High School Students Get Education at Mercy Hot Springs

Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs reinstated its Medical Application of Science for Health summer enrichment program, also known as the M.A.S.H program.

14 high school students from around Central Arkansas, including Hot Springs, Lakeside, Lake Hamilton, Cutter Morning Star, Caddo Hills and Bismarck, were selected to participate in the two week program.

The program is geared toward those who might consider entering the medical profession one day.

The students will have a chance to see different aspects of health care that is just not nursing and physicians said Michele Diedrich, Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy.

But students will broaden their reach and interact with different health care experts, such as pharmacists, medical technologists, radiology technologists, respiratory therapists, and dieticians.

Personnel from the Piney Fire Department in Garland County and EMS were on hand at Tommy's Wrecking Service, to show students what happens when someone gets into a car accident and is trapped.

Rescue crews used the jaws of life to tear into the car.

They even allowed the students to give it a shot.

Aaron Roland, is a senior at Hot Springs High, got right in there and used the jaws of life to try and free the driver, he says he already knows what part of the medical field he wants to go into.

"I'm planning on going into Ophthalmology. And when I heard about the program through my school counselors I went full force trying to get into it."

For others not so sure, like Emily Hollifield, the program has helped narrow their search.

"I'm thinking either X-Ray Technician or Radiation Therapy.

But at first she said she had no clue what part of the field she wanted to enter.

Hands on training and shadowing are two things that keep students interested said Lana Lambert, an RN at Mercy.

"You get to find out the years they went to college, and what colleges and the good programs."

The M.A.S.H program proved to be a good one for these students looking to choose just the right part of the medical field to enter one day.

Students have participated in a casting class.

Next will be the Heart Saver CPR and Heart Dissection class.

The program runs through June 22^nd.

Check with your high school counselor for more information about the M.A.S.H program.