VU, IU Health Partnering
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowVincennes University has announced a collaboration with Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. It involves a pathway for those in the IU Health Pharmacy Technician program to receive credit toward a VU Associate of Science degree. March 11, 2015
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Students seeking careers as pharmacy technicians will benefit from an agreement between Vincennes University and Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
“The Indiana University Health/Vincennes University collaboration provides a mechanism for graduates of the IU Health Pharmacy Technician program to further their education by receiving credit toward an Associate of Science degree from Vincennes University,” said Melynda Ludwick, Pharmacy Technician program director for IU Health Methodist Hospital.
Beginning June 1, the collaboration will bring together Indiana's first college, VU, and IU Health Methodist Hospital – a national and regional healthcare leader ranked among the top 50 national programs in U.S. News & World Report's “America's Best Hospitals.”
Employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to grow by 20 percent from
2012 to 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Boosting demand are technological advances in medicine, a growing aging population that generally uses more medications, and an increase in the number of group practices, clinics, and other health care facilities.
“Pharmacy Technicians have a responsible role in health care today,” said Terri Wise, Pharmacy Technician program director for VU. “The accrediting agency for pharmacy technicians now requires an increasing amount of formal education for these health professionals. The IU Health Methodist Hospital Pharmacy Technician program is one of the oldest and one of the best programs in Indiana. This partnership will allow the IU Health graduates to earn an associate degree from Vincennes University.”
IU Health's Pharmacy Technician program's academic year is nine months in length (855 contact hours), divided into two semesters. IU Health is accredited for pharmacy technician training by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. IU Health's Pharmacy Technician program is Indiana’s first nationally accredited pharmacy technician training program.
Founded in 1801, VU has offered a Pharmacy Technician program since 2006 through its College of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. The VU program was initiated by Jay Bardole, professor emeritus of Chemistry and former chair of the Chemistry Department, who played an instrumental role in developing the agreement between VU and IU Health Methodist Hospital.
“VU values this partnership with IU Health Methodist Hospital. It serves the best interest of students, employers, and the state, as we all strive to provide a better future for Hoosiers. I am grateful for the work of Terri and Melynda in reaching this agreement. I am particularly grateful to Jay Bardole for yet another achievement in his distinguished, longtime service to students,” said VU President Dick Helton.
For more information about the IU Health Pharmacy Technician program, contact Melynda Ludwick at 317-962-0919 or mludwick@iuhealth.org.
Information is also available via the program website at http://iuhealth.org/education/health-sciences/pharmacy-technician/.
Source: Vincennes University