With the new Nursing/Allied Health Complex (NAHC) and Academic InstructionCenter (AIC), San Antonio College is expanding to meet community needs for trainednurses, first responders and allied health workers. The latest buildings feature hightech laboratories, classrooms wired with smart technologies, updated offices and studyspaces for students and faculty in SAC’s health–related programs, and philosophy,foreign languages, business, protective services and continuing education departments.
For a number of years,the Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board(THECB) has deemedSAC’s nursing education,dental assisting and medicalassisting programs as“Exemplary,” signifyingthat the programs exceedrequired standards ofexcellence for credentialingpassage rates and jobplacement. THECB alsorecognizes SAC’s businessmanagement, finance andfinancial management,public administration andreal estate programs as“Exemplary.”
“The college is keepingpace with technologicaladvancements that movethe health care industryforward,” said SAC PresidentRobert E. Zeigler. “Weare delighted that the newfacilities will expand ourexcellent programs to involvemore students and faculty,and ultimately benefit thecommunity.”
He went on to say thatwith a top Texas associatedegree nursing program,SAC is committed topreparing RNs to meetthe ever–growing nationalshortage of nurses. “Thenew expanded spacewill enable the college toalmost double its nursingeducation program – fromapproximately 500 to nearly1,000 students within threeyears,” he said.
The NAHC is quiteimpressive with 140,000square feet that include twosimulated hospital wingswith sophisticated highfidelityLaerdal simulationmannequins (adult andbaby patients in varioussettings including criticalcare and labor/delivery)and related computerequipment. In fact, studentswill use the nursing labsto meet requirements forcombination inpatientand clinical simulationexperiences.
Zeigler also mentionedrecent data from the U.S.Department of Labor, whichindicates that medicalassistants and dentalassistants are two of thefastest–growing employmentsectors. The NAHC includesspecialized facilities for thosestudents too.
Dental assisting studentswill train on dentaloperatories that simulate amodern dentist’s office wherethe patient can watch TVwhile being treated. Videomonitors allow instructorsto observe students atwork. Future plans includeinvolving dentists to offercommunity cleaning clinics.
With enhanced spaces formedical assisting, studentswill become more efficientat carrying out routineadministrative and clinicaltasks – from reception andbook–keeping to assessingvital signs and assistingwith minor surgery – aspreparation for work in aphysician’s office, hospitaloutpatient clinic, or otherambulatory care facility.
Emergency medicalservices students willpractice critical carescenarios in the firstfloor ambulance bay andreplicated Emergency Roomfacility. Additional spaceis designated for medicalfront office and backoffice, medical coding andpharmacy tech programs.
“The programs at SACenable students to findemployment,” Zeigler said.
For example, he said,last year Bexar CountyMedical Society (BCMS)began to offer externshipopportunities and part–timeemployment to applicableSAC medical assistingstudents – they work fulltime,8–hour shifts and earnpay as temporary, part–timeBCMS Staffing employees.BCMS reports the programis very successful, citingphysicians who comment onhow well educated are theexternship students fromSAC and how well preparedthey are as employees.
The second new buildingat SAC is the 72,000 squarefoot Academic InstructionCenter with contemporaryclassrooms, labs and officesfor Philosophy, ForeignLanguages, Business,Protective Services andContinuing Educationdepartments. Aestheticallypleasing study roomsand lounge areas with bigwindows are intendedto improve students’educational experiences.
Energy–conservationbuilding practices wereimplemented for bothfacilities, such as highefficiencycompactfluorescent light bulbs,natural lighting, thermalefficient windows, tightsealing, extra insulation andoutdoor xeriscaping.
