OLATHE, Kan. – Groundbreaking for Johnson County Community College’s new Olathe Health Education Center will take place at 9 a.m. Dec. 3, 2009, at Ball Conference Center, 21350 W. 153rd Street, Olathe. The conference center looks out onto the site of the new education center.

In December 2008, Johnson County Community College and Olathe Medical Center signed a letter of intent for the development of a health services education center on the OMC campus. The medical center donated to JCCC 5.8 acres of land on which to build an allied health education center. Construction will begin early 2010, and the center will open for classes in fall 2011. Costs for the new center are $15 million.

“We are grateful to Olathe Medical Center for the opportunity of building a healthcare teaching campus,” said Terry A. Calaway, JCCC president. “The medical center is a renowned medical facility, and we are proud to be partners with them.”

“We are extremely proud to have the Olathe Health Education Center on our campus,” said Frank H. Devocelle, president/CEO of OMC. “It has been a pleasure for our staff to work with JCCC, MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Olathe School District in developing the best curriculum to teach outstanding health care providers of the future.”

Courses and programs to be offered at OHEC are:
 
•    Practical nursing
•    Certified nurse assistant
•    Certified medication aide
•    Rehabilitation aide
•    Home health aide
•    IV therapy for LPN
•    Dietary manager
•    Medical office
•    Medical billing and coding
•    Medical transcription
•    Phlebotomy
•    EKG technician
•    Pharmacy technician
•    Medical laboratory technician
•    Surgical technology
 
Anatomy, physiology and general education courses will also be offered at the center.

The 50,000-square-foot center will house on the first floor:
•    Lobby/reception area
•    300-seat conference space that may be divided into four areas for smaller meetings or classes
•    A medical computer lab and a general-use computer lab
•    One classroom for other medical offerings
•    Three classrooms for general education, anatomy and physiology classes
•    A medical office technology suite with two classrooms and a record office room for medical billings, coding and transcription
•    Common spaces, including a coffee bar/food cart
•    Offices for faculty and staff, including security, counseling and student services

On the second floor will be: 
•    Four health occupation classrooms, each with three patient care beds
•    Two skills labs, each with eight beds, one of which will accommodate four patient simulators
•    Practical nursing/health occupations success center
•    Two classrooms for practical nursing and other medical classes
•    Common spaces for study and rest breaks
•    Offices for faculty and staff

Students in the new facility will have clinical education opportunities at Olathe Medical Center as well as the opportunity for professional relationships with OMC health care practitioners.