Medical Explorers Offers Early Exposure to Health Careers

Medical Explorers is a free program offered to all area high school students interested in learning about various medical careers. Chartered under the Boy Scouts of America Organization, the McDonough District Hospital Post meets during the school year.

The Medical Explorers program offers a unique experience. At each meeting, students will explore a department of the hospital or another medical facility and will be given the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities related to that career, as well as to talk to a medical professional and ask questions.

Programs offered this school year include; Dentistry, Emergency Services, Laboratory, Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Optometry, Pharmacy, Radiology, Rehabilitation Services, Surgery, and Veterinary Medicine. New this year is a visit with a family practice physician.

In addition to promoting the program through the local media, flyers will be sent to all of the area high schools. Students may talk to their counselors and science teachers for more information.

The MDH Medical Explorers program will kick-off the 2010-2011 school year with two programs in September:

• On Wednesday, September 1, the Medical Explorers will meet at 7:00 pm at the MDH Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation facility, which is located on the corner of University Drive and Route 67 in Macomb. The focus will be Rehabilitation Services – Occupational and Physical Therapies and Sports Medicine.

• On Wednesday, September 8, the Medical Explorers will learn about the various areas of dentistry. Students are invited to meet at 7:00 pm at the office of Timothy R. Fitzgerald, DDS, 335 W. Jackson Street, Macomb (across from Ayerco).

A complete schedule of programs will be posted as they are confirmed.

This year’s Post Advisor is Patty Henness, Public Relations. For more information about Medical Explorers,  call the Public Relations office at (309) 836-1557.

Highlights from the Medical Explorer's Program during the 2009-2010 school year...

The Medical Explorer's program kicked off the year on September 2, 2009, by learning about careers in Rehabilitation Services. Pictured left, Rachel Rutan, DPT, from MDH Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, shows a high school student, standing on a Bosu ball, how holding a 4 lb weighted ball and tossing it against a trampoline, can build core strength and improve balance.

On October 7, Mary Schutte, RT, RDMS, RVT, RDCS, Radiology Director at McDonough District Hospital, explained to the Explorers group how a Computed Radiography (CR) reader is used to acquire, process, and send images (x-rays) from a CR cassette to a Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS).

Timothy R. Fitzgerald, DDS, watched as a student used the high speed drill to remove simulated decay from plastic teeth at the MDH Medical Explorers program held October 14 at his dentistry office. The students also took x-rays of teeth and performed some steps involved in a root canal. Dr. Fitzgerald discussed the various areas of dentistry, such as orthodontics, oral surgery, lab technology, and dental hygiene. He also showed the students crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures.

The MDH Medical Explorers followed Jerry Lindsay, R.Ph., Director of Pharmacy at McDonough District Hospital, on a tour of the Pharmacy Department in November 2009. Explorers learned the pathway of a prescription from the time an order is placed until it is delivered to the patient. Jerry talked about the computer technology used from when the doctor prescribes a medication, to when an order comes into the pharmacy department, how they fill the prescriptions, and the personal checks and double checks for medication accuracy and safety. He showed the students the equipment they use for packaging medications into a single dosage, when the medicine comes in bulk. He gave the students a little history of how IV medication used to be filled compared to how they are prepared today, and some information about the disposal of unused medication, then and now. After Jerry talked about which medications are filled in the Clean Room and why, Explorers got to try their hand at taking a child safety cap off an empty medication bottle using the Clean Room equipment and gloves.

On Wednesday, December 2, Marsha Weaver, RN, BSN, Director of MDH Obstetrics (OB), spoke to the high school students in one of the Labor and Delivery Rooms (LDR) about what it is like to work in the OB Department at the hospital. The Medical Explorers toured the OB area and learned about the security system for protecting newborns; the education required for various careers in the obstetrics field; and the computer technology and equipment that is used before, during, and after the birth of a baby. 

 The Medical Explorers met at Professional Eyecare Center in Macomb on Thursday, December 17. They were given the opportunity to view what your optometrist sees when you have an eye examination. Tim Bengtson, OD, and Kevin Johnson, OD, discussed Optometry as a career, the various practice settings, and the demand for optometrists. They also talked about the type of education and continuing education courses required, and other business aspects to consider. Pictured, Dr. Kevin Johnson (center) gives instructions to Melissa Cameron as she performs an eye exam on Brandt Henness. Melissa uses a slit lamp microscope to “assess” the front of Brandt’s eyes.

On January 6, Matt Thompson, MT (ASCP), and Rob Deveraux, MLT, teamed-up to show the Medical Explorers around the Laboratory. They started by drawing a blood sample, and talking about the importance of every step; identifying the patient, wearing gloves, sterile technique, and patient confidentiality. Then they moved to the Hematology department where the blood specimen was put on to the Sysmex hematology analyzer. The main functions of the analyzer are to check the blood counts for infection and detect anemia.  Matt talked about what the different color of blood draw tubes are used for. Rob demonstrated how to prepare a good blood smear for viewing under the microscope. The students then had a chance to view an array of blood cells under the microscope. In the Microbiology department the students were shown various types of bacterial media and were told how the plates are used to select and differentiate various bacteria.  The students were able to see common pathogenic bacteria that had already been isolated using the media. As Rob performed a urine culture, Matt illustrated on paper to help explain the technique and purpose of the strokes that Rob was making. Matt and Rob finished in the blood bank, talking about donating blood, different blood types, plasma, and then answered questions about education requirements and salaries for lab careers. Pictured, Matt Thompson, MT (ASCP), shows the students the different components to human blood, plasma and cells. He explains that blood is made from a liquid (plasma) and solid matter (blood cells), which can both easily be seen in the picture.