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HEALTH CAREERS “GROWING” AT FMH - 2009-06-25

Recruiting healthcare workers to small rural communities can be a challenge; however, Fairfield Memorial Hospital is taking steps to “Grow Their Own” by offering a dual high school and college credit program in partnership with Frontier Community College, called Health Careers.  This health science technology program was designed for high school seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare field.

During the 2008-2009 school year there were seventeen students enrolled in the program from Fairfield Community High School and Edwards County High School.  Due to a successful first year, plans are being made to expand the program by offering two class times along with expanding the program to additional interested High Schools.  Grayville High School has already made a commitment to offer the program to their students this fall, and there are other high schools still exploring the possibility of adding it to their curriculum. Approximately twenty-nine students have enrolled in the upcoming Health Careers course for this fall.  FMH with the assistance of FCC is also investigating the possibility of adding an evening/weekend program for the general public.  

“This program jumpstarted my health career as I had never thought about becoming an emergency nurse before experiencing emergency care first hand during my clinical rotation,” stated Nicole Dosier, 2008-2009 Health Careers Student from FCHS.

“We learned about health careers, but more importantly, we gained the professional skills we will need in our future medical professions through hands on patient care,” stated Taelor Johnson, 2008-2009 Health Careers Student from ECHS.

During the first semester the students studied medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, healthcare organization and structure, and career opportunities in the healthcare environment.  The students were given opportunities to rotate through many clinical settings throughout Fairfield Memorial Hospital.  They enjoyed gaining knowledge of the various healthcare fields through visits from professional staff within the facility.  They are also exposed to an entire realm of healthcare at Fairfield Memorial Hospital from shadowing Certified Nursing Assistants to Ancillary staff to Medical Doctors.  In addition the students are given the opportunity to dissect sheep brains and kidneys during their anatomy and physiology class.

Throughout the second semester the students worked to become Certified Nursing Assistants.  In order to gain the knowledge to be prepared for their CNA exam they were required to have 100 hours of classroom time and 50 hours of clinical practicum which they receive at Fairfield Memorial Hospital.  The hospital works closely with Frontier Community College, one of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC), and the local high schools to make this Health Careers program possible. 

Kathy Bunting, FMH CEO, said, “This program helps students become skilled healthcare professionals, benefiting our hospital and local communities and economics.  The Health Careers’ Program provides a key bridge to the future healthcare workforce.  The hospital will have valuable contacts with these graduates who we hope to recruit back to our community with a career opportunity at the hospital.” 

Pictured from left to right is the 2008-2009 Health Careers Class.  Front Row: Felecia Caudle, Jessi Pearce, Samatha Holmes, Kristin Miller, Felecia Pettigrew, Kayla Hanish.  Second Row: Amy Deaton, Kelsey Murbarger, Taelor Johnson, Meghan McKechnie, Morgan Uphoff, and Ashley Withrow.  Back Row: Keith Foley, Nicole Dosier, Michelle Dean, Tanya Reid, Brittany Lomas, and Health Careers Instructor, Vicky Lemons, RN, BSN.