Medicine is clearly changing and to meet the diverse needs of patients, insurance and new approaches to medical care, Wheeling Jesuit University's (WJU) respiratory care program (RCP) is transitioning to meet the educational demands.
“We are focusing on what medicine and respiratory care will look like in 2015 and beyond,” said Cam Twarog, director of clinical education for WJU's respiratory care program. “We already have taken large strides in our transition with our two new concentrations.”
The WJU's Respiratory Care Program has developed two cutting-edge degree concentrations - neonatal and pediatric respiratory care and chronic pulmonary disease management and education -- in growing fields that focus on research-based, hands-on, collaborative education that meets the needs of tomorrow's professionals.
He believes the newly transformed program is the cornerstone of a well-rounded education in health care, and the future of the health care industry at-large.
Twarog said the neonatal and pediatric concentration was developed based on a demand expressed from two of the top children's hospitals. The same approach was taken with the chronicle disease management and education area, he added.
“The changing medical landscape requires RCP's to do more than provide therapy, RCP's will need to take on more of a disease manager role,” Twarog explained.
A new simulator lab provides RCP majors real, hands-on training. “This lab gives our students the chance to learn how to do procedures and gives them time to practice those procedures in a clinical-like setting. RCP students also can gain knowledge in other health science disciplines by working together in the simulator lab.” he explained.
Graduates of the program have the knowledge and skills, Twarog said to make an immediate impact in the work force or go onto graduate school to seek advanced degrees.
“The Respiratory Care Program offers an exceptional clinical experience,” said Helen Faso, Ph.D., RN, dean of Wheeling Jesuit's College of Health Sciences. “We have clinical affiliates at larger and small hospitals, both locally and regionally. These diverse settings give our students a wide range of clinical experiences.”
The programs clinical affiliates include Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, West Virginia University Hospitals, UPMC-Mercy, Ohio Valley Medical Center, East Ohio Regional, University of Virginia Medical Center Hospital, Acuity Specialty Hospital, DeFelice Care, Wheeling Hospital, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Wheeling Hospital and Alleghany Medical Center.
For more information on WJU's Respiratory Care Practitioner Program go to https://www.wju.edu/academics/ret2/default.asp or contact Twarog at ctwarog@wju.edu.
