HOSA St. Anthony's Regional Hospital Field Trip
by Kaylee Frederick
March 30, 2010
On Friday, March 26, the Missouri Valley HOSA students visited St. Anthony’s Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. West-Central Iowa AHEC planned a day full of activities for the students. The busy day started as soon as they arrived at the hospital and they were kept very busy until they boarded the bus again at the end of the trip.
First thing when the students arrived, Micki Paulsen of AHEC welcomed them and explained the itinerary for the day. The students then split into two groups. One group stayed with Dr. Craig Canby of the Des Moines University Anatomy Lab. Dr. Canby brought along some specimens from his lab which included a human brain, three hearts, a lung, a diseased lung, and part of the gastrointestinal tract. He first explained what he does and then explained each of the organs. The students were given time to ask questions then handle the organs.
The other group of students went on a hospital tour with Sharon Meyers and Micki Paulsen, both from AHEC. The students got to see a lot of the hospital including the ER, simulation lab, nursing home, and specialty clinics. Students got to ask the staff questions about the areas of the hospital and their jobs. After both groups had their time, they switched activities.
After the two sessions were over, students were provided with lunch and a panel of five healthcare professionals. The students sat at the table with the professional they wanted to ask questions. As they ate together, they got a chance to have their questions answered. The panel included Dr. Craig Canby, Bill Fish (Paramedic), Dr. Marty Halbur (Dentist), Mary Lee Hill (Nurse), and Linda Peterson (Surgical Nurse).
After lunch, students went back to the simulation lab where they got to interact with the MetiMan. They got to be his voice, take his pulse, etc. This showed the students what they will be working with in medical school or nursing training. They also got an informal presentation from Sara Fleecs and Katie Towers, the two women who help run the MetiMan.After being in the simulation lab for about an hour, the students said their goodbyes and boarded the bus again for the long ride home.
It was a full day of fun and educational activities. The students got to see a lot and hear from medical professionals. Overall, this was a great experience and definitely worth the trip. A big thank you goes out to the staff from West-Central Iowa AHEC for helping to set this up for us. It was a great day that I’m sure all of the students will remember.
