NHS and Providence
Partnership Opens a Whole
World of Opportunity
 

March 2007

When I first heard that a full, 300 or so bed hospital was going to be built just two miles from my house I was elated. I’ve made the drive out to Huron Valley Hospital several times (my dad makes rounds there most every day) and I know it’s at least 15 minutes away. But I got more than I bargained for. 

First, the new hospital ate up my cheapest golfing option, Westbrook Golf Course where you could get in 18 holes for only $15. Then, I came to learn that the new hospital would be the new tallest building in Novi, stripping that title from Novi High School’s own auditorium! It was decided: I was going to develop a serious personal vendetta against the new hospital.  

But my childish, half-serious gripe against the hospital began to come crashing down Thursday. I stopped by Mr. Dunbar’s classroom during his conference block while running an errand during TV class.  I’ve always liked Mr. Dunbar, as I had him as a teacher in my junior year, and I just wanted to see how things were going.  As he sat at his computer I remarked that he didn’t look too busy- teachers never do when their classrooms are empty. But I was very wrong. 

I’ve heard that the new Providence Hospital was planning to team with the school district to increase the number of education opportunities for kids looking into the medical field. Seemed like a nice little program. Again, I was very wrong. 

I sat in on a meeting Friday and saw first hand how large this program is planning to become. I couldn’t help but being swept into the excitement of the flow of ideas, from Novi employees to Providence employees and vice versa. 

First, here’s what is already happening:  

• Novi High School has added a class, medical career exploration, to its course catalog.

This program is intended to give those interested in any sort of medical career the real knowledge, and first hand experience, to see if that interested is intense. 

• The NurseNow job shadow program has been resurrected.

The NurseNow program started a number of years ago, but has been on hiatus the past few years. This program allows those considering nursing to go on a job shadow, from 8 am to noon about twice a month. 

• Pediatric rooms in the new hospital will be designed by Novi High School students.

In the next few weeks, staff members of the art department will meet with the Providence people in charge of designing pediatric rooms. Novi High School students’ artwork will be a major part of the interior design planning. 

There’s a lot already going on in this partnership, and there’s room for even more involvement. Students already involved in Novi’s athletic training group could work with the Plymouth Whalers as Providence provides the team with its physicians. Volunteer opportunities will be limitless. Students in child development could work at the hospital providing educational day care for parents who don’t want to hire a baby sitter (that’s quite a deal). Business students could take a look at the business side of medicine, and see and operate in a real, live corporate setting. 

Those are just a few of the ideas being bounced around in the group. Which leads to a question many of you may be having right now: what is the group’s name?  It’s a good question, and only a good answer will suffice.  

The partnership has a motto (caring, sharing, preparing), it has a mission statement (serves to create a new learning culture through collaborative relationships that combine the strengths, resources, and best practices, of each participating organization) and it has a vision (Together, we promote the common good through a visible and vibrant program dedicated to service, time, practice and experience).

Naming of the partnership will be a little tricky, as Providence has yet to name its new hospital, but a name is coming. 

Soon, a contest will be announced to name the partnership that is sure to affect the career decision of hundreds of NHS students.  With Mr. Dunbar as “partnership coordinator”, I’m sure the program will be in good hands. 

Maybe he can convince Providence to take a story or two off the top of the hospital…