Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Ivinson Memorial Hospital - AHEC Careers in Healthcare Summer Camp

he camp, a collaboration with Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences, provides a hands-on experience of health care careers to participants. They are given the opportunity to use the same tools that physicians, nurses and technologists use in a hospital environment. Campers learn suturing techniques, perform ultrasound-guided biopsies on a beef roast stuffed with green olives to simulate tumors, perform laparoscopy on a simulated abdomen to retrieve gummy bears and more. Who is it for? College-bound students in Wyoming. Why do they do it? Many of Wyoming?s college-educated young people leave the state to find employment, even as the shortage of health care workers continues to grow. The camp provides insight to students about available careers in Wyoming. Impact Increased statewide interest in the program has led the hospital to offer two sessions focusing on two separate age groups. Contact: Emily House Assistant Marketing Director Telephone: (307) 742-2141 E-mail: ehouse@ivinsonhospital.org

Community Connections is an initiative of the AHA to support and highlight the work hospitals do every day in America.

Hospitals are working not just to mend bodies, but also to make their patients and communities healthier. This work extends far beyond the hospital building – bringing free clinics, job training, smoking-cessation classes, back-to-school immunizations, literacy programs and so many other resources, often with little fanfare, directly to the people of the community.

As the national advocate for hospitals, the AHA has consistently supported our members as they develop fair and compassionate policies to help improve access to care for the uninsured, as they work to expand wellness and prevention activities and as they routinely demonstrate their commitment to improving the health and addressing the unmet needs of their patients and communities.

Hospital members are encouraged to submit their stories today.