Area high school students recently explored careers in healthcare during Orange City Area Health System’s Career Exploration Day. Each spring and fall the health system invites students from six local high schools — MOC-FV, Unity Christian, Remsen-Union, Gehlen Catholic, South O Brien, and Western Christian — for High School Career Exploration Day. Throughout the morning, the students take a tour to many different departments including Radiology, Physical Therapy, Surgery, Nursing, Clinic, and Laboratory. At each location, a health system employee explains a day in their work life, educational track, hours, and the highs and lows within the field. The students are given a chance to ask questions and participate in some hands-on activities. Students also hear from health care staff including a Nurse Practitioner, Paramedic, Health Information, and the Senior Care Director. Orange City Area Health System’s goal is to give students an overview of health professions and expose them to the wide variety of options within the field, both direct care and support staff, and to answer any questions the students may have. The students are also informed of the many employment opportunities at the health system that are available to them, in dietary, housekeeping, and as Certified Nurse Assistants in the hospital and Senior Care that might be of interest to them, even as students.
Orange City Area Health System is a comprehensive non-profit health system including a critical access hospital; four medical clinics served by 16 family practice providers; fertility, prenatal, and OB services; surgical and diagnostic imaging centers; physical and aquatic therapy; home health and hospice; and a senior care campus consisting of a retirement community and senior care center. More information at ocHealthSystem.org.