Highmark healthcare center of excellence cuts ribbon in Dover
Leaders from Delaware Technical Community College and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware recently joined with state and local officials to cut the ribbon on the new Highmark Healthcare Center of Excellence at the Charles L. Terry Jr. Campus in Dover.
The $3.4 million renovation of the 8,700-square-foot facility began in August 2020, and final touches to the façade of the 49-year-old building were completed this year. The project cost includes $1 million from Highmark Delaware’s BluePrints for the Community grant program, which helped fund a number of projects and initiatives such as laboratory equipment upgrades, technology enhancements, a scholarship for allied health programs, establishment of a student support fund and beautification of the building's exterior.
“The state-of-the-art classrooms and labs in this new center will be used to train students for allied health careers to meet some of the highest-demand labor market needs in Delaware,” said Dr. Mark T. Brainard, Delaware Tech president. “We are grateful to Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware for this generous donation and continued support of the college and our mission.”
The Highmark Healthcare Center of Excellence is housed in a building on the Terry Campus that is highly visible from Route 13 and now displays the Highmark name, along with digital signage that promotes the center, as well as other college programs and events.
“Collaboration between Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and Del Tech spans many years and a variety of ways as we have collectively taken action to address workforce needs within the constantly changing health industry,” said Nick Moriello, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware president. “We are excited for the next phase of this exciting investment with the college, which is part of Highmark’s long-standing commitment to the healthcare workforce in Delaware, totaling more than $10 million since 2007.”
The Highmark Healthcare Center of Excellence will include training for short-term certification programs in allied health, including: certified central service technician, certified clinical medical administrative assistant, certified clinical medical assistant with phlebotomy, EKG technician, hemodialysis technician, certified nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy technician, patient care technician, polysomnographer, emergency medical technician and community health worker.
Students who earn these certifications can help address the needs of their fellow Delawareans, especially as the state’s population ages and chronic health conditions become more prevalent.
