FWCS’ Anthis health science students to join Parkview, Ivy Tech at new medical education center

By Kevin Kilbane | News-Sentinel

Beginning this fall, health science program students at the Career Academy at Anthis will relocate from 1200 S. Barr St. to a soon-to-be remodeled site at 1919 W. Cook Road, where their program will share the building with the medical education programs of Parkview Health and Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast.

The Fort Wayne Community Schools board of school trustees voted Monday night to approve signing a sublease from Parkview for use of about 12,850 square feet of space at the new location — the former Harris corporate building at the southwest corner of Cook and Lima roads. The board's decision came after significant discussion during its regular meeting at Grile Administrative Center.

"The advantages for us are tremendous," FWCS Superintendent Wendy Robinson told board members.

The move to the new site will allow the health science programs, which are at or near enrollment capacity of about 159 students, to expand by about 25 students immediately, Larry Gerardot, Anthis principal, told the board. The Anthis programs are Introduction to Health Careers, Introduction to Medical Assisting, Dental Careers and Certified Nursing Assistant.

Joining Parkview and Ivy Tech at the new location also will expose Anthis students to new, state-of-the-art medical equipment purchased by Parkview, as well as the opportunity to interact and collaborate with Parkview and Ivy Tech students and faculty, FWCS officials told the board. In addition, Anthis students can more easily transition from their program to medical-related degree programs offered by Ivy Tech.

Most of the school board members' questions related to the lease arrangements and remodeling work, with board members trying to ensure the lease costs are spelled out in writing and that FWCS gets to decide what remodeling is done in the former office area that will be used by its students and faculty.

The lease will be for seven years, with the option for two additional five-year terms, project information said. Expected base rent will be about $109,240 per year. FWCS also will have to take out a construction loan of about $1 million to help pay for the building's remodeling.

FWCS officials told board members that Parkview will hold the master lease for the site, which is the northernmost building in the Harris complex. Parkview will use the first floor for education programs for its employees. FWCS will lease 30 percent of the second floor, and Ivy Tech will occupy the rest of the second floor.

Students from all three programs will share common spaces, such as lounge areas and a cafe, officials said.

Parkview will coordinate the extensive renovation of the building to accommodate its new use, including adding mock patient and surgery rooms. But FWCS staff told school board members they have been involved in remodeling plans and feel confident their requests will be addressed by Parkview.

Anthis students will continue paying the same fees they do now. They also will start their day at the Anthis Center, where they will board an FWCS bus for the trip to the Cook Road site.

Relocating the health science programs to the Cook Road location will open up space in the Anthis building to expand or add programs, but no specifics have been decided yet, Robinson told board members.

FWCS, Parkview, Ivy Tech have been part of a consortium working for several years to locate their health science programs together in one location, Robinson and other FWCS officials told the board. Other consortium members have included University of Saint Francis, Trine University in Angola and Huntington University in Huntington.

 

The Career Academy at Anthis health science program currently offers these four options of study:

• Introduction to Health Careers allows students to explore working in the health professions, including classroom and laboratory time and learning about basic patient care, infection control and human anatomy and physiology.
• Certified Nursing Assistant program for high school seniors allows them to learn the skills and earn the certification needed to get a job in a nursing home or hospital. Certification requires at least 30 hours of classroom work and 75 hours of clinical training. Students learn to provide direct patient care to the elderly, medical terminology, ethics, and anatomy and physiology.
• Introduction to Medical Assisting teaches students to perform administrative and clinical work in a doctor’s office. The learning includes patient simulations and instruction on responsibilities such as checking a patient’s vital signs, infection control, clerical duties and more.
• Dental Careers allows students to experience the careers of dental assisting, dental hygiene and dental laboratory. A simulated dental office teaches students about infection control, dental instruments and medical terminology. During the second semester, students will spend time in a real dental office.