R.E.A.C.H. – Research and Explore Awesome Careers in Healthcare
REACH is a one-day healthcare career exploration program for Montana high school students. Local facilities host REACH and provide students the opportunity to explore the healthcare field through a variety of hands-on stations and activities. Professionals from the sponsoring healthcare facility lead the stations, volunteering their time and talent to mentor students and share their expertise.
The purpose of REACH is to provide Montana high school students a chance to learn about and explore various healthcare careers in a local facility. We want to encourage the next generation of youth to choose fulfilling careers in the high skill, high demand, and high pay healthcare industry.
Possible Station Topics in REACH Program:
- Lab: Students learn how to draw blood, test for cholesterol, CBC and thyroid issues, how to use the machines, and what it takes to be a phlebotomist.
- Emergency Room: Students learn gloving and sterilization procedures, how to conduct EKG tests, splinting procedures, how the machines work, and how to insert a needle using oranges.
- Radiology: Students X-ray a classmate’s hand or ankle and learn how to read the results. They also see the technology involved and take their X-ray home on a CD.
- Physical Therapy: Students are led in a variety of exercises for recovery, including stability ball, weights and bands. They also conduct manual muscle tests.
- Medical Office: Students discover the importance of billing, coding, filing, and transcription, as well as check-in and release procedures and how the admittance process works.
- EMT/Life Flight: Students tour an ambulance and life flight helicopter and learn what to do and expect as the first to arrive on a scene. Volunteer students are put in a neck brace and on a backboard and transferred to an ambulance.
- Nursing/Clinic: Students learn how to take a patient’s vitals and blood pressure, test for strep throat, and assess symptoms. They also gain an understanding of the role of a clinic nurse.
Additional Information
- The NC Montana AHEC has the ability to coordinate a REACH program for any community within the North Central region of Montana (From Glacier County east to Blaine County & from Meagher County North to Liberty County)
- REACH is generally open to 9th and 10th grade students, but this will vary depending on participating schools & the size of the sponsoring healthcare facility.
- No cost to the student
- Student must submit an application to be considered for acceptance into REACH
- Each student will receive a scrubs top with the REACH logo
- Lunch & snacks will be provided to the students
- Certificate of completion will be presented to each student