Grandview Donates Supplies to Health Science Program

Marion County Schools Program prepares students for medical career field

JASPER, TN – Grandview Medical Center recently donated hundreds of medical supply items to the Health Science program in Marion County Schools as an effort to foster future medical careers among local students.

“We would like to thank Grandview Medical Center for this generous donation,” said Kay Light, Director of Career & Technical Education for the system. “This donation will contribute a great deal to preparing our students for careers in the medical field.”

Standing among some of the healthcare supply items donated by Grandview Medical Center to the Marion County Schools Health Science program are Holly Stewart, Chief Quality Officer; Kay Light, Director of Career and Technical Education for Marion County Schools; and Grandview CEO Bruce Baldwin.

Grandview CEO Bruce Baldwin said the donation was part of a winning cooperative effort among the hospital, the school system, and the community.

“Our hospital is about taking care of our friends and neighbors,” Baldwin said. “It’s only natural that we do what we are able to assist local students who want to pursue a career in healthcare. Our strength is our service. When we have current or future employees with a vested interest in not only the hospital where they work, but their own community as well, it allows for even more possibilities for continued service initiatives.”

Light said Marion County Schools currently offers two health-related programs of study: therapeutic services and therapeutic emergency services. In each program of study, the student completes a sequence of four courses. The last, or capstone course, for Therapeutic Services is Nursing Education which includes 40 hours of clinical experience. At the end of this course, the students take the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam. This gives them a certification and makes them eligible for a CNA position.

“This is an excellent preparation for entrance into a post-secondary program in nursing, occupational therapy, nutrition, and other medical fields,” Light said.

The capstone course for therapeutic emergency services, according to Light, is Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This course includes 60 hours of training with a certified emergency medical technician (EMT). At the course’s conclusion, students may take the National First Responder exam. Those who complete this program of study are well prepared for post-secondary education to become EMTs or paramedics.

Light said courses for both programs of study are available at all three high schools. Instructors are certified registered nurses.

“In order to adequately teach the various programs of study and help students become college and career ready, it is vital to provide the students and teachers with supplies and equipment equal to that found in industry,” Light said. “This generous donation from Grandview not only provides some of those needed supplies for our Health Science programs, but also helps to form an alliance with the hospital. This partnership will help our students reach their goals and will hopefully provide Grandview with potential employees that will, in turn, contribute to our community.”

More information about the Health Science programs may be found at http://tn.gov/education/cte/hs/ or by calling Light at 942-3434, extension 2020.

About Grandview Medical Center

Grandview Medical Center is a fully accredited 70-bed licensed hospital located in Jasper, Tenn. Nationally recognized for its quality of care, GMC was named one of The Joint Commission’s “Top Performers” on quality core measures in 2011. The hospital serves Marion and Sequatchie counties in Tennessee and north Jackson County in Alabama. Grandview Medical Center also operates Mountainview Treatment Center, an adult inpatient psychiatric facility located on the campus grounds of Grandview Medical Center; and The M, Monteagle Multi-specialty Clinic in Monteagle. For more information, visit www.GrandviewMedicalCenter.com.