A local partnership involving municipalities, Quinte Health, and Loyalist College continues to make strides addressing healthcare challenges in the region.
Health PULSE – Partners United in Local Solutions for Everyone, is comprised of local leaders from the City of Belleville, City of Quinte West, Hastings County, Prince Edward County, Loyalist College, and Quinte Health.
One of the collaboration’s goals is to establish a local pipeline of healthcare workers.
This year, Loyalist College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program graduated its first cohort of 48 students as Registered Nurses, alongside 53 Registered Practical Nurses with almost half of those graduates hired at Quinte Health.
The program has now reached full enrolment and will see 75 students begin their studies this fall.
The Health PULSE collaboration also determined a significant demand for skilled medical radiation technologists in the Quinte region and, as a result, Loyalist is introducing its new Medical Radiation Technology (MRT) program which will open this fall with 35 students.
Dr. Amanda Baskwill, SVP Academic at Loyalist College, says the college is committed to healthcare education. “Our focus remains on expanding and enhancing health and wellness education to meet the evolving needs of our community. We are actively developing new programs that will continue to serve these critical areas,” she stated.
Mark Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of Loyalist College says, “Our initiatives are directly connected to community needs, ensuring that the solutions we develop through education truly address the local healthcare challenges.”
Quinte Health’s president and CEO, Stacey Daub, emphasizes the impact of this collaboration and the power of local partnerships.
“We are thrilled to welcome 48 Loyalist College nursing graduates to the Quinte Health team,” Daub explained. “Our collaboration with Loyalist College has never been more vital, as we work together to enhance local healthcare and foster strong, vibrant communities. Loyalist is establishing itself as a prime institution for training healthcare professionals. The addition of the Medical Radiation Technology program will not only boost Quinte Health’s capability to deliver high-quality, advanced diagnostics locally but will also provide exciting career prospects for our community.”
Through these collaborative efforts, Quinte Health, Loyalist College, and all members of the Health PULSE initiative are dedicated to fostering a robust healthcare system that serves the Quinte region effectively, ensuring that local health care education translates into meaningful careers and improved healthcare outcomes for the community.
