Healthcare Review

    The amount of paperwork shocked quite a few. Others
were a tad confused by all the steps involved in the sterilization
process. There was also pleasant surprise regarding a traveling nurse's
high salary.
    These were just some of the many reactions
participants had upon finishing MedQuest. The program is described as
the “ultimate job shadow” experience for teenagers. With the help of
volunteer professionals in the hospital, public health, and medical
office settings, students learn about new medical technologies, see
health care workers in action, and get an insider's look at fast-paced,
rewarding career opportunities.
    This summer, the Southern Vermont Area Health
Education Center (SVAHEC) in Springfield, VT, will be holding MedQuest
2006 for high school students currently in grades 9 and 10. The
sessions will take place June 25 to 30 (at Southern Vermont College in
partnership with Southwestern VT Health Care) and Aug. 6 to 11 (at
College of St. Joseph in partnership with Rutland Regional Medical
Center).
    During the MedQuest application process, students
are asked to name three health care professionals she/he would like to
shadow and why. And according to Marty Hammond, who is the Health
Careers coordinator at SVAHEC, the effort to get the word out regarding
the current nursing shortage appears to be paying off, as high school
students have become increasingly interested in the nursing field.
    “Nursing is popular,” Hammond said. “Some students
ask for nursing or RN, and some are much more specific. For example, by
asking for labor and delivery, children, or emergency room nursing.”
    Students will job shadow on three separate occasions
during the six-day MedQuest program. The shadow sessions typically run
for three hours and are arranged as close to the student's request as
possible. An extensive tour of the hospital is also included.
    “The student will follow the preceptor in their
work-day setting,” Hammond explained. “Some students shadow in the
hospital, others in a clinic or office setting such as a dental office
or a pediatric setting. A visiting nurse association also provides an
opportunity to the student to home visit with the professional.”
    However, the MedQuest experience features more than just job shadowing. Students will
participate in workshops – dedicated to topics such as confidentiality and professionalism,
and emergency medicine – take part in computer labs, conduct group discussions to talk about
their experiences, and participate in CPR sessions.
    The program also helps high school teenagers become
acclimated to the entire college experience. During the five-day
program, students will stay overnight in dorm suites, have meals
together at the college cafeteria, and be forced to adhere to a
regimented, daily schedule.
    “The MedQuest students are going into Grades 10 and
11,” Hammond said. “About 25 percent of them will be first-time college
students in their families. It may also be their first time on a
college campus.”
    According to Hammond, the MedQuest program has been
a tremendous success. As of June 2005, 61 of the students have
graduated from high school. Forty-four of them are in college with over
half (56 percent) pursuing a career in a health care-related field.
Additionally, two more students are working as LNAs.
    Also, in the five previous years SVAHEC sponsored
this program, 196 MedQuest and Advanced Medquest experiences were
provided to 153 individual high school students. Truly, SVAHEC is doing
its best to bring today's youth into the vast world of health care.
    
The Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is a non-profit
organization with a board of directors that represents Vermont's
Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties. SVAHEC works in
partnership with the University of Vermont College of Medicine. The
MedQuest program is supported by the Vermont Children's Trust Fund. For
more information, visit www.southernvermontahec.org or call (888)
758.0676.