to meet Idaho’s healthcare needs.

LC State’s North Idaho Healthcare Education Center (HEC) was created to provide a one-stop shop for all of the school’s healthcare studies areas, including nursing, radiography, allied health programs, and degree options offered in partnership with other Idaho higher education institutions.

“North Idaho has critical healthcare education needs and LC State is ready to meet them,” LC State President Cynthia Pemberton said. “The Healthcare Education Center helps us streamline the incredible programs we already offer and create space for new programs that will help meet the needs of tomorrow.”

A recent analysis published by The New York Times examining the payoff of college credentials found that allied health is one of Idaho’s leading programs when considering pay after graduation. The study shows Idaho is ranked seventh of 45 states in allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions bachelor’s degrees, with allied health professionals in Idaho earning an average of $85,724 annually, $9,150 more than those with the same credential nationally and $50,916 more than high school graduates with no additional education.

The analysis shows Idaho ranks 13th of 50 states for registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research, and clinical nursing, with graduates earning an average of $86,322 annually, $4,446 more than those with the same credential nationally, and $51,514 more than high school graduates with no additional education.

LC State provides a variety of programs in allied health and nursing fields, with more programs and partnerships in the works. With the creation of the HEC, Warriors are seeing an extended range of available programs in both patient-facing and behind-the-scenes work in healthcare fields, said Krista Harwick, dean of the School of Health Professions.

“The idea with developing the Healthcare Education Center is really bringing all the programs together so there can be synergy across the different disciplines,” Harwick said, “and for there to be opportunities for students to engage with each other in interprofessional practice and learning experiences.”

Through this single hub, students have easier access to all of LC State’s offerings within the field of healthcare studies, she said, as well as centralized advising to help students determine how their education might apply to the different pathways available.

The HEC is housed on campus in the Sam Glenn Complex, where space modifications continue after a summer full of improvements, Harwick said. Updates have been made to classroom and lab spaces to better accommodate virtual and hybrid teaching models.

“We have developed the lab and classroom spaces because students that are in consortium models will be on our campus, but they'll be joining coursework that might be provided from North Idaho College or from Idaho State University. They will join via virtual remote opportunities, so we've established the classrooms to support that type of learning and access.”

LC State is utilizing technological advances to make healthcare education flexible and accessible. The school has unveiled its Mobile Healthcare Education Simulation Lab, allowing programs to meet students where they live for education and skills testing, Harwick said. The technology was purchased with grant funding and will support student learning through a versatile interior built for space optimization.

“We can put a gurney in there with a high-fidelity mannequin, or we can put a phlebotomy chair in there,” she said. “We can switch it out depending on what the need is, where we want to take it, and what we want to do with it. One of our goals is to take it to the regional high schools and junior high schools to expose students to the varied healthcare education opportunities we offer by providing hands-on, interactive experiences.”

The school is also exploring the possibility of taking the mobile lab to surrounding rural towns for certification skills testing days.

“There are many students, especially in rural areas, who might be place-bound to that area, and it's hard to travel too far to get to the education,” Harwick said. “We want to find ways to make education accessible in a more geographically available method.”

Classes also utilize technology through the Healthcare Immersive Learning Lab, such as virtual reality headsets, wearable simulation technology, and virtual cadaver tables to provide students a safe space to perfect their techniques under the guidance of experienced professionals.

As the demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow in the region and beyond, LC State is creating more opportunities for students to gain training to meet those needs in the community, Harwick said. This is being accomplished through Career & Technical Education programs, Workforce Training classes, and collaborative consortiums with schools like Idaho State University and North Idaho College, utilizing the expertise and resources already in place to extend healthcare education across the region.

LC State Healthcare Programs

• Computed tomography BA/BS

• Exercise Science BA/BS

• Health minor

• Health studies BA/BS, AAS

• Kinesiology BA/BS, minor

• Nursing MSN, BSN, certificate, graduate certificate

• Pre-professional programs (pre-med, pre-dental, etc.)

• Radiographic science BA/BS, AS

• Workforce Training programs (medical assistant, medical administrative assistant, phlebotomy, etc.)

LC State Healthcare Partnerships

• Athletic training – Idaho State University (ISU) and University of Idaho

• Dental hygiene – North Idaho College (NIC)

• Paramedic science – ISU

• Physical therapist assistant – NIC, College of Southern Idaho (CSI), College of Western Idaho (CWI)

Programs in Development

• Medical laboratory technology – NIC, CSI, College of Eastern Idaho

• Occupational therapy assistant – ISU

• Physician assistant studies – ISU

• Respiratory therapy – ISU

• Sonography

• Surgical technology – NIC

“There are a lot of processes that have to occur for a program to launch, including consortium development and accreditation processes, as well as curriculum and state approvals,” Harwick said. “We have not yet rolled out all those programs, but we're in the planning stages and on track with planned implementation.”

Learn more about the HEC and LC State’s healthcare programs at www.lcsc.edu/hec.

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