The Fort Bend Independent Scholl District Technical Education Center facilitated a distance learning classroom activity, “Live…from the Heart” for second-year health science classes from Kempner and Travis High Schools.
Technical Education Center health science teacher Sandy Cravens helped students identify the saphenous vein and other parts of the patient's body during the live, open-heart surgery.
With assistance from the Museum of Science and Industry and staff from FBISD’s Educational Technology Department, students gained unique access to an operating room at Advocate Christ Medical Center to view live, open-heart surgery via videoconferencing equipment.
Students watched the surgical team in action and learned about the patient’s risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. Students also learned about the role and responsibility of each member of the surgical team, which consisted of the cardiovascular surgeon, the physician assistant, anesthesiologist, perfusionist, scrub nurse, and circulating nurse.
“Seeing the open-heart surgery and the condition of the patient has really opened my eyes to seeing the reality of health issues and how they can affect lives,” said Towdada Vokodola, Travis High School senior. “This was a good wake-up call to remind us to eat healthy and live healthy lives.”
Prior to viewing the broadcast of the live surgery, students prepared for the event by entering a cardiology training program of classroom lessons that allowed them to follow a fictional patient through the process of patient consultation, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Students were able to assess the “patient’s” risk factors for heart disease, review heart anatomy and circulation, interpret various diagnostic tests, recommend treatment and follow the “patient” through open-heart surgery.
To learn more about FBISD’s Technical Education Center. and the programs it offers, visit the website at: www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/campuses/tec/default.cfm.
