High School Students to Watch and Discuss Baby Delivery, C-section

More than 360 high school students at 18 different Utah schools will have the opportunity of watching and discussing babies being born, while speaking live over closed circuit TV with the doctors involved in the cases. The program, concurrently hosted at 11 locations throughout Utah, will be held on Wednesday, March 30, from 12-1 p.m.

The event is part of the Virtual Healthcare Interactive (VHi) program, which is a joint effort between Intermountain Healthcare and the State Office of Education to provide real-time medical experiences to Utah students interested in health-related careers. The students will watch the deliveries (taped at Intermountain's McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden) while linked via television and audio to an obstetrician and pediatrician.

Background: The VHi program allows students interested in medical careers to watch pre-taped surgeries or medical procedures and speak live with the physician who performed the procedure. This is the sixth time Intermountain Healthcare has partnered with the Utah State Office of Education on this project. Last year students watched joint replacement surgery, and in 2008, an artificial heart implantation. Students who apply to participate are focused on health sciences studies and careers.

The purpose of the VHi program is to expose high school students to the range of professions, jobs and work responsibilities, along with the education and training required in the health field. Through the use of video and the live audio link, students are able to witness first-hand what their future career might be like, and ask their own questions to a physician.

WHAT: More than 360 Utah high school students will interact with two physicians WHEN: Wednesday, March 30, 12-1 p.m. WHO: Students and VHi spokesperson WHERE: Granite Technical Institute (Granite, Murray and Salt Lake School Districts)
2500 South State Street, Salt Lake City

Other locations include: Tooele Learning Center, Jordan ATC (West Jordan), Canyons ATC (Sandy), Park City High School, Ogden High School, Fremont High School (Plain City), Timpanogos High School (Orem), Kanab High School, Rich High School (Randolph), and Lake Powell High School (Blanding).