Program provides hands-on experience caring for individuals with catastrophic injuries and illnesses.

ALISO VIEJO, CA (January 31,  2011) – CareMeridian, a leading provider of post-acute health care alternatives, today announced the expansion of  its Student Nursing Program, which provides nursing students clinical experience in CareMeridian’s post-acute healthcare environment.

The program, which began with CareMeridian’s New Start Program for Spinal Cord Excellence, now includes CareMeridian facilities throughout Southern California, including Artesia, La Habra, Garden Grove, Tustin, Cowan Heights and Santiago Canyon.  Escondido is scheduled to join the program next month.

The Student Nursing Program pairs students and instructors from their related schools with long-term, experienced CareMeridian licensed nursing staff. Receiving internship credits, students gain real-life experience that they would not obtain elsewhere because of the complexity of subacute care.  In turn, CareMeridian is building a pool of potential future nursing staff that have been trained and are experienced with the CareMeridian environment.

“The Program provides an opportunity for long-term patients to interact with interested young people with new ideas and a fresh outlook on recovery,” said Rita Pathmanaban, CareMeridian Vice President of Clinical Programs and Quality Assurance.  “So far, our patients have embraced interacting with these young people and are enjoying attention from the students.”

Participating institutions include: American Career College, Anderson School of Nursing, Annenberg School of Nursing,  West Coast University, Cal State University Northridge, College of the Canyons, C&S Health Education Institute, Valley School of Allied Health, Casa Loma, Concord Career College, Everest College, Glendale Career College, the Joseph School of Nursing, Northwest College and Pacific College.

CareMeridian, a partner of The MENTOR Network, provides a continuum of high quality, cost-effective post-acute care and rehabilitation options to people of all ages with brain, spinal cord and other life-altering injuries and medically-complex illnesses.  With program locations throughout the Western United States, CareMeridian offers a distinctive service delivery model, merging an experienced and skilled health care and rehabilitation team with state-of-the-art technology in community-based program settings designed to meet the unique needs of those we serve at every stage of their recovery. To learn more about CareMeridian, please visit our website: www.caremeridian.com.

The MENTOR Network is a national network of local providers serving at-risk youth, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and people with brain, spinal cord and other catastrophic illnesses and injuries in nearly 40 states.

To learn more, please visit thementornetwork.com.

Contact:
Dan Larson
Chief Development Officer
314.440.4257
dlarson@caremeridian.com