INTEGRIS Health Canadian Valley Hospital continues to be a valuable business partner for Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Dozens of CV Tech students who are enrolled in various healthcare industry programs undergo state-mandated clinical rotations at the hospital.

Additionally, INTEGRIS Canadian Valley employees participate in informational panels and serve as guest speakers at the school. They also serve CV Tech’s healthcare programs as advisory members, which enables CV Tech programs to incorporate current industry standards as well as understand trends in the medical field.

CV Tech Superintendent/CEO Dr. Gayla Lutts said the affiliation is integral to the success of CV Tech students. As a result, CV Tech officials have designated INTEGRIS Health Canadian Valley Hospital as its 2024 Partner in Progress. The award is presented in conjunction with Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education (OkACTE) and Oklahoma Association of Technology Centers (OATC).

“It is through these partnerships that the school remains on the cutting edge in terms of training students in a meaningful way that prepares them to be employable with the best in technological training and soft skills to facilitate their success,” Lutts said.

This partnership ensures that students enrolled in Practical Nursing, Surgical Technology, Medical Assisting, Health Careers II (AUA), EKG certification (Monitor Technician), and the Project SEARCH programs have a clinical site to practice skills and complete their industry credentials. 

Project SEARCH is another CV Tech program, which prepares young adults with significant barriers to employment for success in competitive integrated employment. These students benefited with this partnership with INTEGRIS Canadian Valley because they have been able to work on–site in a variety of areas and gained invaluable employability skills.

As a result, they have been able to seek employment using the skills they have gained having trained in a variety of job functions at the hospital such as food service, laundry, janitorial, stocking and other jobs.  

Lutts also serves as chair of the INTEGRIS Health Canadian Valley Hospital board. Chief Hospital Executive Teresa Gray said this has further helped strengthen the relationship built between CV Tech instructors and hospital staff.

Lutts said the hospital management is very supportive of CV Tech students and to ensuring quality education is provided. This is evidenced by the number of graduates who are hired by the hospital. 

Last year, more than 150 students participated in clinicals on the INTEGRIS Canadian Valley campus. Students completed approximately 55,000 hours of hands-on clinical or work-based experiences.

INTEGRIS Canadian Valley opened as a general acute care facility in 2001 to provide quality health care in Yukon and to other fast-growing communities in Canadian County. The hospital’s medical staff exceeds 350 physicians and employs more than 390 staff.

Gray was appointed in 2020 to the CV Tech Foundation Board of Trustees and currently serves as secretary/treasurer. She said the relationship with the school has been equally beneficial for the hospital. The school provides to the hospital a pipeline of nurses and other healthcare professionals thorough the joint arrangement for clinical and non-clinical rotations for students.

Gray said she will not soon forget that the support Canadian Valley Technology Center offered during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. The school provided needed supplies, equipment, and food for the hospital team during perhaps the most challenging time ever for healthcare staff.

Other recent CV Tech Partners in Progress are Flogistix, of El Reno, Armacell, of Yukon, Signature Quarters, of Chickasha, Security Solutions, of Mustang and Standley Systems, of Chickasha.