An Immersive, Interprofessional Case Study
By Kim Qualls, MS, OTD, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director, Madisonville Community College
For the last several years, the allied health program at Madisonville Community College (MCC) has hosted open houses for local high school students to learn of the many healthcare positions available to study. When asked which profession interests them, most high schoolers state nursing. As allied health faculty, however, we know nursing is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to professions available. We were in need of a better way to clearly and effectively communicate the diversity of such roles MCC offers.
The allied health and nursing faculty at MCC began brainstorming ways to increase high schoolers’ understanding of healthcare programs. To captivate more than 125 students, more than a basic presentation was needed. We had to show — not tell — the many different roles they could play in this field.
Simulation Was the Answer