For Immediate Release – December 15, 2008

Contact:  Delia A. Taylor, APR, 225-931-0286 or taylormedia@bellsouth.net, or Alice Sibley, career and technical education coordinator, 225-686-7044 or alice.sibley@lpsb.org.

Seniors Can Earn National Certification as Patient Care Technicians

Livingston Parish students who successfully complete the Certified Nurse Assistant program in their junior year of high school can now enroll in a Patient Care Technician program at the Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center and earn high school and technical college credit, as well as qualify for national certification in phlebotomy and electrocardiogram procedures, making them immediately attractive for hire at medical institutions, labs and clinics.

Thirty-nine seniors from eight parish high school campuses are participating in the program, which is only in its second year.  Last year’s pilot program graduated just seven students.

Wendy McCon, a registered nurse and course instructor, said students who complete the            program are prepared for a variety of job opportunities in the health and medical occupations field.  She said students are trained to perform fundamental phlebotomy skills, such as taking blood and performing simple lab tests, as well as how to properly perform an EKG  procedure on a patient.  The students also learn about important administrative office procedures.

“Our program is the only nationally accredited site in this area,” McCon said.  “Our students must complete 255 hours of study in phlebotomy theory and skills and another 45 hours in EKG procedures before they can qualify for the clinical externships with local medical industry professionals.  In these clinical settings, the students must complete at least 100 hours of work under the supervision of a preceptor.”

McCon said one of last year’s PCT program graduates -- Live Oak High School graduate Kayla Russell -- was hired directly out of high school by Woman’s Hospital of Baton Rouge.

“The national certification of patient care technicians allows students to receive a higher starting pay at many health care institutions,” McCon said.

McCon said the school system is hoping to expand the program, but said the program’s growth is limited by the number of available externships with local medical institutions.