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Running head: SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 1
Service Learning Through Public Education
Maggie Siler
Ferris State University
SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 2
Abstract
This paper is meant to describe the importance of service learning projects, and the personal and
professional development associated with this type of activity. It is also meant to emphasize the
importance of public education regarding vascular disease, particularly myocardial
infarction (MI), as well as when/how to seek care. The importance of having regional ST
elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) initiatives to improve outcomes is highlighted.
SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 3
Service Learning Through Public Education
Service learning within the context of Ferris State Universities RN to BSN Completion
Program is an excellent way to apply newly learned skills, and enhance professional
development (American Association of Critical Care Nurses, n.d.). This project will also
provide personal benefit as it will involve public speaking, which is a good way to improve one’s
self confidence. Service learning is a great way to better connect with the community as well as
develop teamwork and critical thinking skills. I look forward to applying learned skills and
knowledge to help the general public gain a better understanding of the signs and symptoms of
myocardial infarction, how to seek care, and how to prevent vascular disease. This project is
evidence based and is designed to improve patient outcomes.
Description
The service learning project that I have chosen is through Munson Medical Centers
Regional ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Initiative (Munson Healthcare, 2010).
Work performed in this committee is dedicated to improving outcomes for all STEMI patients,
as directed and supported by the American Heart Association “Mission: Lifeline” (American
Heart Association, 2011). Mission: Lifeline is a national initiative to reduce mortality from
STEMI by forming cooperative systems of care within a region. Our regional STEMI system
includes all of northern Lower Michigan. It hosts a population of about 500,000 people spread
across 11,177 square miles. The initiative’s work began in July 2009 and great strides have been
made in the regions STEMI patient care since then. The task force includes administrators,
physicians, nurses, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers, and support personnel from
fourteen area hospitals. Of those hospitals twelve are referral centers and two are receiving
hospitals for primary coronary intervention (PCI) to relieve the heart attack. The variables
SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 4
involved in broad regional efforts such as this are countless and I will continue my work with the
general committee as it is interesting and rewarding. It also nicely compliments my daily work
in the cardiac catheterization lab.
The focus of my service project will be public education regarding the signs and
symptoms of heart attack, and how to best obtain care. I will also be educating about risk factors
for, and how to prevent, coronary and vascular disease. My plan is to target the general
population through schools, service groups, and health fairs.
My work will be coordinated through our regional public education STEMI
subcommittee. The subcommittee is composed of nurses, EMS personnel, and emergency room
technicians. I was recently invited to chair this committee as a result of my discussion about this
project with Diane Barton, BS, RN, Regional STEMI Nurse Coordinator. It is a great honor and
further evidence that this project is already helping with my professional growth.
This service work will further enhance my teamwork skills as some of the work will be
done in person, but much will be done online. The online setting can be a bit more challenging.
At least in this instance we will have faces and regular personal meetings with which to better
connect. We also have the benefit of live teleconferencing which is a good way to improve
participation as our region is so widespread.
Role Description
Improved public education about heart disease is a very important part of getting patients
to seek timely care. It was one of the main topics discussed at a regional summit meeting in
December 2010. It was from this meeting that my interest in this area was initially sparked.
SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 5
Over 400,000 STEMI’s occur annually in the United States. On the average there is one
STEMI occurring daily in northern Michigan. There is already some evidence even within the
northern Lower Michigan system that increased public awareness saves lives.
As this subcommittee is really just getting started there is much work to do. Next week I
am going to meet with the regional coordinator and we are going to form an agenda and set a
date for the education committee’s initial meeting. At that meeting I foresee our team discerning
individual areas of strengths and interests. After that we will begin brainstorming toward
initiation of a more formal plan. I will then be able to provide more specific detail as to the exact
nature of my service work. Due to the importance of this project, we will have the support of
Munson’s corporate communications department which will really help get the word out!
This will be my first experience chairing a committee and I am looking forward to it. I
have always valued strong teamwork. Now I am given the chance to help guide our group effort
in this very important initiative. This project will greatly benefit me educationally, personally,
and professionally.
Objectives as Related to Ferris State Universities RN to BSN Completion Program
Public education is an important part of every nurse’s daily work. In the setting of this
service project I will be able to take that to the next level. I hope to better my communication
and teamwork skills as we work toward increasing public education, and improving outcomes for
the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. As this is a regional subcommittee composed of nurses,
EMS personnel, and support staff we will have a broad base of perspective and experience to
draw from. As subcommittee chair person I will be learning collaborative leadership skills while
chairing a multidisciplinary team. We will be utilizing current evidence based knowledge to
help promote public health and improve patient outcomes within the northern Michigan STEMI
SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 6
system. I believe this project will not only benefit many patients and family members, but it will
also bring great value to my personal and professional growth. I look forward to having a more
defined role in our STEMI committee’s work and beginning work toward making measurable
differences.
Activities to Meet Objectives
My activities in this service project will be varied. I believe every aspect of this project
will provide great benefit to the public as well as to my own personal and professional
development. The evidence of this is already there as I have been invited to chair this
committee!
The initial steps will be multidisciplinary team formation and planning. Prior to our first
meeting which will be scheduled in January 2012 I will help form an agenda to begin work in an
organized manner. I foresee us dividing into groups discerned by strengths and interests. It is
only than that we can begin work and my specific educational roles will be clear.
This should be a great lesson in collaboration, leadership, and the incorporation of
evidence based care to improve outcomes. Public lack of knowledge regarding the signs and
symptoms of heart attack and when/how to seek care has a great impact on our health care dollar.
The earlier care is sought and treatment obtained, the better the outcomes. This all relates to
decreased health care costs in the long term. Simple lifestyle modifications for a healthier life
can prevent some cardiovascular problems and will also be addressed through this work.
SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 7
Evaluation Plan
Our regional STEMI committee has established timelines (dispatch, transport, door-to-
balloon) during which the greatest benefit to the patient can be provided, if care is quickly
sought. The initial goal is for every patient suffering the symptoms of myocardial infarction is to
call 911 within five minutes of symptom onset. That is often not the case as patients are unaware
of the severity of their symptoms. At times they wait hours, or even days. That time lag in
seeking care has a huge impact on outcomes. A detailed report of each STEMI case is provided
to all involved by Diane Barton BS, RN, Regional STEMI Coordinator. That report includes
how long it took the patient to seek care. It will be fairly easy to measure our success as those
times decrease. Cardiac care is my passion and I look forward to applying my education,
knowledge base, and interpersonal skills to making this project a success.
Contact Information
Agency: Munson Medical Center Regional STEMI Initiative
Contact Person: Diane Barton RN
Contact Phone: 231-392-0185
Contact E-mail: [email protected]
Contact Address: 1105Sixth Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Conclusion
This service learning assignment is a wonderful way to expand academic, personal, and
professional growth. It will be excellent exposure for me to an educational situation, which is a
career path that I would like to develop. I am grateful for this experience. I look forward to
helping improve the care of myocardial infarction patients in northern Lower Michigan.
SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 10
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (n.d.).
http://www.aacn.org/wd/practice/content/publicpolicy/communityserviceplanning.pcms?
menu=practice
American Heart Association. (2011).
http://www.americanheart.org/HEARTORG/HealthcareResearch/MissionLifelineHomeP
age/STEMISystems/STEMI-System-Strategies_UCM_313656_Article.jsp
Munson Healthcare. (2010).
http://www.munsonhealthcare.org/upload/docs/MedNews/December
%202010%20MedNews.pdf
Munson Healthcare. (2010). http://www.munsonhealthcare.org/upload/docs/Physicians
%20Practice%20Magazine/pp_jul_aug_10.pdf