Mission Hospital to participate in Students@Work Week

From the press release:

Asheville, N.C., Feb. 27, 2012 – Mission Hospital is pleased to announce its participation in North Carolina’s Students@Work Week. Beginning this week, Mission Hospital will host two local middle schools to demonstrate to young students the different opportunities that exist in the healthcare workplace. Mission Hospital recently joined the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and will partner with both the NCBCE and First Gentleman, Robert Eaves, to give students firsthand exposure in the world of healthcare.

On Tuesday and Wednesday students from Enka and Asheville Middle School will travel to Mission Hospital to experience numerous healthcare professions. The students’ visit will begin with discussions with Taylor Foss, Mission Health’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Jon Yeatman, Director of Health System Integration. Next, the students will “job shadow” persons within various departments at Mission Hospital. Students will also hear from the professionals who work with the Mountain Area Mountain Airlift (Mission’s air-medical transport system), respiratory therapy, mobile simulation laboratory, integrative health, and physical therapy.

“Students will get firsthand knowledge of the healthcare industry and realize that there are many more opportunities in healthcare than just being a doctor,” said Lauren Pittman, Workforce Development Specialist at Mission Health. “Mission Hospital’s participation in Students@Work Week is an exciting opportunity for Mission to reach out and educate the younger demographic in Western North Carolina.”

Middle School is a crucial time for dropout prevention. It is also a time when high school curriculum planning takes place. Mission Hospital’s involvement in middle school students’ lives will provide them with knowledge and opportunities they might not receive in a classroom setting. When these students see things such as patient rehabilitation and trauma helicopters in action, they might find a new enthusiasm to explore a career in healthcare.

“The success of North Carolina’s economy in the 21st Century depends on its businesses,” said Robert Eaves, North Carolina’s First Gentleman. “The future leaders, employees and customers of those businesses can be found in classrooms across the state. Job shadowing gives students a way to connect what they are learning in school with potential opportunities in the workplace.”

“Mission Hospital is committed to our community — and that commitment starts with reaching out to students,” said Taylor Foss. “The Students@Work Week is a great initiative to support, because it motivates children to thrive in school after viewing new and interesting career possibilities. This is essential, because success in school is a key to success in life.”

About Mission Health
Mission Health, based in Asheville, NC, is the state’s sixth largest health system and the tertiary care regional referral center for Western NC and the adjoining region. In 2012, Mission Health was named by Thomson Reuters as one of the top 15 health systems in the nation – the only health system in North Carolina to receive this recognition.

Founded in 1885, Mission Health is a not-for-profit, independent community hospital system that operates four hospitals, numerous out-patient and surgery centers, and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 750 physicians, and is certified in over 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Centers of excellence include heart, stroke care and neurosciences, and pediatrics. Mission Hospital, the system’s flagship hospital, is licensed for 730 beds and is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina. Other
Mission hospitals include Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Marion, and Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville.

Approximately 8,800 employees and 700 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to serving and improving the health and wellness of the people of Western North Carolina.

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