The new school year has begun and high school students in Fayette County who are interested in health care careers have some new materials to work with.
Last week, with some help from Twiins Relocation, Piedmont Fayette Hospital donated beds and supplies to three of the five county high schools and the new Center of Innovation in Fayetteville. The other two high schools will also receive beds and supplies from Piedmont Fayette in the coming weeks.
According to Lisa Collins, the director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education for Fayette County schools, the program, which has consisted of an allied health overview, has been enhanced to include classes for those interested in sports medicine, emergency medical response and patient care. Those are all third-level classes and they are all being offered at the Center of Innovation. Those interested in patient care finish the program with their Certified Nursing Assistant certification (CNA) and students in the Emergency Medical Responder program will receive Certified Medical Responder certification.
“It was through our relationship with Piedmont Fayette Hospital and learning about their needs that started the overall conversation for the community to work together collaboratively across the district to meet student and industry needs,” Collins said, discussing the launch of the program. “The hospital said they need CNAs and our goal is to give our students a competitive edge as they enter college and the workforce.”
Among the items donated were supplies like gauze, gowns, gloves, shoe covers and alcohol wipes. The donations of beds and supplies is only one part of Piedmont Fayette’s involvement with the program.
“We are proud of our long relationship with Fayette County schools,” said Piedmont Fayette CEO Michael Burnett. “We have been able to aid with the health of student and staff by providing hand hygiene stations in every school and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) as they need replacement. Now, we are also able to assist with the educational and career goals of the students interested in pursuing careers in health care.”
The partnership continues throughout the year as the students in several of the programs do rotations at the hospital and get an up close look at what is involved in a career in health care. Hopefully, they’ll remember their time with the hospital and become the next generation of Piedmont Fayette employees.
