SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia, Ill., is teaming up with the University of Illinois Rockford to offer programs that train health professions students for rural practice, according to a news release.
Here are six things to know about the programs.
1. The first program, in its ninth year at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital, is the Rural Interprofessional Health Professions Summer Preceptorship.
2. During the six-week program, a group of students, staff and faculty gather to learn how the different health professions work together to provide healthcare in a rural community, according to a news release.
3. Specifically, the Rural Interprofessional Health Professions Summer Preceptorship involves following physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, physical therapists, nutritionists and public health professionals through their daily rounds, participating in interprofessional team meetings, a community service learning project and a classroom component where students reflect on their experiences with a University of Illinois Rockford faculty member.
4. The second program, the Rural Health Experience, is a days-long rural immersion experience for health professions students interested in learning about the delivery of healthcare in a particular rural community, according to a news release.
5. Hospital officials said the Rural Health Experience is designed to:
- Provide students with rural healthcare experience
- Get students acclimated with the rural lifestyle
- Convey knowledge and appreciation for a variety of health professions disciplines
- Make students aware of rural health needs
- Provide an opportunity for students to learn and work in an environment that supports health professionals working together
- Encourage awareness and acceptance of different cultures and promote learning through active and organized participation in the community
6. Applications for both programs are available here.
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