Memorial Hospital and Local Partners Host Seventh Annual Health Camp

7/27/10

Memorial Hospital announced today that during the week of July 5th, the Hospital hosted its 7th annual Health Camp for seventh and eighth graders from SAU Unit 9 District schools (Bartlett, Conway, Jackson, North Conway) and SAD Unit 72 in Fryeburg, Maine. Camp participants were introduced to a valuable “behind-the-scenes” look at hospital life and exposed to a wealth of potential health career choices.

The students were selected to participate in the program based on the strength of essays they wrote expressing an interest in pursuing future careers in medicine and the health sciences. Nicole Tavenner, Medical Technical Assistant Phlebotomist, who instructed the students on how to draw blood from a mannequin’s arm, said: “Camp participants were highly motivated and eager to learn.”

The program was offered in association with the Mt. Washington Valley School to Career Partnership that helps students identify career choices and options, and a number of other local social service organizations.

“This year’s participants and planners were instrumental in making this Health Camp a valuable opportunity that will help inform future career choices. Many thanks to our partners: Berlin Technical College; Conway Fire and Rescue; Mineral Springs Nursing Home of North Conway; North Conway Ambulance and Conway Fire and Rescue; Saco River Medical Center; White Mountain Community Health Center in Conway and SOLO Wilderness Medicine.” The participation of these organizations was vital to the success of the program, and a wonderful reminder for students that they have compelling career opportunities right here in their local community.”

Participants were given medical scrubs and stethoscopes and the chance to learn from front-line health workers how medical care is delivered in a variety of hospital settings.

Ethnee Garner, Vice President of Nursing Services, who has been instrumental in spearheading the program since its inception, said: “Hospital staff who worked with the students were enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge in such a way as to really engage the students. They conveyed not only their own personal enthusiasm and dedication to a health career, but their commitment to delivering compassionate care to patients.”

Students learned to perform CPR on “dummy” patients, draw blood from a mannequin’s arm, perform “virtual” laparoscopic surgical procedures monitored on high tech screens; and what types of interventions take place in the Emergency Room to help save patients with life threatening conditions. Some new areas of medicine were also explored, including: Solo Wilderness Medicine, Acupuncture, Chiropractic Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine.

Memorial Hospital staff who helped make this year’s Health Camp a success, included: Wayne ODonal, surgical tech, who guided participants through the “virtual” laparoscopic surgery; Heather Stevens, RN, who demonstrated examples of Emergency Room trauma care; Sara Phillips, Pharm.D., who introduced students to a liquid thickener that is given to post-stroke victims, or other patients, who are having difficulty swallowing liquids; and Leigh Copsey, RN, Birthing Center, who used a doll to show the descent of a newborn through the birth canal. Shauna Ross, RN, Medical/Surgical Nursing, used an enthusiastic camp volunteer to demonstrate how a high tech bladder scanner can monitor a patient’s bladder volumes without having to resort to more invasive procedures. Mary Vigeant ARNP applied casts to the campers’ wrists, Diane Choquette, performed ECGs and respiratory interventions while Nicole Tavenner guided the simulated blood draws.

“Thanks also go to Marta Ramsey RN, who helped ensure that the week’s scheduled activities happened without a hitch,” said Garner.

Sean Dunker-Bendigo, of Madison, who updated the students on health relief efforts in Haiti in the wake of January’s devastating earthquake, told students: “As future health professionals, you will have the chance to alleviate suffering and to help solve global health issues.”