Evangelical Community Hospital Hosts 2024 High School Healthcare Careers Internship Program

Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg is proactively preparing students interested in healthcare-related careers for success. Through a unique high school healthcare careers internship program, students are experiencing first-hand aspects of care and potential healthcare-related careers to figure out if healthcare is a personal fit for them.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 12.6 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations; this increase is expected to result in about 2 million new jobs over the decade.

Healthcare workers will be needed to assist a growing number of older Americans stay healthy and active and to provide services to those with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Five of the top 30 fastest growing occupations are detailed occupations within the healthcare occupational group: nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapist assistants, home health and personal care aides, and occupational therapy assistants.

“For many students approaching the end of their high school years there can be a bit of uncertainty regarding what they may want to pursue as a career,” said Tiffany Clemens, Training and Development Specialist at Evangelical.

This is the 21st year for the program and had a record-high number of applicants for the available spots. This year’s class includes 20 individuals, made up of students having completed their sophomore, junior or senior years at schools throughout the surrounding districts. The students must have a grade point average of 3.3 (88%) or better and the willingness to experience different areas of the healthcare environment.

According to Clemens, “This internship provides students who have a desire to pursue healthcare careers the opportunity to ‘try it out’ before committing to further education in the field. For some it reinforces what they already know they want to do, and for others, it opens their eyes to career areas within healthcare that they didn’t know existed. Either way, it is a win for the student and the Hospital.”

The 72-hour internship program provides 24 hours in the classroom and 48 hours of one-on-one interaction with staff and patients. Hospital educators teach the students a variety of skills including CPR certification, lifting and transfer techniques, and personal care skills. The classroom training includes various presentations by supporting clinical areas in the Hospital, as well as learning how to care for a patient. This includes bathing, making the bed, transfer techniques, vital signs, and more.

The students began classroom training in mid-June and will be placed in different rotations in varying departments including Inpatient Nursing Units, Imaging Services, Emergency Services, Therapies (Speech, Respiratory, Occupational, and Physical), One-Day Surgery, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Hospice, and the Wound Clinic following their classroom instruction.

The high school students of this year’s class come from area school districts including Lewisburg, Line Mountain, Meadowbrook Christian, Mifflinburg, Shikellamy, and Warrior Run.

Students can use their summer experiences at the Hospital to meet job shadowing requirements while experiencing first-hand a career path they might wish to pursue.

For more information on the High School Summer Healthcare Careers Internship program, visit www.EvanHospital.com/MedicalEducation.

PHOTO:
Evangelical Community Hospital’s 2024 summer High School Healthcare Careers Internship Program participants.

Back row (left to right): Will Cecchini, Lewisburg Area High School; Bree Jun, Lewisburg Area High School; Matthew Miller, Shikellamy High School; Caroline Blakeslee, Lewisburg Area High School; Morgan Strieby, Lewisburg Area High School. Ava Motto, Lewisburg Area High School; Audra McIlwaine, Lewisburg Area High School; Brady Coughlin, Lewisburg Area High School; Grady Rowe, Lewisburg Area High School; and Max Pfirman, Lewisburg Area High School.

Front row (left to right); Alivia Ritenour, Warrior Run High School; Evanna Weaver, Meadowbrook Christian School; Mary Knepp, Mifflinburg Area High School; Macie Grove, Mifflinburg Area High School; Cristina Zheng, Lewisburg Area High School; Ashley Stroup, Mifflinburg Area High School; Madison VanBuskirk, Lewisburg Area High School; Janessa Barwick, Line Mountain High School; Kailey Buriak, Line Mountain High School; and Adrianna Bame, Warrior Run High School.