Crafton Hills Proposes to Offer B.A. Degree in Emergency Services and Allied Health Systems
Publish Date: Jan. 15, 2015
Crafton Hills College is poised to address an emerging demand in the health care and public safety fields by proposing a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Services and Allied Health Systems.
Last fall, with the passage of Senate Bill 850 (Block-San Diego), California Community Colleges (CCC) were offered the opportunity to apply for participation in a baccalaureate degree pilot program. Fifteen colleges will be selected to participate, offering bachelor's degrees that respond to existing and emerging workforce needs in their communities.
With over 20 years' expertise in allied health and emergency services, Crafton Hills College is well positioned to offer this unique bachelor's degree. The program addresses emerging needs in the healthcare system that stem from a various social and environmental factors including an aging population, the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act, healthcare staffing shortages and the inadequacy of traditional facilities, to name a few.
The B.A. in Emergency Services and Allied Health Systems will prepare technically licensed individuals to fill known gaps and to manage unpredictable points in the system such as bed delay, shortage of after care providers, handling outbreaks of communicable and potentially fatal diseases, and the need for cross-functional care teams.
"This innovative program is necessary as EMS continues to grow in size, influence and breadth," says Daved Van Stralen, M.D., medical director of the Riverside EMS Agency. Tom Lynch, EMS administrator with the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, agreed, "The program would be invaluable in developing the future emergency management and allied health leadership in these two critical disciplines. It will help fill a huge educational void in these professions due to the lack of similar programs in the region," he said.
"In addition to our instructional expertise and excellent rate of job placement in our Public Safety and Allied Health programs, we have a new facility opening in 2015 that will accommodate this new program. The Public Safety and Allied Health Building will include a state-of-the-art simulation center that gives our students hands-on experience in their chosen field," says Dr. Cheryl Marshall, president. "With our exceptional faculty, history of success in emergency services and allied health, and a new facility that affords the latest training needs, we are exceptionally qualified to serve as a pilot program for this innovate bachelor’s degree."
Students in the program would pay $46 a unit for lower-division classes and $84 a unit for upper-division classes, with the bachelor’s degree costing about $10,000.
Thirty-six CCC districts submitted an interest form to the Chancellor's Office to participate in the pilot. The Board of Governors will announce the 15 proposals accepted on January 21, 2015.
