July 28, 2022
Thanks to the Humble ISD Education Foundation, students enrolled in the Health Science program at Summer Creek High School have an extra learning tool in the classroom to help them prepare for real scenarios in hospitals.
Summer Creek Health Science teacher Alisha Smith applied for a grant from the Foundation to purchase an EKG simulator for her classes. The grant, valued at $2,600, was awarded to her in the spring as part of the Foundation’s annual Prize Posse that travels to schools across the district to reveal grant recipients.
Smith is thrilled to have been awarded the grant to purchase the device because it will allow students to learn about heart irregularities and how to spot them.
“The device consists of a skin overlay that can be placed over a patient mannequin or another student,” Smith said. “The device has ports where you can attach electrodes for heart monitoring.”
The device will be used to instruct health science students with the goal of receiving Patient Care Technician (PCT) certification. Receiving PCT certification is administered by National Healthcare Association (NHA). The program, which can cost thousands of dollars at the college level, only costs $155 for all Humble ISD high school health science students. The district reimburses that amount to students who pass the certification test.
“The PCT certification test allows students to go into the hospital to see how things are done,” Olivia Ryan, Summer Creek High School incoming senior, said. “Once you graduate, it enables you to go into a hospital and perform basic care like helping to make patients more comfortable.”
Students enrolled in health science learn principles of health science during their freshman year and medical terminology during their sophomore year. For juniors and seniors, students learn health science theory with clinical and practicum. Students must qualify for these classes.“Criteria that we use are grades, attendance/tardies, interview scores, and teacher recommendations,” Smith said.
By their junior year, students take the PCT certification test to become certified and can take a Medical Assistant certification their senior year.
Students like Ryan have found the classes to be extremely helpful for planning a future career. “This class has helped me realize that this is not just what I’m supposed to do, but also what I want to do,” Ryan said.
Smith, who has been with Humble ISD for 13 years, said she appreciates the support she has received. “It’s a great feeling to see the impact past students are having on the real world,” Smith said.