Educational Opportunities

The Educational Services Department of the Staff Services Division is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities for our customers - hospital staff, physicians, patients and the community.

In addition to Staff Education, Continuing Medical Education for physicians is offered via teleconferencing from MAHEC and through an online program. Each teleconference and online program is accredited for 1 Hour of Category 1 Credit.

All Life Safety courses (BLS, ACLS & PALS) are American Heart Association courses. Contact Staff Services at 586-7287 for registration and information needs.

BLS (Basic Life Support) for Healthcare Providers(CPR). The Basic course is offered every other month at Harris Regional Hospital on Saturdays. It is also offered quarterly on Tuesdays at Swain County Hospital. Time for this course is 9:00am - 4:30pm. Call 828-586-7287 to register.

BLS Renewal and skills checkoff is offered quarterly . The BLS renewal module must be completed online prior to skills checkoff. Skills session is less than one hour. To schedule a skills session after the online module is completed call 828-586-7287

HEARTSAVER CPR & FIRST AID is offered to anyone over the age of 12 yrs. Call 586- 7287 to set up a training and receive information on  training costs and materials.

ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) The Basic Course is offered four times a year. Each Basic series is on a Monday and Tuesday (9:00am - 5:00pm). ACLS Renewal is offered four times a year, on Tuesdays from 9:00am - 5:00pm. A current student provider manual is required. You must be allowed to provide this level of care on the job to attend this course.

PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) Basic Class is offered three times a year. Each series is Monday and Tuesday, from 9:00am - 5:00pm. PALS Renewal is offered three times a year, Tuesday from 9:00am - 5:00pm. A current student provider manual is required. You must be allowed to provide this level of care on the job to attend this course.

For all classes below, register on Swank  if you are a WestCare employee (free of charge) or call 586-7287 if you wish to attend from the community. A fee schedule is available on request.

NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)  Basic Classes are only offered as needed or requested. NRP Renewal classes are held quarterly, on Thursdays from 9:00am - 12:00pm. A current student provider manual is required. Call 828-586-7287 for information and registration. This course is taught by certified AAP-NRP instructors.

IV Level I ( Peripheral IV ) and Level II (Central Venous Access devices) classes are held quarterly at Harris Reg. Hospital from 9:00am - 4:30pm and once a year at Swain County Hospital.  Level I information is for those who need basic skills or update, including peripheral IV skills & equipment, pumps & PCA's. Level II is for those who already have basic skills and will be dealing with Central Venous Catheters.

Basic Rhythm Interpretation class is for those needing basic rhythm interpretation skills or update on dysrhythmias. It is held four times a year from 9:00am - 4:30pm.

Basic Computer Skills Classes are held every other month for "Introduction to Microsoft Word / Excel / Powerpoint." All WestCare staff are welcome to attend. First choice is given to those who use these skills on the job but all employees are welcome. Register through Swank  as space is limited to 12 participants per class. These classes are held in the computer training room.

In addition to the above classes, WestCare provides New Employee Orientation/Nursing Orientation/ and Patient Care Orientation every month for its new employees.  Coaching training, Facilitator/Team Leader training, Time Management/Personal Effectiveness, and Customer Service Excellence training are also available upon request.

In addition to the in-house education mentioned above, educational opportunities in the surrounding area are communicated to all staff as appropriate.