Teens get to learn about the healthcare profession during a weeklong summer program sponsored by University Health System.
In the San Antonio, Texas, area, competition is particularly stiff. Our growing region is a major medical hub that is home to more than a dozen private civilian hospitals and a major military medical center. We compete regionally for patients and staff, and nationally and internationally for residents and physicians with our academic physician partners.
Working to improve San Antonio's critical shortage of nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals by filling the pipeline with area young people, University Health System has a robust Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals program. This program gives back to the community, fulfills an important part of the University Health System mission ("teaching the next generation of health professionals"), and provides a source for future talent recruitment.
A crash course in health careers
Camp 98.6, a key component of the Next Generation program, provides students interested in pursuing medical careers a unique opportunity to learn about that path. This intensive summer education program exposes some of the best and brightest students from one of the area's most economically disadvantaged communities to the wide range of important, exciting, and high-paying jobs available in the medical field.
Since 2004, University Health System has sponsored Camp 98.6 each summer, with approximately 150 students taking part in the program during the past dozen years. While other students across San Antonio start their summer breaks by kicking back and relaxing, Camp 98.6 participants learn the lesson of their lives.
In 2015, students from the Fox Tech High School Magnet campus who were interested in pursuing medical careers learned about AirLife and the trauma teams at University Health System. Students in this weeklong camp, a collaboration among University Health System, St. Philip's College, and the San Antonio Independent School District, received a crash course in health careers. The students attended classes, listened to speakers, worked in simulation laboratories, and observed hospital operations first hand.
Fox Tech High School, a magnet school that specializes in medical science, chooses rising sophomores to submit applications to University Health System for inclusion in this elite program. After spending two days at St. Philip's College, students get a glimpse into what it's like to work in the healthcare field during their three days at University Health System.
The participants experienced a mock trauma scenario, including a visit to the AirLife helipad and the hospital's emergency department. One student, hoping to become a pediatric oncologist, was strapped to a backboard and loaded onto a stretcher to demonstrate air medical transport services. Flight paramedics emphasized how the AirLife ambulance crew operates and how essential safety is to their operation.
In this mock trauma scenario that deals with underage drinking and driving, students follow the "patient" from arrival on the helipad to recovery in the rehabilitation services center. During the week, students traveled from the operating rooms to the recovery rooms, to the rehabilitation services center.
Camp 98.6 in the News
2014 TV news story about Camp 98.6
2013 TV news story about Camp 98.6
Program coordination
University Health System's talent development staff coordinate all aspects of Camp 98.6, including the initial planning; designing the application for admission; developing the schedule; selecting speakers; securing signed confidentiality forms; planning graduation ceremonies; ordering T-shirts and backpacks with the Camp 98.6 logo; working with the corporate communications department on publicity; and managing program evaluation. To further support the students' success, talent development has designed courses tailored to this group on resume writing and interview skills.
Physicians actively support the program, because teaching others is a big part of a physician's job description. "We'd be in big trouble if the next generation had no interest in medicine," one emergency medicine physician declared. "I'd love them just to pursue medicine and gain more interest in the field."
Another hope is that students leave Camp 98.6 with a new understanding of the consequences of driving recklessly and driving while intoxicated. The number one cause of death among teens is trauma, primarily from car crashes. University Health System, a level I trauma center, treated more than 4,600 seriously injured children and adults in 2015.
Impact
In its 11th year of success, Camp 98.6 has consistently received excellent evaluations from the participants. In 2015, 100 percent of participants rated it as excellent. Ninety percent said it helped them consider other healthcare career options. All of them indicated they would recommend it for others. Comments on the end-of-program evaluation include:
- "I haven't been to a camp like this where I learn so much in such a short time."
- "It helped clarify careers. Now I want to be an RN."
- "It helped me learn that I have more options than I thought."
- "I enjoyed learning about the cardiovascular field. It helped me choose a career."
- "There are so many options. Now there are more open doors."
Supported by Bexar County taxpayers, University Health System received 23 percent of its revenue in 2015 from property taxes. Reflecting this public support, University Health System believes not only is it the right thing to do to give back to the community; it makes good business sense. The organization's deep corporate commitment to the community aligns with corporate values ("We work for the community") and also fosters high levels of employee engagement.
Camp 98.6 is just one component of the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals program. The Junior Volunteer summer program provides teens an opportunity to dedicate 75 hours or more to University Health System operations, while providing them the opportunity to explore healthcare careers, learn new skills, develop new interests, and build new relationships.
Last year, Volunteer Services earned the distinction of "certifying organization" in the youth category of the President's Volunteer Service Award. This is the premier volunteer awards program sponsored by the president of the United States that encourages citizens to live a life of service through presidential gratitude and national recognition. A certifying organization is granted authority, through an application and review process, to administer the Presidential Award to youth volunteers. As a result of this new designation, 30 students earned the Presidential Award in 2015. Also:
- Twenty-nine bronze awards were given to students who volunteered more than 100 hours.
- Six independent school districts participated in the summer program: Alamo Heights ISD, Boerne ISD, Judson ISD, Northeast ISD, Northside ISD, and San Antonio ISD.
- One private school participated: Harmony Science Academy.
- A total of 3,942 hours were volunteered over 10 weeks, an increase of 428 hours from 2014.
About University Health System
University Health System is a nationally recognized teaching hospital and network of outpatient healthcare centers. For the past six years, it has been ranked the best in the San Antonio region and sixth best in the state by U.S. News and World Report.
Are You Giving Back?
Giving back to our communities doesn’t just mean reaching into our wallets. Many nonprofits and community organizations can use the skill sets of talent development professionals. How do you define “giving back” and how do you think it affects your organization? What are you or your employees and organization doing to give back to the profession or society at large? CTDO would love to share your giving back story.
Contact Ann Parker, senior manager of the Association for Talent Development’s Senior Leaders and Executives Community of Practice, with your ideas and stories.
Read more from CTDO magazine: Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.
