Missouri Western has recently established a new Center for Excellence in Applied Healthcare Learning (CEAHL). CEAHL strives to expand capacity for nursing and health professions programs and strengthen hands-on learning opportunities for the region through enhanced access, quality, attracting new students and providing responsible education and training needs.
The expanded partnership with regional healthcare providers will ensure that Missouri Western’s education and training programs are responsive to current and future workforce needs.
“There is a critical shortage of healthcare workers in the region and our goal is to address that shortage by developing a pipeline of local talent with the required skills and training to succeed in the workplace,” said Dr. Crystal Harris, interim dean of the College of Science and Health. One way that the new facilities will meet this need is by the addition of 10 chairs per cohort in the nursing program. Previously, the program saw 50 students admitted per semester. Beginning with the fall 2020 cohort, that number has been raised to 60.
Final construction on the CEAHL facilities was completed in March 2020. The new facilities, located on the first and third floor of Murphy Hall, include classrooms, technology equipment, simulation labs and faculty offices. Regional hospital training was the first use of the Community Lab in April 2020. Additionally, St. Joseph Youth Alliance has been able to utilize the space for student training purposes.
The expansion of laboratory spaces will not only benefit Missouri Western students, but the community and region as well. As seen by Mosaic Life Care’s use of the community lab for essential training and Youth Alliance student training, the state-of-the-art simulation lab will also be available to provide opportunities for education and job exploration to visiting high school students and employees of community partners.
The new simulation laboratory will also honor a community partner through its new name: Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary Community Lab. Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary has benefited the community for more than 80 years, including last year’s generous donation toward the new CEAHL facilities, and the new name, approved by the Missouri Western Board of Governors, will honor their generosity.
For more information on CEAHL, or to plan a visit, see missouriwestern.edu/CEAHL.
CEAHL is possible because of the MoExcels Grant Missouri Western received in 2019 from the Missouri Department of Higher Education, and support received from Mosaic Life Care, Heartland Foundation, Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary, and the Missouri Western State University Foundation.