Allied Health
The junior Allied Health student is afforded the opportunity to extern at St. Vincent Hospital at the beginning of the school year. This gives the student the ability to learn employability skills first hand. During the third quarter, long term care experience is added to the skill list. The student who has fulfilled these requirements may sit for the CNA exam given by the Red Cross. Once successful, they may move on to senior year.
The senior student, as of fall 2008 may apply for our EMT program given through QCC. This is a seven credit college course. Upon completion of this 140 hour course, the student is eligible to seek a COOP position in the healthcare field. There are presently nine students working in the health field, making a competitve salary. We also offer an advanced externship during the senior year.
Upon graduation from high school, the Allied Health student will have certifications in home health, nursing assistant and eligibility for EMT certification.
The Worcester Technical High School Allied Health Program has had the good fortune to have a long standing relationship, under contract, with Saint Vincent Hospital.
The first tier of this program is that of the student learner in an externship program in the junior year of high school. This is a work based learning module that allows the student to become familiar with how a hospital functions in relationship to staff and patients, and to understand the role of the student learner while working within the scope of one’s ability.
Goals are thus:
- Communication and literacy
- Organizational skills
- Problem solving
- Professional demeanor
- Interacting with professionals
- Understanding the concept of the healthcare industry
- Learning to make positive life choices
- Focusing on career development
The school year culminates with the student becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant through the American Red Cross. We presently have 20 students participating in this externship
The senior student has the ability to apply for a COOP position with the hospital. Again, with our extended relationship, these students are afforded the ability to work during their technical week as PCA’s, making a competitive salary. The hospital has recently hired 5 students in this position.
Our relationship has lead to long range benefits for both student and hospital.
St. Vincent Hospital presently employs another 20 plus graduate students since this program’s inception. There are approximately 45 present and graduate WTHS students at the hospital on any given day.
Many of our graduates are now employed in the hospital as RN’s, GN’s, Critical Care Techs, Medical Assistants, PCA’s, and college students working in the per diem pool.
We are grateful for this partnership that has led to a positive outcome for education and industry.