Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Fall/Winter 2018

GibsonHospital.org 6 College students explore rural health care For six weeks, college students looking to explore rural healthcare careers immersed themselves in the Gibson City community, a host site for the Interprofessional Health Professions Summer Preceptorship sponsored by the AHEC/National Center for Rural Health Professions. The Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services Nursing Intern Program provided another opportunity for students already enrolled in a nursing program. While shadowing and practicing in certified nursing assistant roles, the interns gained clinical experience under the guidance of a registered nurse. EileenWoolums, Community Education Coordinator, noted that all participants gave positive reviews of their experience and showed interest in working locally someday. In safe hands Twenty students filled another season of Safe Sitter® courses at Gibson Area Hospital (GAH). Each student completed a one-day class focused on Safe Sitter’s mission: to provide life skills, safety skills and child care training to all youth in order to build safer communities. The participants were taught by GAH’s own Safe Sitter teacher Tanya Windle, who also provides support to Baby Central families as an obstetric technician, a certified lactation counselor and a certified child passenger safety technician. Windle says the course is not just about babysitting but also about preventing bad situations and building awareness for personal safety. At each training, the participants learn choking rescue skills and CPR for infants and children, and they prepare to make a call to Poison Control. They also learn how to assess a situation. Windle says, “They ask themselves, ‘Can I handle this situation, or do I need to call an adult or 911?’” Congratulations to the new safe sitters in our communities! Hospital tours help little ones learn Teaching youngsters to have a positive attitude about health care starts early, and getting to know the local hospital as a kid-friendly place is a great beginning. Now a tradition for many area preschool and elementary children, Gibson Area Hospital’s school tours provide the opportunity for over 700 students and volunteers to experience the hospital as a safe and friendly environment that promotes healing, learning and nurturing. Gibson news For information about our next Safe Sitter® class, call Baby Central at 217-784-2510 . Eileen Woolums, Community Education Coordinator