Being a volunteer can be a rich and rewarding experience.  Add college credit to the experience and students have a winning combination.  Mercy Medical Center Redding (MMCR) Volunteer Janice Kirkpatrick has done just that.  Kirkpatrick is a full-time college student with the goal of obtaining an Associate of Science (AS) Degree in Information Processing.  While working toward her degree, she was looking for ways to give back to the community and gain valuable work experience at the same time.  The Shasta College Worksite Learning Program has exactly what she wanted.

Shasta College Office Administration Instructor Casey Schuring works with students like Kirkpatrick, who want to get outside of the classroom to learn.  The Worksite Learning Program works with area employers to provide a positive environment for the students and the participating worksite. Students can gain one to eight college credits per semester by taking the course.  For each 60 hours spent volunteering, a student earns one unit of credit.  Students have the opportunity to gain 16 units of college credit while giving back to the community. “Employers are looking for more than a degree, and work experience can give students that extra edge.  It helps them develop an understanding of the world of work and an awareness of their own skills and abilities,” said Jason Dell, Shasta College Work Site Learning Coordinator and Dual Enrollment Coordinator.  He credits the program for providing new opportunities to students attending Shasta College.  “Our students are very excited about the experience of being on a job site,” Schuring added.

For the past five years, Shasta College students have been volunteering in MMCR’s Transcription Department but last year the program expanded throughout the Hospital.  With the help of MMCR’s Manager of Volunteer Services Shirley Knight, the partnership between the College and the Hospital expanded, allowing students the opportunity to experience different work environments throughout the Medical Center.  Janice first started volunteering in the Pre-Op Clinic, placing phone calls to remind patients about their appointments.  She really enjoyed the interaction with patients and wanted to expand her role at MMCR.  “I really like meeting people,” Kirkpatrick said.  Shirley was subsequently able to place her in the Guild’s Gift Shop.  Now she spends a total of 42 hours a month at MMCR.  “I like helping people find that perfect gift and I love working the cash register,” Kirkpatrick said.

She is one of many volunteers who are simultaneously completing their degrees at Shasta College while giving back to their community and earning credit at MMCR. Schuring said he places an average of 10 students per semester through his class and guides half of them to Mercy.  “If anyone is interested in health care related fields, I suggest they volunteer at Mercy.  Mercy offers our students practical work place experience that will look good on their resume.  Volunteering allows them to get a foot in the door and see if this is a direction they would like to pursue,” Schuring said.

Another area of the Hospital that utilizes the College Program is the Medical Records/Health Information Department (HIM).  Director Gail Schwagerl recently had one student go through the program. “I thought it was a great experience.  We were able to expose the student-volunteer to a broad spectrum of the responsibilities of our department,” Schwagerl said.  Many people who want to work in HIM are interested in being a coder.  “We were able to demonstrate what is needed to work up to the coding position.  I thought it was beneficial to both the student and the department,” Schwagerl said.

Knight is also excited about the college partnership. “We have volunteer needs throughout the Hospital.  Whether the students are working in the gift shop, at the front desk, driving the courtesy shuttle or taking photos of newborn babies, their presence is felt,” she said. “The energy and enthusiasm these students bring to Mercy is contagious,” Knight added.

Kirkpatrick finished the Worksite Learning Program last semester but continues her service with Mercy.  “Volunteering at Mercy gives me great satisfaction.  I love the way everyone at the hospital works as a team.  From the volunteers, to the doctors, we all work together to care for our patients and visitors,” Kirkpatrick said.

For more information on the Shasta College Worksite Learning look online at http://www.shastacollege.edu/cms.aspx?id=7885

For more information about volunteering at MMCR look online at http://redding.mercy.org/volunteer.

Michael Burke is the Marketing and Media Coordinator at Mercy Medical Center Redding.