After a three-year hiatus, Flash Medical Center returned to Kent State University at Ashtabula’s Robert S. Morrison Hall for a one-day medical emergency simulation on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.
The event was attended by 25 local high school students who got a “day in the life” experience of medical professionals and an inside look at the Nursing and Allied Health academic programs offered at Kent State Ashtabula.
"We were very excited to be able to offer Flash Medical again after such a long hiatus due to the pandemic and the students in attendance matched our enthusiasm," said Tiffany Kiphart, PTA, ATC, M.Ed., academic program coordinator for the Physical Therapist Assistant program and the event organizer. "From the moment the hands-on scenario started they jumped right in and became part of the treatment team."
The student participants arrived at Morrison Hall as “new employees” for a daylong new employee orientation session. The orientation was interrupted by a simulated medical emergency when someone down a flight of stairs nearby.
For the remainder of the day-long simulation students experienced the many different aspects of patient care, starting with providing care in a rapid response situation, and moving through radiology for X-rays, the surgical unit for a nursing and medical assisting assessment, physical and respiratory therapy and pain management, the ICU and occupational therapy.
Students were then invited to apply for admission and a limited number of scholarships.
Due to significant interest in the event and a sizable waitlist, another Flash Medical Center event will be hosted in January for students who want to experience the simulation.
“I think everyone was happy to be able to bring the program back and the participants really seemed to get a lot out of it,” Kiphart said. “In the de-brief session at the end of the day several students asked if they could attend again in January when we intend to run the program again."
For more information, visit www.kent.edu/ashtabula/flashmed.