Learning how to change – and save – lives

By Brenda Myers, Administrator, Roper Hospital – Berkeley

For most of us in healthcare, the passion for a career with medicine seemed to have started at a young age. From strong interest in science classes to taking care of every day adolescent injuries like skinned knees or a sprained ankle, the eventual caregivers know early that a job in a hospital or clinic is something they’d like to do for a living. And fortunately for a group of thirteen health science students at Timberland High School, they even got to try it out at Roper Hospital – Berkley at Stoney Landing Road in Moncks Corner.

Mingling education and care giving
Many in the medical profession believe that once a caregiver, always a caregiver. This unique field trip was set in motion when former Cane Bay High School Heath Science Teacher Ronnie McVicker contacted Timberland High School with an idea – take education outside of the classroom to the source itself and let them see it up close. After a period of time, Mrs. McVicker decided to move into the healthcare profession full time. Now a nurse with Roper St. Francis, Mrs. McVicker still wanted to continue to inspire and help students explore the areas of healthcare. With such a tremendous need for skilled health care workers in all areas, allowing young adults and teenagers the opportunity to learn more about them is increasingly important.

The healing touch
Roper Hospital – Berkeley at Stoney Landing Road in Moncks Corner recently hosted the group of students for a behind-the-scenes look at a part of healthcare that is vital but often overlooked: equipment. While learning about various health professions, they also met with vendor representatives from top equipment distributors who demonstrated their equipment in actual patient care settings.

As part of the special trip to the facility, the students were able to see and touch the equipment and even use it. They spent time in various patient settings such as pre-operative, endoscopy, and post-operative care. When most people think of healthcare professions, they think about nurses or doctors but there is so much more – the healthcare field is one of the broadest career paths.

Continuing the tradition of wellness
There is a Health Science Education program at every high school in the Berkeley County school district and we hope to offer – and possibly expand – this program next year for all of the programs. Roper Hospital – Berkley  has been serving the people of Berkeley County for 20 years and investing in our young people will ensure that our community will stay healthy for the future.

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