Western Governors University Launches Partnership with Mad River Community Hospital

California- The nation’s largest nonprofit, competency-based university, Western Governors University (WGU), and Mad River Community Hospital, have announced a partnership designed to give employees increased access and flexibility to earn affordable bachelor's and master's degrees.

For many students, WGU’s online, competency-based programs make it possible to attain a degree faster while continuing their careers – on average, students finish bachelor’s degree programs in three years or less, and master’s degree programs in 12 -24 months.

“The partnership between WGU and Mad River Hospital provides an excellent option for our staff to attain degrees in healthcare, IT, and business," said Jason Orlandi, Chief Nursing Officer of Mad River Hospital. "Studies show that patient safety and satisfaction improve when staff has attained a bachelor's degree or higher, and the community benefits. Healthcare in America is a very dynamic industry. We need our healthcare providers to be up to date on best practices and industry trends and become leaders within our community. WGU provides another dynamic option for our entire staff to attain their next degree."

Mad River Hospital is located in Arcata, California in Humboldt County. It has a population of 18,266 people, with the hospital being the only acute care hospital in the city. The emergency department sees 17,000 patients each year, many of the patients end up going to the ER because they don’t have access to a primary health care provider. According to Citizenship Governance Prosperity, 1.8 million people live in rural California, such as Humboldt County, and face barriers to receiving healthcare treatment, such as limited access to physicians, hospital closures, and proper access to medicine. A partnership such as this will assist hospital staff in achieving their educational goals, and the community as a whole will also gain access to more well-rounded healthcare professionals in their city.

 "Access to quality healthcare in rural America is challenging for many individuals, and this is very true here in Humboldt County. Mad River Community Hospital has been at its current location for over 50 years, and we continue to maintain our commitment to our community. Mad River has the main acute care hospital, multiple off-site outpatient clinics, and home health, and continues to look for areas to expand access to healthcare in the northern part of Humboldt County."