The School of Health Sciences provides classes for over 1000 credit students annually to include dual-enrolled high school students. The school offers Associate in Applied Science Degrees, Diplomas in Applied Science, and Certificates in Applied Science credentials in a variety of programs to prepare students for the workforce and to meet the community and/or regional needs for quality health care professionals. The school houses 20 programs.

Uniquely, the School of Health Sciences offers students simulated experiences through the Dr. Barbara P. Lassiter STAT Center Lab (Simulation Technologies And Training Center)  and the departments of Dental Hygiene and Diagnostic Medical Sonography provide student-operated clinics open to the general public.

Associate Degrees

Diplomas

Certificates

Visit our web page at https://www.gvltec.edu/health-sciences/. 

The following outlines the special admission requirements of all programs within the School of Health Sciences. Specific program requirements are found under each program in this catalog. Policies and requirements of the School of Health Sciences may change during the academic year. 

Admission

Acceptance to the college is managed through the Admissions Office of the college and is required for consideration for acceptance into any program within the School of Health Sciences. However, college acceptance does not guarantee admissions into many of the School’s programs as some programs have additional admission requirements that must be met such as a separate program application.

Students are encouraged to obtain criteria used for competitive admissions once they determine their program of interest. Criteria can be obtained from each program’s website, Career Talk and/or from a student’s assigned advisor. Therefore, it is very important that students meet on a regular basis with their assigned advisor to ensure that they are on the correct path for program entry and that submission of the program application is done in a timely manner.

Time-sensitive Courses

Programs within the School of Health Sciences may have the requirement that certain courses must be completed within five years of starting clinical courses. The applicable program’s application form will list these requirements. Each program's application form is located on the program's webpage under the heading of sample form. 

Career Talk Sessions

Completion of a Career Talk session for the student’s program of interest is a program admission requirement for all of the programs within the School of Health Sciences. Students are encouraged to complete a Career Talk session as soon as possible to ensure that they have the most up-to-date program information.

Depending upon the program of interest, sessions are offered either face-to-face once a month or in an online format. The Career Talk schedule is located at https://www.gvltec.edu/careertalk/.

Essential Functions and Technical Standards

Programs within the School of Health Sciences may require specific mental and physical functions that must be possessed by students in order to successfully complete program requirements. The essential functions are necessary for admission, progression, program completion, and for the provision of safe and effective care of patients. These functions are deemed so essential to the health professions that they are included on the student physical form and are evaluated by the student’s medical provider upon acceptance to the program. See the Student Physical Form for specific details of the following required categories of essential functions: motor capability, sensory capability, communication capability, problem solving ability, behavioral skills, and professionalism. If the ability to perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations result in the inability to meet identified student learning outcomes, the student may be at risk of not successfully completing the course and/or program. Students must also be able to meet the technical standards of his/her program in order to progress. Demonstration may be required. The abilities and expectations for the program must be met by all students admitted, with or without reasonable accommodation. Technical Performance Standards may be identified in the following categories: behavioral/emotional/social coping, interpersonal, communication, professional behavior, temperament, cognitive, critical thinking/problem solving, environment, sensory abilities (visual, hearing, smell, tactile touch), motor skills, mobility, physical stamina, and self-care. The technical standards can be obtained from program advisors and are provided to potential students during the Career Talk sessions. Students who are concerned that they may have difficulty meeting the technical standards are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services. In some instances, reasonable accommodations may be made but only with the required documentation from the Office of Disability Services and the approval of the clinical affiliate.

Clinical/Externship Requirements

All programs within the School of Health Sciences require participation in and successful completion of clinical/externship/internship courses. In order to provide such experiences, students may be assigned to agencies outside of the college.  Written agreements between the agencies and the college outline the requirements of all parties:  the college, students, faculty and the agencies.  In establishing clinical/externship affiliation agreements, the school’s programs are contractually obligated to comply with the requirements set forth in such agreements and are subject to change while in program progression. Students and faculty are “guests” and must conform to the rules, policies, and procedures of these facilities in order to participate in clinical/externship experiences. Students must be able to participate in all learning activities that take place in these outside agencies.

Health Physicals

Students accepted to a program within the School of Health Sciences may be required to have a physical exam based on individual program requirements. The exam includes a health history, health examination by a primary care provider, and evaluation of student’s ability to perform the essential functions of the programs in the School of Health Sciences. Additional examination(s) may be required for changes in the student's physical and/or mental health while in the program of study. The physical exam must be performed by a licensed, practicing physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner and must be documented on the School’s Student Physical Form. Results of the physical must indicate that the student is in good physical and mental health and medically cleared to perform essential functions defined by the School of Health Sciences programs. Due dates vary and will be provided either by a student’s advisor or by the program faculty.

Immunization Requirements

In order to comply with clinical affiliation agreements, all students enrolled in a program within the School of Health Sciences must comply with the School of Health Sciences immunization requirements for students. Additionally, this will protect the students enrolled in the programs within the School of Health Sciences and the patients/clients with whom the students come in contact from communicable diseases. Students are required to complete a School of Health Sciences Immunization Form and provide documentation of an up-to-date immunization record and/or titers to accompany the form.  Program compliance requirements must be completed according to the deadlines given to students upon admission. The School of Health Sciences does not have an exemption process. Because this is a clinical affiliate requirement, all exemptions must follow the clinical affiliates' process and procedure.  Some facilities may not allow exemptions. It is the student's responsibility to obtain any exemptions from these immunization requirements from all sites the student may be placed during the program of study. Questions regarding individual situations may be directed to the Assistant Dean of Compliance for the School of Health Sciences. Students must be eligible to participate in all learning activities that take place in these outside agencies, regardless of exemption status, to successfully progress through and complete the program of study. 

The immunization form must include:

• Two (2) MMR vaccinations: positive titers may be accepted
• Two (2) Varicella vaccinations: a positive titer may be accepted
• Negative TB screening
• Tdap within the past ten (10) years
• Annual Influenza (Flu) vaccination (in Fall semester)
• Hepatitis B vaccination (recommended)
• Covid-19 Vaccine (recommended but may be required at some clinical affiliates)

Although not required, all students are strongly encouraged to obtain the Hepatitis B vaccine. Those who choose not to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B will be required to sign a waiver indicating their decision. However, if the Hepatitis B vaccine is required by an affiliated agency, the student must comply with the requirement in order to participate in activities at that agency. 

Although not required, all students are strongly encouraged to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine. However, if the Covid-19 vaccine is required by an affiliated agency, the student must comply with the requirement in order to participate in activities at that agency.

Additional immunizations may be required upon the request of the clinical/externship sites at any time. Students assigned to such sites will be required to meet the immunization requirement(s) to continue in the program of study.

Students enrolled in an Animal Studies program are only required to provide evidence of a current tetanus vaccine. The pre-exposure rabies vaccine is not required but is strongly recommended for students enrolled in Animal Studies.

Drug Screenings

In order to comply with affiliate agencies, all students accepted into and enrolled in a program within the School of Health Sciences must submit to drug screening. The college shares an obligation with the clinical/externship agencies to protect the agency’s patients/clients to the extent reasonably possible from harm due to students who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol while in the clinical/externship agency. In addition, the college wishes to ensure that the health and safety of the students are not compromised.  Initially, a negative 10-panel drug screen is required for clinical/externship eligibility. The student is responsible for paying for the initial drug screening. Drug screens must be completed through the agency outlined in the School’s policy. All students are subject to random drug screening and/or drug screening with reasonable suspicion.

Criminal Background Checks

In order to comply with affiliate agencies, all students enrolled in a program within the School of Health Sciences must submit to a comprehensive, multi-state criminal record check to include at minimum a check of the past seven (7) years. The student will be responsible for the cost of each record check. The record check must be completed through the agency outlined in the School’s policy. The criminal background check must be acceptable based upon the School’s policy. Criminal background checks are conducted upon formal acceptance into a program. Students may be subject to more than one background check during a program based on affiliate requirements. Questions regarding individual situations may be directed to the Assistant Dean of Compliance for the School of Health Sciences.

Regulatory Compliance Training

Training consists of modules addressing topics such as hazardous communication, electrical safety, infection control, HIPAA and many others. Many of the programs within the School of Health Sciences require students to complete these modules on an annual basis. The student will be responsible for the cost of this training and must use the agency outlined in the School’s policy. All modules must be completed for clinical/externship placement for specific programs.

Travel

Students may be required to travel to clinical/externship sites during the professional component of the program. Travel may require two (2) or more hours of driving from the campus of their enrolled program of study. Transportation, parking, housing and food expenses are the responsibility of the student.

Dr. Barbara J. Lassiter Simulation Technologies and Training Center

A $1.5 million Simulation Technologies and Training (STAT) Center opened in 2009 at Greenville Technical College.

Mission

The mission of the STAT Center is to improve patient care, patient safety and healthcare education through the use of Advanced Instructional Technology.

Features

• Twelve simulators in nine environments
• Simulators are portable and wireless and can sweat, cry, bleed, tear and salivate. They respond to medications and treatments as a human would.
• Settings include a city street where a car accident has occurred, a scene inside a home, an emergency room, an operating room and a specialty room, such as intensive care or pediatric intensive care.
• Virtual and Augmented Reality Simulations are utilized to improve the authenticity of experiences. 
• A $300,000 custom-designed audio-visual system allows students to see and hear what happens as a care scenario unfolds and how they might improve on their reactions.

Benefits

• Students have the chance to make the most common and preventable medical mistakes without risk.
• With better education, medical errors should be reduced when these students become professionals.
• Simulation increases the hands-on experience and builds confidence.

Used by students in the following programs

• Dental
• Emergency Medical Technology
• Medical Assisting 
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Radiologic Technology
• Respiratory Care

For more information, go to https://www.gvltec.edu/STAT/.  To contact the STAT Center, email simulation@gvltec.edu.