Today, the 小蝌蚪APP and LHC Group announced a historic and transformational partnership designed to further each of their respective missions of recruiting and equipping more nurses and other health care professionals.
The 小蝌蚪APP announced that LHC Group is committing a $20 million investment over the next 10 years in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 nursing program, which is the largest private investment an academic unit at the 小蝌蚪APP has ever received.
The funds received by the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 nursing program will help empower the future of health care and meet the ever growing demand for nurses and other health care professionals in Acadiana, throughout Louisiana and in combination with LHC Group小蝌蚪APP檚 footprint across the country.
LHC Group小蝌蚪APP檚 investment into this partnership will enable UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 to:
- Endow support for the internationally accredited simulation lab program;
- Establish the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 first endowed deanship to provide discretionary funds for professional development activities for students and faculty;
- Increase scholarship funding available to students;
- Create an endowed faculty research and development fund;
- Support new endowed professorships in nursing and health sciences, and additional faculty positions;
- Provide scholarships for students who are pursuing post-acute care certification at the graduate level; and
- Assign LHC Group representatives in adjunct roles within the college of nursing.
LHC Group小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP渋nvestment in the future of this community and in the equipping of nurses with a nationwide reach is transformational and more than a milestone for the 小蝌蚪APP,小蝌蚪APP Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, said while making the announcement on Thursday.
小蝌蚪APP淲e are very thankful,小蝌蚪APP Savoie continued. 小蝌蚪APP淭his support from LHC Group reflects where we are as a 小蝌蚪APP and ensures that greater possibilities remain ahead for us and the region we are proud to serve.小蝌蚪APP
Lafayette-based LHC Group is a national provider of in-home health care services and innovations for communities around the nation and the joint venture partner for approximately 400 leading U.S. hospitals and health systems. The company operates in 35 states and the District of Columbia and employs approximately 30,000 people.
Keith Myers, LHC Group小蝌蚪APP檚 chairman and CEO, noted the company小蝌蚪APP檚 long and mutually beneficial relationship with the 小蝌蚪APP and the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions 小蝌蚪APP and their shared commitment to create a future of opportunity, health and happiness for everyone who calls this community home.
小蝌蚪APP淭he presence of UL Lafayette 小蝌蚪APP and the well-educated, highly skilled health care professionals it produces 小蝌蚪APP enables companies like ours to grow within the region and expand well beyond,小蝌蚪APP Myers said.
小蝌蚪APP淭his historic partnership is a win-win 小蝌蚪APP since both of our organizations share a commitment to excellence in all that we do - especially continuous growth and improvement. The benefits to LHC Group are multi-faceted,小蝌蚪APP continued Myers.
小蝌蚪APP淚n addition to benefits like post-acute care certifications at the graduate level and adjunct professorships for LHC Group team members, we will soon be able to offer the differentiating benefit of in-person and virtual degree programs at a greatly reduced cost to all current and future full- and part-time employees across our national footprint. Those who take part will receive the extensive education and training needed to thrive in the changing health care environment of today and as we move forward. This is an opportunity for LHC Group to provide accredited educational and professional development opportunities to our employees throughout the country as we continue to grow.小蝌蚪APP
UL Lafayette is planning to honor the partnership by renaming the . The name change is pending approval from the 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
小蝌蚪APP淲e have deep ties with LHC Group, and we have common missions built on service and providing compassionate care,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Melinda Oberleitner, the college小蝌蚪APP檚 dean. 小蝌蚪APP淭he company knows firsthand who we are and the quality of education we provide. This partnership will enable us to accelerate and enhance this important work.小蝌蚪APP
She continued: 小蝌蚪APP淭he trust that they have in us is so meaningful to me, not just as a dean, but as an alumna of this program. To have that level of recognition and support is humbling.小蝌蚪APP
Some $9 million will go toward assisting the college in addressing space limitations. Its current home, Wharton Hall, was built in the 1950s, when the college was much smaller. It now shares the building with other academic colleges as well.
Last year, the Louisiana Legislature approved state capital outlay funds for the planning of a new health sciences building at UL Lafayette. The project is estimated to cost at least $65 million to complete.
Additional funds are needed for the new building to become a reality, but the LHC Group partnership makes 小蝌蚪APP渙ur dream of expansion viable,小蝌蚪APP Oberleitner said. And, by expanding its physical space, the college can turn its attention to increasing its enrollment and graduation rates, the dean added.
小蝌蚪APP淲e can小蝌蚪APP檛 enroll all the qualified applicants we receive each year. We know there are jobs out there, but we can小蝌蚪APP檛 meet that demand in our current physical location. This moves us closer to answering this critical need.小蝌蚪APP
Dr. Benjamin Doga, LHC Group小蝌蚪APP檚 chief medical officer, said the support from the company 小蝌蚪APP渂enefits the college and the 小蝌蚪APP. But ultimately, it小蝌蚪APP檚 the patients who depend on our health care providers who are the beneficiaries.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淎cadiana 小蝌蚪APP and the country 小蝌蚪APP need more qualified health care professionals. The challenges COVID-19 brought over the past year made that plain. And that need only deepens as our population ages. This is an investment in the well-being of our families and our neighbors 小蝌蚪APP and in our employees, who will benefit from newly created tuition reduction programs. It小蝌蚪APP檚 an investment in all of us 小蝌蚪APP and that小蝌蚪APP檚 a win-win小蝌蚪APP Doga said.
The partnership comes shortly after the 小蝌蚪APP completes its 2020 observance of the Year of the Nurse and at the beginning of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions小蝌蚪APP observance of the 70th anniversary of its founding in 1951.
The timing isn小蝌蚪APP檛 lost on Oberleitner.
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 because of the work of the faculty, staff and our students 小蝌蚪APP both current and those who came before 小蝌蚪APP that LHC Group is willing to make a historic investment in our future. They know that it will significantly improve the region小蝌蚪APP檚 health care landscape and the care people in our community receive,小蝌蚪APP she said.
In remarks announcing the agreement on Thursday, Savoie noted accolades the recently received. U.S. News & World Report cited the college小蝌蚪APP檚 online Master of Nursing program among the Top 12% in the nation in January.
小蝌蚪APP淭ransformational futures are built on solid ground and through strong partnerships,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said. 小蝌蚪APP淥ur faculty, students and staff members provide the first, while partners such as LHC Group provide the other. And I am very grateful for both.小蝌蚪APP
Photo caption: UL Lafayette nursing students work in one of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions小蝌蚪APP internationally accredited simulation labs. A $20 million investment from LHC Group in the college includes endowed support for the simulation lab program, among many other areas of impact. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 小蝌蚪APP)