Planning for the future and choosing a career are very important to many young people today. In our forever changing, fast paced society it may be difficult to make such an important decision at a young age, which is why career shadowing can help young people make the right choice.

Locally, opportunities to explore different careers in healthcare are available through the career shadowing program at Pratt Regional Medical Center. Since October 2004, approximately forty students have participated in the career shadowing program at PRMC.

“We have students coming from Pratt and the surrounding counties to take advantage of our shadowing program,” Kim Stivers, PRMC Community Services Director, said. “Many of the students who shadow are somewhat interested in a certain area of healthcare, and after spending the day in that department, they are either more excited about pursuing that career, or they know it is not for them and they are back to exploring other opportunities.”

Haviland High School student Rachelle Blattner spent a morning with PRMC Physical Therapy Assistant, Susan Corbet. “I was very pleased with my experience,” Blattner said. “I learned so many different things about being a Physical Therapy Assistant, and I am ready to start planning for the future and a possible career.”

Blattner was referred to the shadowing program through her high school business teacher. “Arrangements for career shadowing usually begin at the schools,” Stivers said. “School counselors and teachers are helpful in getting students to participate. Although, every once in a while, a student will call on their own and ask to shadow.”

There are many employment opportunities available in healthcare. Not only do they involve patient care, but there are also opportunities to work in an office setting such as: accounting, transcription, medical records, etc. For more information about career shadowing at PRMC, contact Kim Stivers at 620-450-1444.

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