DARLINGTON - The Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County concluded its eighth year of the Club Scrub Program, which is designed to educate and encourage young students to have an interest in health care careers.
"Club Scrub" was designed by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health for the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative and includes a detailed program outline designed to spark seventh- and eighth-grade students' interest in the health care sciences.
MHLC started its pilot program with three of the seven Lafayette County school districts in 2010: Argyle, Belmont and Darlington participated for a total of 20 students. Shullsburg students joined in 2011, and Benton students joined in 2012, bringing the student total to 38. In 2013, there were a total of 41 students. In 2014, Black Hawk students joined the program, as did Pecatonica students in 2016, bringing the total number of Lafayette County schools participating to seven. In 2017, Belmont, Black Hawk, Darlington and Shullsburg participated with a total of 37 students.
From March through April, the students went to MHLC on five days for hands-on, 45-minute sessions to learn about health care careers side-by-side with MHLC employees. The rehab, surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy and nursing departments were selected to create interactive sessions. Suturing pigs' feet, a balance activity, microbiology, blood sugar testing and giving an orange an injection are a few of the things the students got to perform during the Club Scrub sessions.
The Memorial Hospital Auxiliary also purchased each participating student a scrub top to wear during each session as a gift for taking part in the opportunity. The students filled out evaluations after every session to help the hospital continue to improve the program. The students also were encouraged to come back to MHLC during their high school years and job shadow in the departments in which they are interested as career choices.
"Club Scrub" was designed by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health for the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative and includes a detailed program outline designed to spark seventh- and eighth-grade students' interest in the health care sciences.
MHLC started its pilot program with three of the seven Lafayette County school districts in 2010: Argyle, Belmont and Darlington participated for a total of 20 students. Shullsburg students joined in 2011, and Benton students joined in 2012, bringing the student total to 38. In 2013, there were a total of 41 students. In 2014, Black Hawk students joined the program, as did Pecatonica students in 2016, bringing the total number of Lafayette County schools participating to seven. In 2017, Belmont, Black Hawk, Darlington and Shullsburg participated with a total of 37 students.
From March through April, the students went to MHLC on five days for hands-on, 45-minute sessions to learn about health care careers side-by-side with MHLC employees. The rehab, surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy and nursing departments were selected to create interactive sessions. Suturing pigs' feet, a balance activity, microbiology, blood sugar testing and giving an orange an injection are a few of the things the students got to perform during the Club Scrub sessions.
The Memorial Hospital Auxiliary also purchased each participating student a scrub top to wear during each session as a gift for taking part in the opportunity. The students filled out evaluations after every session to help the hospital continue to improve the program. The students also were encouraged to come back to MHLC during their high school years and job shadow in the departments in which they are interested as career choices.
