Needs being met
Tribe, college partner to train staff for new health centerBy ELOISE OGDEN, Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com
Article Photos
NEW TOWN The Three Affiliated Tribes and Fort Berthold Community College in New Town have established a partnership for the college to train staff for the new health center being built in New Town, said Jim Foote, project manager for the Elbowoods Memorial Health Center.
The college implemented a registered nurse program this fall with the Dakota Nursing Program. The tribe, along with input from staff at the Minne-Tohe Health Center west of New Town, had requested the college offer the RN program, Foote said.
The college also offers a practical nurse program that allows students to also go into the RN program, said Janet Johnson, nursing program coordinator. The college also offers a certified nurse assistance program, she said.
In January, the college will offer emergency medical technician training.
O'Brian Baker, Minot, an EMT and paramedics certified trainer who works for the New Town Ambulance, has been hired to teach the EMT class.
"They wasted no time in getting this in their curriculum," Foote said, referring to the new RN program and training for EMTs.
Johnson said the RN program has seven students and the PN program has eight students. The students are from the area, including from Minot, she said.
Clarice Baker Big Back, dean of the college, said they are working on offering paramedics training in fall 2011.
Other training needed to fill other health-care positions at the new health center include medical coding, information technology, medical records and electronic billing. The college, the tribe and Minne-Tohe staff are also working on providing training for those positions, Foote said.
Currently, the Minne-Tohe Health Center, which the new health center will replace, has 33 full-time staff and about 40 part-time staff. There will be additional staff hired for the new health center, Foote said.
He said the college is walking distance from the new health center and a walkway will be built along the road on the west side.
"We thank Clarice Baker Big Back, dean of the college, and her staff for supporting training," Foote said, adding, "Our motto for the health center is 'Health Promotion and Disease Prevention,' "Foote said.
"It's part of our mission to meet the needs of the tribe and the community under the leadership of Russell Mason Jr.," Baker Big Back said.
The new 24/7 health center for the tribe is being built north of the college. Ground was broken at the site Oct. 24.
Marion Trucking & Construction of Dunseith was awarded a $13.5 million contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build the new health center. Comstock Construction Inc. of Wahpeton is the subcontractor for the project.
Marion Construction last week started to prepare for the utilities and also landscaping for the building site, Foote said. "We're fortunate the weather has been holding out and can get a lot done if this continues."
The health center is scheduled for completion in later 2011. After the health center is completed, it will be turned over to the Indian Health Service.
