For students interested in careers in the growing field of healthcare, Tyrone Area High School offers something that few schools its size can offer – a four year Health Tech curriculum.

The Health Tech program gives Tyrone students an edge in any of a number of health care fields including medicine, physician’s assistant, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and many more health related fields.

The curriculum is run by Heath Tech teacher and licensed registered nurse Christie Taylor. Taylor has been a nurse since 1997 and has 13 years experience (full time, part time, and casual employment) in the field of Physical Rehabilitation Nursing. She has been teaching 12 years.

Taylor offers three different levels of Health Tech (I, II, and III) and a quarter class called Health Services, an introduction to health care careers for freshmen students.

“If you are looking into a medical career of any type, the health tech classes are very useful,” said senior Health Tech student Kacey Poorman.

Many of Taylor’s students speak highly of her.  “She is a really nice teacher so you can always go to her about anything,” said Poorman.

The first year Health Tech I class is all in the classroom and focuses on the basics of medicine, vital signs, infection control, anatomy, physiology, common medical terms and abbreviations.

The second year  is when students begin to focus on specific medical skills and begin clinical experiences. This is when students can take full advantage of TAHS’s close proximity and relationship with Tyrone Hospital and Epworth Manor nursing home in Tyrone.

In Health Tech II, students also get the opportunity to teach TAES kindergartners about good health, and observe and assist healthcare professionals at Epworth Manor and Tyrone Hospital.

“[Going to Tyrone Hospital] gives you a great feel of what health professionals do at their jobs,” said Poorman.

Health Tech III is all clinical. Students get to spend time during the school day in an actual health care workplace Students have input in where they go for clinical, and every effort is made to connect students in their specific area of career interest.

Health tech students also have the option of joining the Tyrone Chapter of HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America).

HOSA is a national student organization of high school and college students interested in careers in healthcare fields. According to their national website, HOSA’s mission is “to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry and to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare to all people.”

“HOSA is mainly organized by the students they have the ideas, and I tend to lend a helping hand to them, but mostly they do all the work,” said Taylor.

In addition to learning more about healthcare careers, HOSA members also help out the community, especially around Christmas time. HOSA does fundraisers to buy gifts for families who would otherwise not have much on Christmas Day.

“It gives you a really good feeling. We have a Christmas party where we wrap the gifts and that is tons of fun too,” added Poorman.

If students pass three years of health tech they can also earn three college credits.

“I love health tech so far, I know it will help me in the long run for college and my career!” said sophomore Mikayla Stroup.

According to Taylor, any student who has interest in a health care field should consider scheduling the class and/or joining HOSA.