Courses:
HIT, A.S.
Histotechnology, A.S.
MLT, A.S.
Respiratory Care, A.S.

Rural Technology Network FY06

Impact:

• Improve access to quality healthcare and healthcare education in three rural regions of the state.
• Address the shortage of allied health workers in rural Georgia in the fields of Medical Laboratory Technology, Health Information Technology, and Histology by training local citizens who will be employed locally. Continue development of an online degree program addressing the critical regional shortage of respiratory care workers.
• Address the shortage of nurses in rural Georgia through an online education program.
• Provide increased communications for the general public health of rural Georgia in partnership with three rural regional public health districts. Expand technology support for public health district missions by providing website support for Public Health Districts 8-1 and 9-1.
• Provide technology training to rural teachers in underserved public school systems. Provide a technology conference with attendance stipends for public school teachers.
• Implement retraining and educational opportunities for existing workers to upgrade skills.
• Expand an online Business Administration degree program.

Without funding, these goals cannot be realized, and there will be a negative impact on health care, education, and job opportunities for the citizens of rural Georgia.

 With sufficient support the Darton Rural Technology Network will:

• Accept students into an online Respiratory Care Degree program in Fall 2005 to begin work on online core courses and pre-requisites. A pilot distance learning degree program in Respiratory Care will be offered  through Hospital Partnerships in Columbus and Valdosta, GA.
• Expand the Public Health digital resources and services to Public Health Districts 9-3 and 8-1 including Website development forming a responsive gateway for communication on Public Health Information.
• Create a response and communication channel for bioterrorism, health threats, and training requirements used by which first responders, health care professionals, and the public (Public Health Districts 9-3 and 8-1).
• Provide support for technology-based training for first responders and health care professionals.
• Provide online technology training opportunities for in-service K-12 teachers.
• Provide extended access to online teaching & learning resources for use in K-12 classrooms.
• Provide advanced learning technology training for post-secondary educators.
• Provide online educational opportunities to address critical shortage of allied health care professionals.
• Complete development of online degree programs in Medical Lab Technology, Health Information Technology and Histologic Technology. These programs will be offered collaboratively by Floyd College, Gordon College, Waycross College, and Darton College.
• Support the Hospital Partnership Initiative to provide MLT and Histology Distance Learning degree programs through Doctors Hospital of Columbus, St Francis Hospital, Medical Center Hospital, Houghston Sports Medical Hospital, and Martin Army Hospital in Columbus, GA.
• Expand the cohort Executive Business Administration Program that was implemented with Cooper Tire in Spring of 05. Implement retraining and educational opportunities for existing workers to upgrade skills, focusing on written and oral communication skills, computer skills (basic, intermediate, and advanced), decision making, human relations, and introduction to business, legal issues, and leadership. In addition, the networking and A+ computer programs will be developed for distance delivery to rural regions of the state.