DARLINGTON - Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County concluded its ninth 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 healthcare sciences.
From March through April, these students went to MHLC one day a week for five hands-on 45-minute sessions to learn about healthcare careers side by side with MHLC employees. The rehab, surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy and nursing departments were selected to create interactive sessions. Suturing pig's feet, balance activities, microbiology, blood-sugar testing and giving an orange an injection were just a few of the interesting things students experienced during their "Club Scrub" sessions.
MHLC started its pilot program with three of the seven Lafayette County school districts in 2010 and included Argyle, Belmont and Darlington for a total of 20 students.
In 2011, Shullsburg students joined and in 2012, Benton students joined, bringing the student total to 38. In 2013 there were a total of 41 students. In 2014, Black Hawk School students joined the program and in 2016, Pecatonica students joined, bringing the total number of Lafayette County schools participating to seven. In 2017 and 2018, Belmont, Black Hawk, Darlington and Shullsburg participated for a total of about 35 students.
The Memorial Hospital Auxiliary donates toward the purchase of a scrub top for each participating student to wear during each session. The students fill out evaluations after every session to help the hospital continue to improve the program. These students are also 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 healthcare sciences.
From March through April, these students went to MHLC one day a week for five hands-on 45-minute sessions to learn about healthcare careers side by side with MHLC employees. The rehab, surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy and nursing departments were selected to create interactive sessions. Suturing pig's feet, balance activities, microbiology, blood-sugar testing and giving an orange an injection were just a few of the interesting things students experienced during their "Club Scrub" sessions.
MHLC started its pilot program with three of the seven Lafayette County school districts in 2010 and included Argyle, Belmont and Darlington for a total of 20 students.
In 2011, Shullsburg students joined and in 2012, Benton students joined, bringing the student total to 38. In 2013 there were a total of 41 students. In 2014, Black Hawk School students joined the program and in 2016, Pecatonica students joined, bringing the total number of Lafayette County schools participating to seven. In 2017 and 2018, Belmont, Black Hawk, Darlington and Shullsburg participated for a total of about 35 students.
The Memorial Hospital Auxiliary donates toward the purchase of a scrub top for each participating student to wear during each session. The students fill out evaluations after every session to help the hospital continue to improve the program. These students are also 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.
