Practicums offer learning from experiencesby Cindy A. AbolePublic Relations With SCRIPT, students are not rehearsing for a film or play, they’re learning about life. The South Carolina Rural Interdisciplinary Program of Training or SCRIPT is accepting applications for at least 60 students from 13 health-related disciplines. Initiated in 1995, SCRIPT offers eligible students two five-week, 40-hour-per-week rural practicums for spring and summer sessions in 2000. A federally-supported program, SCRIPT is sponsored by the Low Country Area Health Education Center (Low Country AHEC) and MUSC. Low Country AHEC provides the infrastructure and financial assistance to students while MUSC provides the curriculum with academic credit for an elective course. It ranges from one to six semester hours, depending on the students’ selection of a plan of study. Six options provide the flexibility needed for students’ individual goals and time availability. SCRIPT is designed to immerse students in a rural health care environment; provide experiences in a rural health care setting; and acquaint students with a rural lifestyle. It also gives students the opportunity to earn a $500 stipend for travel assistance, earn credit toward degree requirements and gain information and appreciation for functional roles, responsibilities and a range of practice for other discipline roles. “This program has been funded for the third time and is a true interdisciplinary collaboration between health professions students, South Carolina universities, Low Country AHEC, local communities and rural clinical practices,” said Diane Kennedy, associate director for Low Country AHEC and SCRIPT faculty member. “It’s a lot of fun, not only for students, but for faculty and staff as well.” Participating institutions include MUSC, South Carolina State University, and USC. In addition, two new universities have been added, Clemson and Francis Marion. The program is open to students enrolled in: health administration, medicine, nurse midwifery, nursing (graduate/undergraduate), occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, public health, physician assistants, speech and language pathology. New to the program are dental medicine and social work students. Medical student Patrick Wilson wanted to get some practical clinical experience under his belt during his first year of medical school. He registered for SCRIPT’s spring 1998 session and gained an experience of a lifetime. A Hampton native, Wilson was assigned to work with Neal L. Shealy, M.D., and his staff at the Harrison Peeples Health Care Center in Varnville. “I was looking for a chance to interact with an interdisciplinary team and practice clinical medicine,” said Wilson. “What I ended up with was more than I had bargained for.” Wilson teamed with another medical student, a family nurse practitioner and a pair of physical therapy students to make up their interdisciplinary team. Wilson enjoyed the daily interaction between practitioners and team members. He learned to value his peers' educational aspects and interdisciplinary roles in various situations. As part of the Credit Option 4 Program, participants were required to attend five Friday sessions and visit rural Lowcountry communities. In preparation for a day trip to remote Daufuskie Island, students were encouraged to read Pat Conroy’s “The Water is Wide” and other southern novels, which offered insight to life within southern rural communities. Health Administration and Policy senior Elizabeth Calhoun wanted to gain a diverse health care background before graduating in May 2000. She also thought the experience might make her more marketable as she competed for hospital residencies in her field. Calhoun enrolled with SCRIPT’s summer practicum from mid-June to July 1998. “I was nervous being the only hospital administration student who represented my field,” Calhoun said. “It was great. Working on the administrative side of health care, I would’ve never had the opportunity to work with caregivers.” Calhoun and her team attended other field trips to Beaufort and Ridgeland to observe health care practices at the state prison. Other time was spent learning about rural health practices. “It was amazing to discover that the quality of care people got was excellent,” she said. “This was especially helpful since most of the public tends to focus on roadblocks and other challenges practitioners have to deal with everyday.” SCRIPT’s rural experience sites include: Calhoun, Allendale, Bamberg,
Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, Orangeburg
and Dorchester counties.
The practicum is designed to work around a student’s schedule. Students can enroll in one to six semester hours, available spring and summer sessions. For example, physical therapy students usually enroll in one semester hour, attending only the orientation and cultural sensitivity workshop, while most students enroll in six semester hours to obtain additional clinical hours to meet program requirements. All students live in a rural community near their clinical practice
site. Full-time students may add the Rural Interdisciplinary Practicum
course to their spring schedule without added tuition for the summer, regardless
of which session they select to attend.
SCRIPT immerses students in rural community life. Treasure hunts acquaint participants with residents’ activities. For example, the Soul Food treasure hunt enables students to interact with members of a church community, sharing an evening meal, fellowship, spirituality and Bible study. “Students are surprised at the genuine hospitality they receive in these small community settings,” said Elizabeth Erkel, Ph.D., curriculum coordinator, MUSC College of Nursing. “This project helps people discover what it’s like to live and work in a rural community. It’s these everyday experiences that make a tremendous impact on students’ perceptions.” For more information about applying to SCRIPT, contact Kennedy at 1-888-569-2432 or visit their website at <http://www.beaufortonline.com/lcahec/script.html>. SCRIPT ‘2000 Program Dates
Complete and mail the LC AHEC registration form below or register on-line at Lowcountry AHEC’s website at <http://www.beaufortonline.com/lcahec> Enclose $50 refundable deposit. (Checks will be returned after successful
completion of first week of course).
Students will be notified of their acceptance into the course.
Register with MUSC during Spring and Summer 2000 registration for academic credit through Dr. Elizabeth Erkel, curriculum coordinator, Suite 522, MUSC College of Nursing. Course numbers are: Graduate INTDS 605 or Undergraduate INTDS 505.
(*Full-time students who add this course to the spring schedule may enroll in either section of the course and not pay summer tuition. For questions about MUSC registration, contact Erkel at (843) 792-5461 or e-mail: erkelea@musc.edu) Attend SCRIPT orientation on April 8. |