UCC Churches Make the Difference - Phoebe Ministries

24 The Messenger/Annual Report IssuePhoebe Home’s NewClassroom, EquipmentMake It PSU Site ofLPN Degree ProgramEarlier this year, Phoebe Ministries partneredwith Penn State Lehigh Valley to bringa unique educational opportunity to PhoebeHome. Through the generous support oftwo individuals and endowment funds forstaff development, Phoebe is now home tohigher education learning and training inthe form of a licensed practical nurse (LPN)degree program.This relationship with Penn State begantwo years ago, when Phoebe first served as aclinical site for the program. Becauseresponse to the program was great, it wasfelt that a second learning site would be agreat benefit to the community at large.The Haas Building on Phoebe Home’scampus is now home to a modern classroomcomplete with all of the most up-to-datetraining materials and teaching equipment.Right at Phoebe Home, students will attendclasses and complete clinical rotations inareas that do not involve obstetrics or psychiatry.Additional clinical studies will beheld at the Allentown campus of St. Luke’sHospital, just two blocks from PhoebeHome.This arrangement allows all componentsof the program to be accessible towhat Penn State refers to as “locationboundstudents” -- individuals who do nothave access to a personal car and generallyrely on car-pooling or public transportation-- making this a true community program.Diane Lewis, Asst. Director of ContinuingEducation at Penn State Lehigh Valley, considersthe partnership valuable because ofthe “importance of education [she] witnessesthroughout the Phoebe organization,People Make the DifferenceBY CARING FOR OUREMPLOYEES■■■■■Joseph Correll(left of center)joins students tocelebrate thededication ofthe CorrellClassroom.Shape Up Phoebe, 10,000 Step Challenge and one-ononenutrition counseling encourage healthy lifestyles.Flu shot campaign keeps employees and our residentshealthy.Holiday gift cards express appreciation to everyemployee for a job well done.Awards programs honor employees for making adifference.Donors contribute funds for six LPN nursingscholarships, three RN scholarships and culturechange education.which reinforces the benefit of lifelonglearning.”The LPN classroomat Phoebe Home was madepossible by support fromJoseph Correll,Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Stellaand the Donley Staff SkillsEndowment Fund.According to Michelle Posch, LPN, StaffDevelopment Coordinator at Phoebe Home,“The renovation of the classroom could nothave come at a better time. With theincrease in resident acuity, our staff will benefitfrom a fully equipped, simulated lab andthe latest teaching materials, anatomicalmodels and technology.“ Having the Penn State PracticalNursing program onsite [at Phoebe] is greatin two ways: our residents benefit from theone-on-one care provided by the students,and Penn State is provided with a positiveclinical experience. Our mutual goal is toprovide excellence in education and to servicethe needs of our aging population.” ■