Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College gets new health sciences building

(Deseret News) Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College has broken ground on a health sciences facility, the first new instructional building at the college in 15 years.

With the new facility, the college estimates it will be able to train 1,200 health care workers every year to meet critical shortages in the field.

The Utah Department of Workforce Services estimates there will be a 43 percent growth in the number of health care jobs, meaning more than 10,000 workers, in the state by 2020. Shortages in qualified staff and retention issues continue to grow as the population ages and grows.

The 80,000-square-foot building in West Ogden will meet LEED Gold environmental standards and double the college's capacity for training and job placement for the school's 12 health care-occupations programs. The college currently serves nearly 600 health care trainees each year in fields such as dental and medical assisting, pharmacy technician and practical nursing and more.

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