Running head: SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION 1

Service Learning Through Public Education

Maggie Siler

Ferris State University

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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: dbarton@mhc.net

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.

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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