TRU and TD Bank Group make rural health care more accessible – TRU Newsroom
KAMLOOPS–TD Bank Group (TD) has donated $200,000 for a mobile health-care training unit operated by Thompson Rivers University (TRU).
The TRU Mobile Health Care Simulation Lab will give TRU health-care students living in BC’s rural areas in-person clinical training in their own communities. Supplemented by virtual classes, the transportable unit gives health-care students facing barriers to post-secondary education the opportunity to complete their practicums and enter high-demand careers.
The mobile lab will facilitate learning for students in any TRU nursing and health program, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing, Health Care Assistant and Respiratory Therapy.
“A shortage of nurses and health-care providers means people — especially those living in rural areas — are not getting the care they require,” said Rani Srivastava, dean of Nursing at TRU. “Thanks to TD’s support, our Mobile Health Care Simulation Lab can be part of the solution to develop capacity within communities.”
“We’re incredibly proud to support TRU’s Mobile Health Simulation Lab,” said Bob Bayntun, TD’s district vice-president for BC Northern Interior and Yukon. “This program is a game changer — it opens the door for people in rural and Indigenous communities to receive in-person training for careers in nursing and long-term care. The lab’s launch comes at a critical time when our health-care system is under unprecedented strain, particularly in remote parts of our province. Through the TD Ready Commitment, our corporate citizenship platform, we’re focused on investing in solutions that increase access to educational opportunities for in-demand sectors like health care.”
In future, the Mobile Health Care Simulation Lab may be used for other purposes, such as a mobile vaccination unit or for TRU’s Medical Laboratory Assistant program offered by the Faculty of Science.
Photos of TRU and TD representatives may be downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/4dfutbm8.
Contact:
Kathy Sinclair, Senior Communications Consultant
Advancement, University Relations, Thompson Rivers University
250-371-5697 | [email protected]