shows med-sci students
how hospital functions
New externship program
shows med-sci students
how hospital functions
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY DAVE BENJAMIN Casey Coleman, clinical nurse educator at CentraState Medical Center, explains the use of operating room equipment to Freehold Regional High School District students who are in the medical-sciences program. Dr. Ben Weinstein (l), medical director, asks the students to consider returning to CentraState after their medical training is completed.
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Students in the Freehold Regional High School District medical-science externship program have completed the program’s first season.
The program, which joins Freehold Borough High School senior medical-sciences students with members of the medical staff at CentraState Medical Center, has just ended its first year and is being called a major success.
"The externship is for senior class members," said John McGeehan, community relations coordinator, CentraState Health-care System. "They’ve been coming here twice a month and spending time with the physicians and medical staff, going through different departments at the hospital and doing hands-on activities."
McGeehan said, "Today is the culmination of their experience, and that will be with a simulated operating-room experience, followed by a luncheon and graduation certificates indicating they have completed the externship."
The coordinator said that every month the students had a three-hour session with various physicians talking about subjects that are tied into their curriculum at Freehold Borough High School.
The med-sci students work under the supervision of Nick Mennuti, supervisor of the medical science program, and Steven Kochinski, who teaches anatomy and physiology, and is a coordinator for the externship program.
"They cover every specialty [at the medical center] that you would think of, including oncology and cardiology," said McGeehan. "During their externship they were able to see some live procedures, including an endoscopy, with the patient’s permission."
"On another occasion they were able to witness a live birth, when they were up in the special care nursery section," McGeehan said.
Juniors in the program have monthly lectures with three different physicians, each for an hour. They cover topics like knee replacements and hip procedures.
Some of the lectures are at the medical center, while others are given at the high school.
Sophomores and freshmen have a career awareness day.
"They will go through various departments at the hospital and see the activities," said McGeehan. "It’s a tour which focuses on careers and aims to interest the students to become involved in the medical field. Hopefully, they will practice their skills in this area."
Today there are nationwide shortages, and the need will be great in the Monmouth County area due to the tremendous growth in population, McGeehan said.
Plans have already been made for the FRHSD to meet this summer with medical center staff regarding curriculum revisions and feedback from high school and medical center personnel.
The program has been growing in popularity, McGeehan noted. There are 17 seniors, 24 juniors, 36 sophomores and 49 freshmen in the program today.
The hospital facilities are also showing growth as the size of the emergency room is in the process of being doubled and plans to add an additional building are on the horizon.
This is the fifth busiest emergency room in the state, McGeehan said.
Mennuti said the med-sci program, one of the specialized learning centers offered in the regional district, has been in existence for 20 years, and this is the first year the FRHSD has had an externship affiliated with the hospital.
Three years ago the program was expanded to two sections, Mennuti said.
"My plan for the future is to try to nail down the externship and really make it the best possible [program] we can," said Mennuti.
The day began at 8 a.m. as students attended a lecture titled "The Brain and Intoxication or Overdosing with Alcohol," by Leonard Thomas, R.N., program coordinator.
Thomas reviewed the parts of the brain with the students, noting significant areas as the cerebrum, medulla, gray matter, cerebellum and the role they play in people who are alcoholics.
"The cerebrum is responsible for your judgment and your values," said Thomas. "That’s the first part of your brain that shuts off [when under the influence of alcohol]."
He explained that the next affected area is the cerebellum, responsible for balance and coordination, and not only can’t they walk [or drive] straight, "they think they can."
Intoxication is an emergency, just like a heart attack, or a stroke, Thomas said.
Other areas covered in the lecture included smoking and the effect it has on the body; the chemical composition of tobacco smoke; helping patients kick the habit; the use of non-narcotic options with patients who are on drugs; and the importance of having a yearly physical.
Experiencing one of the six operating room facilities was next on the agenda.
Kim Kelly, assistant vice president of perioperative services who oversees all six operating rooms, met with students to explain procedures for changing into operating-room scrubs.
Students changed into green scrubs, booties and head covers and then made their way through the double swinging doors.
Inside the OR, students learned about negative and positive air pressure and why room temperatures were diminished. The use of heated blankets to prevent hypothermia was also noted.
Casey Coleman, clinical nurse educator, gave an explanation of the job of the scrub nurse, and covered every area of the operating room.
Demonstrating how the operating table is set up for surgery, Coleman opened a packet containing the materials needed to "dress" the table.
"The hole [in the sheet] goes here, depending upon the operation," she said.
The length of operations varies, she explained. Surgery can range from 45 minutes to several hours; one even took 12 hours.
"We’ve operated on 6-month-olds and people over 100 years old," she added.
Students learned to dress the surgeon, while extreme attention was focused on sterile techniques and ways to prevent contamination.
OR washing procedures were discussed and students learned about various pieces of equipment that monitor the patient throughout an operation for blood pressure and pulse, and the use of the EKG.
Students also learned about "sharp safety" rules for passing scalpels and the use of safety needles, and organ donations for transplanting,
"We do about 20 to 30 cases a day and about 6,700 a year." said Coleman.
"It’s fantastic," said senior Gautam Natarajam. "The best part was with the orthopedic surgeon because that’s what I want to be. He showed us a knee surgery on tape. It was kind of interesting because my grandma went through the same thing."
The senior was also impressed with the special-care nursery and the new radiation oncology section. The machines down there are really neat, he said.
Natarajam said he had medical professionals in his family, including one uncle who is a neurologist and several relatives who are doctors.
The senior said his plans include four years of medical school, a residency and specialization.
"I’ll be like 35 by the time I’m done," said Natarajam.
At a "graduation ceremony" and luncheon held that day, Ben Weinstein, medical director, acknowledged those who were involved in program, including John T. Gribbin, president and CEO; Arthur Kondrup, director, Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce; Superintendent James Wasser, FRHSD; Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Suzanne Koegler; Dr. John Brandeisky, and Fran Keane, vice president human resources, co-chair of the program; and a total of 15 physicians who were involved in the program.
"The doctors really liked working with you," said Weinstein. "It makes you remember why you came into this in the first place. Very selfishly, we hope you go into the medical profession, complete your training, and come back to CentraState on our staff."
Students from Howell attend the six schools in the Freehold Regional High School District.