The Garrett County Memorial Hospital Nursing Extern Program welcomed two new participants this summer. Taylor Crabtree, of Oakland and Robin Martin of Aurora, WV, participated in the 8 week program. Taylor attends Allegheny Community College/Garrett Campus and Robin attends West Virginia Wesleyan College. The nursing extern program allows nursing students to work in the hospital under the direction of an experienced RN mentor between their junior and senior year of college and obtain valuable clinical nursing experience and skills.

Program participants spend four weeks in the Medical/Surgical Unit, one week in the Intensive Care Unit, one week in the Operating Room, one week in the Emergency Department, and one week in the Family Centered Maternity Unit. The externs perform all aspects of nurse's duties with the exception of administering medication and starting IV's. Upon completion of the program, GCMH presented both externs with a $500.00 scholarship.

The program accepts two externs each year. Among other requirements, applicants to the program must be currently enrolled in a program approved by a state board of nursing to prepare candidates for registered nurse licensure. For more information on the GCMH Nursing Extern Program, contact Melissa Walch at 301-533-4391.

Pictured left to right are Bethany Browning, GCMH Director of Outcomes Management, Taylor Crabtree, Robin Martin, nurse externs, and Melissa Walch, GCMH Critical Care Coordinator.

The 2010 Garrett County Memorial Hospital Wellness Works calendar was named a Silver Winner by the Aster Awards, which honors Excellence in Medical Marketing. The Silver Award was presented to Garrett County Memorial Hospital and Pioneer Press, in the hospital, under 75 beds category. Pioneer Press assisted with the design work. The Wellness Works calendar focused on all aspects of wellness to encourage an attitude of healthy living.

Entries are judged on creativity, layout/design, typography, production, knowledge transfer and overall quality. Winners are recognized in Marketing Healthcare Today magazine and posted on the Aster Awards' website, www.asterawards.com.

"We were honored to receive this recognition. Aster Awards judge marketing materials from some of the top ranking hospitals in the United States, i.e. Johns Hopkins," remarked Kathy Greaser, director of development at the Hospital. "The calendar can be viewed on the Hospital's website at www.gcmh.com.

Pictured displaying the 2010 Wellness calendar and the Aster Award certificate are Wellness Department staff, Lisa Schad and Jeannie Miller.