Camp Gives Local Students a Hands-On Look at Careers in Health Care

NORTH CONWAY, NH - More than 20 local middle and high school students spent a week this summer discovering that there is much more to health care than what happens in a hospital room.

MaineHealth Memorial Hospital's annual Health Camp offered in partnership with MWV School to Career Summer Program gave students an opportunity to explore a wide range of health care careers through hands-on activities, demonstrations, games and behind-the-scenes experiences throughout the hospital.

Throughout the week, campers rotated through hospital departments and interactive activities, getting a firsthand look at the many skills, roles and professions that contribute to patient care.

Students practiced suturing, drawing blood, removing sutures and applying wrist casts. They learned about injections, pharmacy and medication safety, cardiopulmonary care, CPR and first aid. They also explored radiology, the operating room and emergency care, including an intubation station and a wilderness first aid exercise.

The week also emphasized the human side of health care. Campers discussed confidentiality, infection control and stigma, participated in team-building activities and learned about adolescent nutrition. They even got a chance to meet some four-legged caregivers when ACTS therapy dogs visited the camp.

For camp director Erin Power, RN, one of the most rewarding parts of Health Camp is watching students discover possibilities they may not have considered before.

"There are so many roles that contribute to caring for patients, and many of them are careers students may not have known existed. Health Camp gives them a chance to experience some of those roles firsthand, ask questions and see what might interest them. And having former campers come back as members of our team makes it even more special."

The week concluded with a celebration and graduation, giving campers an opportunity to reflect on everything they had learned, the skills they had tried and the many health care careers they had discovered.

The Memorial Hospital Health Camp was supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $204,016,550.20 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

###

About MaineHealth Memorial Hospital
MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital serving the Mount Washington Valley of northern New Hampshire and western Maine. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital has earned a reputation among local residents and visitors for providing quality, compassionate and personalized care to its patients.

MaineHealth Memorial Hospital includes a robust array of health care services including primary and specialty care services and therapies, emergency care, a birthing center and surgical services. Its care team of 525 includes physicians and advance practice providers who are among the more than 2,000 providers who are part of the MaineHealth Medical Group. Memorial patients have access to onsite care in oncology, cardiology, vascular and pulmonary medicine. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital also partners with several local organizations to provide outreach and educational services supporting the health of our patients and community.

MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is, "Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America." As part of the MaineHealth family, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is able to offer patients a comprehensive network of care that includes world-class specialists, a Level 1 Trauma medical center, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services.