Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center exhibited at the Southern KY Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Health Occupations Today (HOT) Expo 2009 on November 20th at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. Thanks to AHEC's teamwork and the participation of several hospital department representatives, high school students got exposure to many of the 250 medical and allied health jobs available in the healthcare industry.

Rockcastle Regional, one of approximately 90 healthcare and academic institutions, featured hands-on medical activities at their booths in order to give students a better grasp of some of the required skills and job duties of varied healthcare professions. Practicing suturing, mock intubations, and diagnostic ultrasounds were just a few of the interactive activities which students participated in.

Rockcastle County High School ATC's Rhonda Childress, brought students in hopes that they would have a better concept of the broad scope of medical professional opportunities and get to meet medical professionals and college representatives. Rockcastle County High School was one of 35 schools representing 20 counties cramming the exhibit halls at The Center warming things up on the frigid day to attend this huge healthcare career fair. Students met with area college/university representatives to learn about medical, dental and health science programs as well as participated in many hands-on activities.

HOT Expo is just one of the ways in which AHEC attempts to address the rising health care workforce shortage crisis that is affecting our state and nation. Demands on our healthcare systems are rising as baby boomers are flooding our healthcare service industry in need of medical services while simultaneously retiring from the healthcare workforce in huge numbers, which is creating a serious supply and demand service gap. Healthcare employment opportunities abound during this time of rising unemployment facing our state and nation, which is great news for our students interested in job security.