Carolinas College of Health Sciences

Carolinas College of Health Sciences (CCHS) is a public 2-year college located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1990, the college is a subsidiary of the Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) and owned by Carolinas HealthCare System. In 2010 Washington Monthly ranked CCHS the number three 2-year college in the country. Washington Monthly relies heavily on federally collected, standardized data such as graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratios, and student and faculty engagement. The school offers programs in nursing, radiologic technology, radiation therapy, surgical technology, anesthesiology technician, medical laboratory science, and various continuing education programs and workshops. In addition to its traditional educational programs, the college is home to the region's only dual-accredited simulation center. The Center features a patient simulation suite as well as a procedural suite.

History

In the late 1980s, Carolinas HealthCare System administration established the CMHA School of Nursing after a feasibility study showed the need for nurses at the local and statewide level. Degree granting authority was obtained through the Hospital Authority Act [NC General Stat 113E-23 (a)(31)], and was delegated to the school by the Board of Commissioners. The North Carolina Board of Nursing gave initial approval to the school in May 1990, with the first students admitted in the fall of that year. Full approval status was granted by the North Carolina Board of Nursing, and the first class graduated in 1992. In December 1993, CMHA's Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to incorporate the CMHA School of Nursing and to appoint a board of directors for the school. Degree granting authority was delegated to the board of directors.

In July 1996, the board of directors approved the school to do business as Carolinas College of Health Sciences. The existing Schools of Radiologic Technology and Surgical Technology joined CCHS in August 1996, and the School of Clinical Lab Sciences (Medical Lab Science) joined in January 1997. A school of Emergency Medical Sciences operated 2003 - 2008. The first Radiation Therapy class was admitted in 2009. The College's Continuing Education division was formed in the late 90's, and under it are offered Nurse Aide I and Phlebotomy (both begun in 1996), Nurse Aide II (2006) and Anesthesia Technology (2011).[1]

Academics

CCHS offers educational programs leading to entry-level employment in health care. These include nursing, radiologic technology, radiation therapy, surgical technology, and medical laboratory sciences. The continuing education department offers non-credit education in nurse aide, healing touch, phlebotomy, CPR of various levels, cancer massage, IV therapy, and other focused areas of health care.[2][3]

CCHS was ranked the number three 2-year college in the country by Washington Monthly in 2010, based on the college's high graduation rate and responses on a national, standardized survey of student engagement.[4] CCHS is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award the Associate of Applied Science degree.[5]

Carolinas Simulation Center

Carolinas Simulation Center, located in Charlotte, N.C., is the region's only facility to Achieve Dual Accreditation.

Opened in 2007, Carolinas Simulation Center is the only facility in the region to be both an American College of Surgeons accredited Level I Education Institute and a Society for Simulation in Healthcare accredited simulation center (Assessment, Research, and Teaching/Education). These prestigious accreditations designate Carolinas Simulation Center as a provider of quality education and a partner in advancing patient safety through educational endeavors.

The Center was established as a multidisciplinary simulation center to meet the training needs of Carolinas Medical Center and its related entities as well as healthcare providers and community groups from across the surrounding region. Being a contributing member of the National League of Nursing (NLN), Simulation Innovation Resource Center (SIRC), International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation for Nursing (INACSL) and a local consortium of simulation users—Carolinas Healthcare Simulation Alliance-Piedmont (CHSA-P)—uniquely positions Carolinas Simulation Center to meet the needs of a wide range of user groups.

The Simulation Center allows healthcare professionals at all levels the opportunity to use interactive, lifelike manikins and other equipment to simulate procedures and situations in a safe-learning environment. One of the center's priorities is educational research for continuous improvement of educational methods.

Faculty can provide structured, risk-free, hands-on educational experiences for medical and surgical residents, nursing and nurse anesthesia students, AHEC, and other allied health personnel. Emphasis is given to curriculum development and implementation on a variety of simulators.

Using our state-of-the-art simulation equipment, healthcare professionals are able to learn proper techniques and improve their decision-making skills through an interactive environment. Through repetitive practice on lifelike manikins, learners are better prepared to safely work with patients.

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Coordinates: 35°12′01″N 80°50′18″W / 35.2002°N 80.8384°W / 35.2002; -80.8384

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