Located on the northwest coast of the United States is the beautiful Port Angeles, a coastal city not far from the Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. However, other than its great scenery, there are many chances for health enthusiasts in Port Angeles. Allied health careers encompass a broad range of medical and health-related fields that are important to the healthcare system and contribute significantly to patient care, diagnostics, therapy, and administrative support.
If you’re looking to have a career in allied health, Port Angeles is home to a number of institutions and resources that can provide you with the education and training necessary to succeed in this rewarding field. This article will explore some of the top allied health schools in Port Angeles, WA, and the programs they offer to help you embark on your healthcare career.
1. Peninsula College
Located in Port Angeles, Peninsula College is a comprehensive community college offering a wide range of healthcare-related programs to prepare students for allied health careers. The college provides flexible options for individuals interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, including certificates and associate degrees.
Key Allied Health Programs:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): This course equips the student with training to become a CNA, one of the most in-demand entry-level positions in healthcare. CNAs help patients with their daily activities, monitor their health, and collaborate with nurses and doctors.
- Medical Assistant (MA): The Medical Assistant program prepares students to work in medical offices and clinics, performing administrative and clinical duties such as patient intake, taking vital signs, preparing lab samples, and assisting with medical procedures.
- Pre-Nursing Pathway: For those who aspire to become registered nurses (RNs), there is the pre-nursing program from Peninsula College; it provides essential courses in anatomy, physiology, and biology. This is an excellent choice for students who are likely to pursue further education at a nursing school.
- Health Information Management: This program teaches students how to manage medical records, comply with healthcare regulations, and use electronic health records (EHR) systems. This is a growing field as more healthcare facilities transition to digital records.
- Why Peninsula College? Peninsula College offers affordable and accessible education near home. The college provides courses in-person and online, which is beneficial for busy students or those seeking a more flexible learning environment. Strong ties with local healthcare facilities create opportunities for internships and hands-on training.
2. Evergreen Healthcare Academy
While not based in Port Angeles, Evergreen Healthcare Academy is an essential regional partner offering allied health training, located not too far from Seattle.
Evergreen Healthcare Academy provides practical, hands-on training in various healthcare-related programs, equipping students for success in the healthcare industry.
Principal Allied Health Programs:
- Nursing Assistant Certified: This program prepares students to become certified nursing assistants to provide core care services to patients in a wide variety of settings. The program is composed of classroom training and clinical practice in healthcare settings.
- Medical Assistant: Evergreen Healthcare Academy has a similar program, the Medical Assistant program, in which students learn the clinical and administrative skills required for entry into a healthcare career, working in medical offices and clinics.
- Phlebotomy Technician: For those interested in working with lab work, the phlebotomy technician program trains students to draw blood for testing and donation. Phlebotomists are in high demand, especially as healthcare facilities grow.
- Why Evergreen Healthcare Academy? This academy has fast-tracked certification programs which can help anyone begin a career in healthcare within a short time. The school’s emphasis on practical training prepares the student for employment when graduation time comes and the real experience gained in the health setting.
3. Washington State Community and Technical Colleges Network
In addition to Peninsula College and Evergreen Healthcare Academy, a number of programs are offered within the network of Washington State Community and Technical Colleges that are accessible to Port Angeles residents. These include, but are not limited to, a variety of allied health-related degrees and certificates, many of which can be completed online or in hybrid formats.
Key Allied Health Programs Across Washington:
- Radiologic Technology: Various community colleges in Washington state offer degrees in radiologic technology. The degree will train a student to run imaging equipment to give doctors the necessary diagnostic images.
- Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA): Students who wish to work with patients in rehabilitation will find programs for PTA that prepare people to assist the physical therapist to rehabilitate an injury or after surgery.
- Respiratory Therapy: This course trains students to work with patients who have breathing problems, such as chronic respiratory diseases like COPD. Respiratory therapists are critical to the recovery and care of patients.
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA): OTAs help patients regain skills for daily living, especially after injuries or illnesses. This field is growing rapidly and has good job prospects.
Why the Washington State Network? Students in Port Angeles will have access to a wide array of programs because of the statewide network’s online and hybrid courses. The network also offers financial aid options and connects students with internships and clinical placements at local healthcare facilities.
4. Olympic Medical Center (OMC) and Internship Opportunities
Olympic Medical Center (OMC), located in Port Angeles, is a major healthcare provider that often collaborates with local schools to offer internships and externships to allied health students. Although OMC itself doesn’t offer formal educational programs, it provides valuable real-world experience for students enrolled in allied health programs at local colleges and universities.
Why the Olympic Medical Center? OMC is a core health care facility in Port Angeles, which means that students are provided with ample opportunities to be clinically exposed to a wide variety of allied health fields, from nursing and medical assisting to laboratory technology, physical therapy, and many more. Internships and clinical placements in OMC enable students to use their classroom knowledge in the practical world and foster connections within the local healthcare network.
Conclusion
Port Angeles provides an array of possible career tracks into allied health with local programs through Peninsula College or internships/hands-on experience at Olympic Medical Center. With the possibilities available to become a medical assistant, nursing assistant, physical therapist assistant, and those interested in higher specialized areas of radiologic technology or respiratory therapy, the amount of education or training that you can achieve will be extensive.
Attending one of these top schools and gaining practical experience will enable you to start a rewarding healthcare career in Port Angeles, contributing to the well-being of the community and beyond.
