Page 17 - Cannabis News Florida Sept 2021

Miami Dade College Medical Campus 'Figured It Out'

BY LOIS THOMSON equipment, instruments, supplies, med- going to be open 100%, but we're going
ications, and anything else a physician to be careful to follow the CDC guide-
"If a college doesn't change the way needs during a surgical procedure. lines." In addition, he said that certain
they taught a year or two ago, I don't "They really play a vital role." hospitals have a policy requiring all stu-
think they're going to make it," stated Dr. The second program is a one-year cer- dents in their clinical rotations to be vac-
Bryan Stewart, president of Miami Dade tificate to become a central sterile proces- cinated.
College's Medical Campus. "We have to sor, which is a stackable credential for Baptist and Jackson Health System
reinvent ourselves as a campus and make the surgical technician degree. "Those have both expressed how valuable the
sure we respond to how our students are are the individuals who clean the instru- students are. "Both told us that when the
learning, and how the world has changed ments, so they can start as a central ster- pandemic happened, they weren't sure
with the pandemic." If that's true, the ile processor and work their way up. what to do, so they took no students on
Medical Campus doesn't have anything There's just as much need for that, and the hospital campus," Dr. Stewart said.
to worry about. some students may want to start in that They realized, though, that the students
A year ago, Dr. Stewart and his staff position and gain confidence before they do many things that allow the hospital
were making adjustments to place the get into surgical technician," he said. employees to work in other areas. "The
campus in a good position during the Dr. Bryan Stewart With all of this in place, Dr. Stewart pandemic can be a strategic teaching
pandemic. He explained they worked on said not only is the overall application opportunity, and I think we all learned a
how to get students caught up on clinical where the class is scheduled for a specific pool up 81%, but even more impressive lot. I don't think we're going to follow
rotation. "A year ago, our nursing stu- time, and the student can either be in the is that the quality of the pool is also up. the same traditions that we did with this
dents were doing everything virtually. classroom or be virtual with their faculty. In past years, about half of the applica- one, by saying the doors are closed. I
The governor of Florida had approved He also talked about two new pro- tions didn't meet qualifications or think the hospitals have realized how
for all their clinicals to be virtual so we grams that are starting at the school. weren't ready to be taken into the pro- valuable our students can be to support
purchased a software package that One is a surgical technology Associate in gram, whereas this year more than 80% the network of the hospitals."
allowed us to do online clinical rotations. Science degree that he said has been in of the pool could be selected. "You can In summarizing the past year, Dr.
It's been really great. But now, the gover- the making for a couple of years. "I've tell we have a really strong group of stu- Stewart said, "The campus is looking
nor's order ended, so all of my nursing met with leadership at several hospitals dents who will start here in the fall." really strong for fall; I think it's an excit-
students have to be back on campus this and they tell me how desperate they are Unfortunately, as is happening every- ing time. People who want to help are
fall." for surgical technicians. It's a two-year where, the College may be facing a new able to see the medical field as a great
Dr. Stewart said the College also con- degree and it's going to be one of our challenge in coming months: the delta opportunity, and jobs are plentiful.
tinues using a new teaching modality most popular programs in the fall." Dr. variant of the coronavirus. Dr. Stewart "I think we figured it out pretty well."
called MDC Live that started this past Stewart said the technician is essential to said that as part of the planning process,
year and provides for virtual teaching. executing a successful surgery – they "We're trying to be creative on how to For more information,
He described it as a flexible environment maintain a sterile field, and handle all the deal with this delta variant. We're still call (305) 237-4141 or visit mdc.edu.

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20 September 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News