Griffin Hospital has started its School of Allied Health Careers this year, and its first class will be a phlebotomy course open to the public. Phlebotomists draw blood from patients.
The school was accredited this month by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education, according to a statement released by Griffin’s vice president, William Powanda.
Registration is now open for the first class, which starts Sept. 15. Applicants must be 18 years old and must have a GED or high school diploma.
Tuition, which includes CPR certification, a 40-hour externship, national certification, lab coats and books, is $1,800. Registration information is available by contacting Instructor Tracy Huneke at 203 – 732-1276.
“Despite our current economy there is a need for qualified allied health professionals in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, home care organizations and physician offices,” said Barbara Stumpo, Griffin’s Vice President Patient Care Services. “In addition, our School of Allied Health Careers will provide a pool of qualified individuals to meet the employment needs of Griffin Hospital. It will ensure that our positions are filled by quality applicants that have received comprehensive training by certified instructors.”
The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers is the first hospital based school in the state to offer a phlebotomy course that is open to the public, Powanda said in the statement, under a new law lets that the Commissioner of Higher Education authorize hospital-based schools to provide occupational instruction to other than hospital employees and members of the medical staff.
Griffin’s School of Allied Health Careers was developed to offer the opportunity for interested persons to attend educational programs locally that would provide training, education and certification in selected health professions, Powanda said.
There will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday classes with both morning (9 am – noon) and evening (6 – 9 pm) sessions to provide flexibility for students’ needs around work or personal schedules.
Students completing the course will have the opportunity to become nationally certified in phlebotomy. The course also includes EKG training and basic cardiac life support (CPR). Griffin Hospital is an approved site for the national phlebotomy certification test through the National HealthCareer Association.
