Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Hospitals as Community Leaders

Hospitals are helping students with disabilities transition from school to the workplace. Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, a 74-bed hospital in Palmer, Alaska is one of many U.S. hospitals and organizations providing training to young adults with disabilities through Project SEARCH, a national program that was developed by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. MSRMC provides unpaid internships in 16 areas for participants, based on the individual’s experience, strengths and skills. The program, for young adults ages 18 to 27 who experience disabilities, provides intensive mentoring and hands-on job training through an immersion process. Students who have completed the program have a 100% employment placement rate. MSRMC has led its community in hiring more than 30% of the Project SEARCH alumni. The Mat-Su project currently supports six to 12 students per school year.

For more information, contact Cathy Babuscio, human resources director, at c.babuscio@msrmc.com. Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is among the hospitals and health systems featured in the 11th edition of the AHA’s “Community Connections: Ideas and Innovations for Hospital Leaders.”