Exploring Rural Healthcare Options
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Parkland Composite High School (PCHS) students in grades 10–12 had an exciting opportunity to explore careers in rural healthcare through a Let’s Go Rural high school event, hosted in partnership with Alberta's Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) in collaboration with the Town of Edson, the Edson Healthcare Centre, and local health professionals, on March 6, 2025.
Twenty PCHS students participated in the full-day experience held at the Edson Healthcare Centre (Edson Hospital) where they engaged in hands-on activities led by local healthcare professionals.
Throughout the day, students rotated through various interactive stations that provided insight into different areas of rural health. Highlights included airway management (including infant airways), pregnancy and childbirth (with the special opportunity to find a fetal heartbeat on a nurse who was expecting), continuing care, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and a student favourite— suturing! Under the guidance of medical professionals, students were able to try their hand at suturing using pork hocks.
In addition to the hands-on stations, students were given a guided tour of the hospital, offering a behind-the-scenes look at healthcare in a rural setting.
Students were thrilled with the experience and are extremely grateful to RhPAP and the Edson Hospital staff for making this experience possible.