Click here to see pictures of all the fun!

Wes Watkins Technology Center’s health career majors will host their 7th annual “Scratch N Patch” Hospital for all ten of its partner schools: Bearden, Dustin, Graham, Hanna, Mason, Moss, Wetumka, Weleetka, Okemah, and Holdenville. Approximately 300 second-graders have been invited to participate in the pretend-hospital activity March 2-4.

WWTC’s “Scratch N Patch” Hospital has received national and state attention for this unique program. At the 2009 National Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) conference in Atlanta Georgia and at the 2007 Association of Career and Technology Education National Convention in Las Vegas, WWTC employees presented their program to educators across the United States. It was also recognized for the 2005 Pride Award at the Oklahoma Career and Technology Education Summer Conference. The award recognizes Technology Centers for their efforts in going over and above the regular classroom responsibilities and for promoting career and technology education. “Scratch N Patch” was also awarded first in the nation for the community service project at the 2005 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) national convention held in Nashville, Tennessee.

To kick the event off, students in the health career majors will visit the schools in the weeks leading up to the big event. All WWTC health career majors will take part in this activity which is designed to provide a pediatric clinical experience to the health-care students and educate children about careers in the health-care field. An added benefit is that it may make children less afraid of hospitals in case they or one of their family members must have surgery or be admitted to a hospital.

Second graders will arrive at WWTC just like it is a real hospital. The Advanced Medical Office Assistant (AMOA) career major will admit each patient or second-grader and give them a medical identification wristband. They will receive an insurance card and play-money.

Health Science career majors will explain the importance of x-rays and lab work and why a patient must have their blood work done before they can be admitted for surgery. A mock EKG will be performed to make sure that everyone’s heart is in good-working order before being sent into surgery.

Next, they will proceed to the Practical Nursing (PN) career major which will provide the pre- and post-care for the patients. PN students will prep the patient for surgery and then provide the post-operative care after surgery. The PN class will be responsible for discharging the patient from the hospital. Students will also get the opportunity to tour and see the inside of an Ambulance and ride the WWTC mini train.

In the Surgical Technology (ST) program, patients will be prepped for their mock surgery. Each patient has been predetermined to have a broken arm, leg, or finger. ST students will review the surgical instruments and show the second-graders the operating lights and the anesthesiology equipment. Each patient will leave with a gauze-wrapped band-aid covered with stickers and smiley faces.

After the patient is finished, they will return to the AMOA discharge desk where they will be expected to pay their bills and receive their discharge papers. Just like any true-to-life medical situation, there will be plenty of waiting time, but while the second-grade patients are waiting they will be able to enjoy the playroom or watch medical cartoons like "The Magic School Bus". At the end of their trip, they will each receive a goody bag with surgical mask, hat and booties, coloring books, balloons, pencils and other fun souvenir items.