Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Early College High School students are leading the way in healthcare. As a continuing partnership with Laredo College, 26 students had the opportunity to become certified Patient Care Technicians/Assistants and Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technicians.
The Patient Care Technician course offered by the Laredo College Continuing Education Department is a 120 hour course designed to train participants with the necessary technical skills required for an entry level position in the healthcare industry. This program provided students with the basic medical knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to perform direct Patient Care, Basic Phlebotomy procedures, and EKGs.
“LISD has partnered with Laredo College for many years providing high school students opportunities to gain credentials through short-term industry-recognized training. This is the first year Laredo College and Dr. Dennis D. Cantu ECHS have partnered to bring this program to early college students,” LC Continuing Education Department Senior Workforce Development Coordinator Miguel Flores said.
The PCT program consists of a 10-week workforce training course where the participants are in class and also have a lab component for hands-on training. For selected co-enrolled high school students to take part in the PCT program, participants must meet the required eligibility standards set by the participating local high school. Students participating in the program must be in 12th grade, in good standing at CECHS, and show interest in a Health Science related career.
The goal of the programs is to provide quality training to individuals who are starting their journey in healthcare. “The skills that are taught are mainly related to skills that they would be expected to perform out in the workforce such as basic bedside care, rehabilitation services, basic phlebotomy and EKG collection,” CECHS Director Geraldina Arredondo said. “These skills allow the students to academically bridge the gap between lecture and skills training, and will ultimately allow the student to properly conduct the job responsibilities required.”
In addition, students will continue their training by taking part in a 60 hour EKG Technician certification course. This is where students will reinforce newly learned concepts regarding EKG’s with topics such as Safety & Compliance, EKG collection, and EKG Analysis.
Upon course completion, students received a certificate of completion from LC. Furthermore, upon successfully passing their certification exams, participants received a Certification from the National Healthcareer Association as a Patient Care Technician/Assistant and EKG Technician Certification.
Any high school students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, please contact CECHS Director Geraldina Arredondo at (956) 273-7168 or email garredondo@laredoisd.org.