PHASE I, II, & III PROGRAMS
HEALTHCARE
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
There is currently a severe shortage of Echocardiography technologist in Wyoming and surrounding areas and the development of a new Echocardiography program will address this critical workforce shortage. Offering the Cardiac Sonographer specialization as an auxiliary or advanced program for students credentialed in medical imaging not only meets the states and region’s need for Echocardiographers but also provides an additional path for career advancement and specialization to medical imaging technologists.
CNA EXPANSION
During the pandemic, there has been a shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants. This program has eight approved sites, throughout the service area, to offer the nurse assistant course. Lab size is limited; however, equipment update is a need to support growth and efficiency in the nurse assistant labs throughout the service area.
HEALTHCARE EXPANSIONS
Healthcare as an industry, and as a primary contributor to quality of life, is central to the state's future. Growing accredited healthcare education programs across the state in conjunction with building strong relationships with healthcare providers is key to creating a workforce pipeline for healthcare practitioners. WIP Phases I and II support creating and expanding healthcare programs including CNA I, CNA II, Practical Nursing, and Registered Nursing.
ADDICTION STUDIES
As substance abuse increases across the state there is a need for professionals to help those who are struggling. The program aims to enhance existing programming and create a graduate-level curriculum specific to substance abuse. For current practitioners, this program will increase awareness and interest in meeting this crucial need for Wyoming’s citizens.
HEALTHCARE INNOVATION IN WYOMING
PHASE I KEY METRICS
The Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) is making significant strides in addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages through targeted initiatives. The severe shortage of echocardiography technologists in Wyoming and surrounding areas is being tackled head-on with the development of a new echocardiography program. This approach directly addresses the pressing need for Echocardiographers by offering an auxiliary or advanced program for medical imaging students, creating additional avenues for career advancement and specialization within the medical imaging field right here in Wyoming.
WIP has also responded to a shortage in certified nursing assistants (CNAs). With eight approved sites strategically located throughout the state, the nurse assistant course is being offered to meet demand. While facing limitations in lab size, the program emphasizes the need for equipment updates to enhance growth and efficiency in nurse assistant labs across the service area.
PHASE II KEY METRICS
Expanding healthcare education through key initiatives at community colleges across the state is a major component of the WIP. These efforts aim to strengthen the healthcare workforce within the state while also enhancing the quality of care and caliber of home-grown Wyoming professionals.
PHASE III KEY METRICS
Healthcare workforce development is a critical focus of the WIP, with new programs expanding access to training and strengthening care across the state. At Casper College, Addiction Studies programming is preparing more Certified Addiction Practitioners and Licensed Addiction Therapists, while Gillette College has expanded simulation-based learning to better train nursing students. LCCC’s Practical Nursing program is producing homegrown nurses ready for licensure, while Eastern Wyoming College has expanded CNA and MA programming to meet demand in multiple communities. Grant programs and additional efforts are also part of these overall initiatives to build a more robust healthcare pipeline, ensuring Wyoming communities have access to skilled professionals close to home.
HEALTHCARE
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY PROGRAM
The Echocardiography Program at Laramie County Community College (LCCC) is a specialized track under the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program, focusing on the use of high-frequency sound waves for detailed imaging of the adult heart. Cardiac sonographers, trained through this program, use advanced technology to scan and obtain images of the heart, aiding in the diagnosis of diseases. This profession requires a high level of independence, judgment, knowledge, maturity, and stamina.
Key Program Features:
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Three-semester program, excluding prerequisite courses, for students specializing in medical imaging of the heart.
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Dedicated to providing quality education for excellence in sonography, aligning with the college's mission.
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Graduates eligible for national certifying examinations by ARDMS and CCI for adult echo and cardiac sonography.
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Over 100 echocardiographer job opportunities within a 100-mile radius of Cheyenne in 2022.
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Fully Equipped Laboratory:
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State-of-the-art equipment, including GE Logiq E 10, GE Logiq E9, Philip Epiq Elites, and more.
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Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) Network System for realistic clinical paperwork training.
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ScanTrainer for Transvaginal simulation and abdominal and obstetrical simulator for hands-on experience.
The LCCC Echocardiography program prioritizes academic and clinical excellence, producing competent and compassionate sonographers committed to quality imaging and lifelong learning. For program details and admission information, interested students can contact the program director. Discover your path to a fulfilling career in echocardiography at Echocardiography Program - LCCC | Laramie County Community College, Wyoming
HEALTHCARE
CNA PROGRAM
Western Wyoming Community College (WWCC) offers a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program designed to prepare students to practice as registered nurses. The program focuses on delivering professional nursing care in various health scenarios, including chronic, acute, and complex stages of illness. Utilizing a concept-based curriculum, this hybrid program combines traditional face-to-face and distance delivery methods for the classroom portion.
Key Program Highlights:
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Integrated concept-based curriculum for comprehensive nursing education.
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Hybrid program combining traditional and distance learning methods.
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Hands-on lab and clinical experiences offered in various learning environments.
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Outcomes and Success:
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Program consistently achieves first-time pass rates on the national licensing exam that surpass both state and national averages.
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Graduates and employers express high levels of satisfaction with the program.
For students aspiring to become registered nurses, Western Wyoming Community College's CNA Expansion Program provides a solid foundation through a dynamic and practical curriculum. Learn more about the program's offerings, admission requirements, and success stories by visiting Nursing.
HEALTHCARE
EASTERN NURSING EXPANSION PROGRAM
The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Phase II Healthcare Expansion focuses on two specific healthcare workforce areas; the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant (MA) Programs, and the development and purchase of a mobile simulation lab to facilitate expansion throughout EWC’s six county service area.
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CNA Program
The CNA program consists of three stackable certificates: CNA I, CNA II, and Medication Aide. The expansion aims to establish two workforce training centers to provide educational opportunities for prospective CNA students. This would include an expansion on the Douglas campus to serve the northern locations of the service area, as well as expanding the existing CNA programs on the Torrington campus. The project includes adding one new faculty member, additional classroom equipment and supplies, and modifications to existing facilities.
Medical Assistant Program
In addition to the expansion of the CNA program, EWC plans to launch a Medical Assistant Program fall of 2024 at the Torrington campus. Based on workforce demand and input from local and regional healthcare providers, the College has developed a one-year certificate. The Medical Assistant Certificate includes a stair-step approach, first establishing the program in Torrington and then expanding to the Douglas campus in fall 2024. The program will include a combination of hybrid and face-to-face experiences and a semester-long practicum and phlebotomy certificate.
Mobile Simulation Laboratory
The expansion also includes the development and purchase of a mobile simulation laboratory that would serve a variety of needs for EWC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. In order to effectively incorporate the mobile simulation into the curriculum, faculty will receive additional training in the use of this classroom enrichment. The goal is to enhance the ability for students to experience nursing simulations via the latest technology and, by being mobile, could be shared across the Douglas and Torrington campuses. Additionally, regional healthcare providers would be able to access this lab for training purposes for their staff, as well as a recruitment tool for K12 students, exposing them to learning opportunities, the nursing field, and other health occupations.
HEALTHCARE
ADDICTION STUDIES PROGRAM
While initiatives to increase the number of mental health workers in Wyoming have expanded by adding to the Counseling and Social Work graduate programs in Casper, no current efforts are underway to increase substance use disorder counselors from the associate to graduate level practitioners. This expansion is designed to boost awareness of – and enrollment in – substance use disorder programs and work to increase the number of Certified Addiction Practitioners and Licensed Addictions Therapists (LAT) in the state of Wyoming.
This project aims to:
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Increase the number of currently licensed individuals to also hold the LAT license as well as those who are seeking licensure/certification at the undergraduate level.
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Increase awareness of substance use disorder counseling to individuals who are interested in the helping profession and demonstrate a pathway at each educational level where they can practice.
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Enhance the training facilities of those students who are currently in a substance use disorder class or training program at Casper College and UW-C.
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Develop a graduate-level curriculum in substance use disorders that will qualify already licensed individuals for the LAT license.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
WyEMS GRANT PROGRAM
The WyEMS Grant program provided by the Department of Workforce Services is a funding opportunity to expand the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workforce in Wyoming.
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Wyoming EMS is currently experiencing many challenges which have significant impact on the sustainability of the industry. One of the primary issues EMS faces is a significant shortage of skilled professionals to respond to medical emergencies, especially in the rural areas of our state. This grant opportunity provides funding toward training costs for students enrolled within an EMS training/program provided by a Wyoming Community College. There are currently three community colleges that offer these trainings; Laramie County Community College, Casper College, and Northwest College.
Key Program Features:
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This funding is available for Wyoming residents enrolled within an EMS training program provided by one of the above community colleges
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Eligible programs include EMT Basic, EMT Advanced, EMT Intermediate, and Paramedic.
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The funding limits for each level of training are:
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EMT Basic - $2,000
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EMT Advanced - $2,000
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EMT Intermediate - $2,000
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Paramedic Certification - $10,000
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Paramedic Degree Program - $17,000
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Funding can be applied toward eligible required program expenses
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Approved grantees must maintain a 2.0 grade point average or equivalent status per semester
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Grantees are expected to obtain employment or a volunteer position within an EMS occupation within 30 days of graduation/certification
The WyEMS Workforce Grant program will provide stability to the EMS system within the next two years in Wyoming in order to respond appropriately and effectively to emergency situations with qualified personnel.
Please contact WyEMS at 307-777-5327 or dws-wyems@wyo.gov with any questions regarding the program, including application processes and deadlines.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM
This WIP component will establish a new Practical Nursing (PN) program at Laramie County Community College (LCCC). Staffing shortages of healthcare professionals like Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) continues to grow toward a critical high, especially in underserved states like Wyoming. A standalone PN program presents the opportunity for more students to secure training and seek employment in this in-demand occupation.
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Currently, LCCC Nursing students qualify for the PN licensure exam after successful completion of the first two semesters of their intended degree, the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). LCCC has the highest passage rate (avg. 93%) for the inclusive PN program out of all Nursing programs in Wyoming. Many students do take their exam and secure summer employment as LPNs. However, those students often leave their employers at the start of the subsequent fall semester to complete the final year of their ADN degree. This results in the LPN positions, in many cases, remaining vacant.
The WIP proposes to address this through a program designed for students who seek to be an LPN as the next step in their educational and professional journeys. The proposed PN program will be delivered in a standalone hybrid/asynchronous format that pairs online didactic instruction with a regular bi-semester residency requirement on the LCCC campus in Cheyenne, providing an accessible and flexible format for students throughout Wyoming and specifically benefiting rural communities. This programming will have three semesters, the last of which ends with a required capstone clinical experience that can be completed in the student’s home community.
LPNs are critical healthcare workers in long-term care facilities, hospitals, public health, home health, and private practices. The job provides for a life-sustaining wage as well as an on-ramp to additional training and careers in healthcare for those who seek it. This innovative program will attract students from across the state and benefit communities where healthcare vacancies are impacting the promise of quality care. To learn more, please visit Practical Nursing Course Sequence - LCCC | Laramie County Community College, Wyoming.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
REGISTERED NURSING PROGRAM
Understanding simulation as a teaching strategy is imperative to enhance participants’ preparation and employment prospects after graduation. Health science simulation learning utilizes low to medium fidelity manikins, high-fidelity simulators, standardized patients, role-playing, and case-studies. The emphasis in these healthcare programs is to give accurate and safe care to patients, and simulation allows for the practice of this important objective in a less threatening environment, bridging the gaps between academia and professional practice to aid students in success.
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Gillette College is currently seeking funding to enhance the clinical and simulation activities of its health science programming as part of the WIP-backed Registered Nursing Expansion Program. This request includes two elements to achieve these enhancements:
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The need for updated simulators to expand and strengthen the simulation training currently available to health science students
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Training faculty to use the simulator technology and better support students
Simulated patient care experiences in a safe, controlled setting of suspended reality are an important means to enhance critical thinking and psychomotor skills for health science students through practical application. It also allows students to remediate in areas needed to improve retention and completion rates. To learn more, please visit Nursing - Gillette College.
