Patient Care Assistant Externship A Hand Up
Every summer , the Patient Care Assistant ( PCA ) Externship program offers 20 academically successful but at-risk high school seniors the opportunity to explore a professional career they might otherwise never consider . The annual , eight-week , 40-hour-per-week curriculum teaches these students basic patient care skills . They receive a stipend equal to the entry-level salary of an employed PCA and work directly with experienced PCA mentors under the direction of nurse managers . After completing their training , qualified graduates are offered part-time or full-time employment as PCAs . Over its 15-year history and in collaboration with Communities in Schools , more than 200 students have participated in the program , with most going on to pursue a college degree degree in a medical-related field . Donations from the Land Tejas Companies , The Hamill Foundation , George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation , and the Charles H . Stout Foundation make this program possible .
Project ECHO Bridging the Gap
Isolated and underserved . This has been the reality for most low-income , urban , and rural patients suffering from chronic conditions . Now , thanks to our telehealth network , Project ECHO , chronic disease specialists at Baylor St . Luke ’ s are connecting with and mentoring the doctors in rural and underserved areas who care for these patients to improve quality of care .
Project ECHO connects a supportive medical network to bridge gaps in treatment of patients in outlying areas . Using computer video-conferencing , doctors collaborate face-to-face electronically to combine the local provider ’ s knowledge of the patient ’ s medical history with the expertise of the field ’ s leading specialists to best handle the most complex cases .
By helping caregivers provide specialized treatment in their own communities , Project ECHO ensures that patients receive the care they need without costly travel expenses while also expanding the knowledge base of physicians in rural areas .
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In 2015 , Project ECHO served 253 chronically ill patients , sparing them an estimated 3,000 miles in cost-prohibitive and exhausting travel expenses . Plans are underway to begin construction on a second video conference suite in early 2017 to support the expansion of the following Project ECHO programs :
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