Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - The expansion of the healthcare education facility housed in Arkansas State University-Mountain Home’s (ASUMH) Gotaas Hall will enhance technology and provide additional educational opportunities for ASUMH students. This narrative outlines the vision, purpose and objectives, and benefits and impact of the expansion on nursing education and the future medical workforce. Section 1: The Vision Gotaas Hall is home to ASUMH’s health sciences programs including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Medication Assistant – Certified, Paramedic Technology, Practical Nursing (LPN), Pre-Nursing, Professional Medical Coding, Registered Nursing (RN), Health Professions, and Health Sciences. This space currently houses simulation laboratories with lifelike medical mannequins, an ambulance simulator, and classrooms that mimic hospital rooms. Students practice under the guidance of dedicated and experienced faculty and staff. Section 2: Purpose and Objectives The primary purpose of Gotaas Hall is to diversify and enrich ASUMH’s health sciences programs while providing a dedicated space for ASUMH students to learn through face-to-face lectures, online education, skills lab practice, simulated learning, and clinical experience. Key objectives include: 1. Improved Learning Environment: The expansion of Gotaas Hall will allow for better accessibility, updated classrooms with state-of-the-art technology, and enlarged meeting areas to promote interaction among students and faculty and staff. 2. Collaboration Between Students and Faculty: Expanded classrooms and meeting spaces will promote collaborative learning and shared work areas to encourage teamwork between students and faculty and staff, which is a vital skill in any healthcare profession. 3. Advanced Simulation Training: Gotaas Hall’s existing simulation labs will be greatly enhanced. The expansion will allow for the building to replicate even more closely a true hospital layout and realistic medical situations, which will help students as they transition from the simulated educational setting to real-world experiences in a real hospital or other medical facility. Section 3: Benefits and Impact The expansion of Gotaas Hall will have a profound impact on various stakeholders: 1. Students: The expansion will allow students to learn on up-to-date equipment, which will arm students with the most up-to-date knowledge and skills to set them up for success in their future medical careers. An expanded and updated learning environment will equip students with the confidence needed to provide excellent care to future patients. 2. Faculty and Staff: The expansion of the building and enhancement of the equipment will support faculty and staff in providing students with real-life and simulated learning experiences with state-of-the-art technology backed by innovative research. 3. Community: Graduates of ASUMH’s many health sciences programs who choose to remain and work in north central Arkansas will serve the growing health needs of those in the area. Community members’ lives will be improved by medical professionals who obtained their education at ASUMH.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).