Equipment and instruments are available to instruct students in the skills they will need in their chosen careers. Concorde students acquire knowledge and technical skills through demonstrations, actual operation of equipment, and the practice of techniques. Among the major items of equipment available to Concorde students are the following (by program):
Dental Assistant Program
The dental laboratory area has four dental operatories. The dental lab room is equipped with lathes, model trimmers, bench grinders, vibrators, sterilization equipment, hydrocolloid units, and other teaching aids.
One operatory is designated for a local practicing dentist to see private patients. This provides students a unique opportunity for hands-on training and observation. This is a fully equipped, fully functional dental facility with dental x-ray units, including digital x-rays, darkroom, and teaching and x-ray mannequins.
Dental Hygiene Program
Students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program have access to a completely equipped and functioning dental clinic. Included in the clinical facility are four radiography units, a panoramic x-ray unit, and 12 fully equipped operatories. Students learn various technical skills in the lab before treating a patient. Some special equipment included are lathes, model trimmers, intraoral cameras, both digital and traditional x-rays, autoclaves, and automatic processors. Mannequins are used for instrument skill and instruction. Personal computers with appropriate software are also used for the benefit of the student.
Medical Assistant Program
This program has a laboratory stocked with medical test supplies and equipment, such as stethoscopes, glucometers, sphygmomanometers, examination and treatment tables, autoclaves, electrocardiograph machines, centrifuges, microscopes, teaching mannequins, and other teaching aids.
Pharmacy Technician Program
The laboratory includes flow hoods and a gowning area where students may scrub and dress in appropriate attire. The retail laboratory is stocked with a supply of over-the-counter medications and computer software for dispensing medications. Students also have access to a computer laboratory where they learn pharmacy-specific computer skills.
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Equipment includes treatment tables, electromagnetic and electrical stimulation devices, biofeedback units, ultrasound, traction, thermal modalities and adaptive equipment. Therapeutic exercise equipment includes a treadmill, parallel bars, exercise balls, free weights, balance boards, and other devices that promote fine and gross motor skills. Assistive devices include wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, and orthotics/braces. Assessment equipment includes stethoscopes, goniometers, postural screening boards, pulse oximeters, spirometers, and other teaching aids.
Respiratory Therapy Program
This program has a comprehensive laboratory equipped with oxygen devices, aerosol/humidity devices, lung expansion devices (intermittent positive pressure breathing machines, incentive spirometers, continuous positive airway pressure machines), mechanical ventilators (respirators), airway maintenance devices (suction machines, intubation tools, artificial airways), and ancillary equipment (arterial blood gas equipment, oximetry, capnography, pulmonary function equipment, mannequins), plus a library complete with respiratory and respiratory-related medical journals, texts, and audiovisual equipment.
Vocational Nursing Program
The Vocational Nursing program offers catheters, nasogastric tubes, oxygen and masks, needles, syringes, suction machine, K-pad, wheelchairs, stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers, Glucoscan, thermometers, ophthalmoscope, simulated patient units, teaching mannequins/models, sterile supplies, and other teaching aids.
Audiovisual Aids
Concorde’s programs are supported with reference books, charts, field trips, demonstrations, and other teaching aids. Speakers from business and industry are used when possible to supplement classroom instruction.