(Greensburg, IN) – Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) is thrilled to share that another group of students has completed their summer internship programs.
These programs were designed to educate students interested in pursuing healthcare careers, enhance their employability skills, and encourage them to consider rural health systems.
DCMH departments create training guides in partnership with Human Resources and the Staff Development department to ensure students have a successful experience. The departments are to give their interns a well-rounded understanding by allowing them to attend various meetings, different departments, and community events.
Ellie Cassidy, the Staff Development Intern, participated at the 2024 DCMH Healthy Fair in June, saying, “(attending Healthy Fair) allowed me to see the hospital’s impact beyond its walls and understand the importance of strong community relationships.”
During the summer of 2024, DCMH hosted 11 interns covering multiple departments. Whether students served in clinical or operations-related roles, DCMH gives all interns the experience to successfully continue their education and career paths.
The marketing intern, Claire Nobbe, explained, “The introduction to principles and practices at DCMH allows me to step onto campus as a better-prepared student.” The meetings interns attended alongside DCMH staff can be used as pre-class learning tools, conditioning them for future classes by allowing them to develop background knowledge on subjects before experiencing it in classroom settings.
Interning at DCMH also allows students to apply all they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations and gives insight into how rural hospitals work behind the scenes. “From this experience, I have developed a further appreciation for operational-support roles that play into working at a Critical Access Hospital,” said Emily Mangels, a Physical Therapy intern.
Departments request an intern for the summer if they so choose. While the departments play a massive role, the other aspects of the hospital can impact the students significantly. DCMH focuses on providing the necessary education and encouraging students to go after healthcare careers, possibly returning to the area after completing their education. The staff generally allows
students to sit in on some of their work to have a well-rounded education in all aspects of serving the community in a hospital. The best way to learn is by watching in real-life situations. Holly Carver, a Hospital Medicine Education Project Student, said, “I learned from physicians, EMS, CRNAs, nurses, and others.” She also shadowed in different areas and experienced new and exciting things. “This was a summer of firsts, and I am very grateful and enjoyed every bit of it.” These students made a difference at DCMH and in their community.
Helping students take another step forward in their careers demonstrates DCMH’s dedication to our community. DCMH would like to thank the community for being receptive to this program, the interns for trusting the DCMH team’s guidance, and the DCMH team for participating in innovative projects this summer.
(Decatur County Memorial Hospital press release)
