It’s graduation season, and Deaconess Health System is celebrating the graduation of a half-dozen interns. WNIN’s John Gibson reports:
Deaconess says the six graduated from Project SEARCH after completing the program’s ten-month internship experience, designed to help recent high school graduates with disabilities transition to the workforce.
Since launching at Deaconess in 2011, the program has provided 82 students with hands-on experience in a variety of hospital departments while helping them build job skills, confidence, and workplace independence.
The health system says this year marked the first time interns had the opportunity to rotate on nursing units at Deaconess Gateway Hospital and in the gift shop at The Women’s Hospital.
While on nursing units, interns assisted with non-clinical support tasks, including stocking supplies, delivering items, cleaning and helping with general unit needs.
Deaconess also provides a dedicated classroom space for Project SEARCH students, where interns participate in employability training.