IRMC hosted a STEM Experience on Wednesday, June 8th in IRMC Park with participation from Snapology, the 4-H Gears Robotics Club and IRMC Hospital Departments. The event also featured a LEGO contest where 61 contestants competed for Lego building kits and prizes donated by Renda Broadcasting who also served as the MC and provided music for the event. The event’s purpose was to engage children in using Legos to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills and bring awareness as to how STEM interacts in the medical environment.
The IRMC Environmental Services Department demonstrated how hospital rooms are monitored to insure a germ-free area. Participant’s cell phones were first monitored to display bacteria counts, and then the surface was wiped with our special cleaning agent. The cell phone was again monitored showing how the germs were destroyed. The Pharmacy Department had an interactive experiment which revealed how medical compounds can ease a stomachache, and the Rehab Care Unit demonstrated a bionic arm and the technology available to use sensors to actually make the hand able to grip and grasp objects. The Stroke Center educated the crowd on signs and symptoms while the Indiana Physician Group had a mannequin to demonstrate CPR. The Center for Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine exhibited their chambers which help in healing, and the Joint Center had on-hand information on improved joint replacements. IRMC also demonstrated its Vein Visualization Unit. With the use of UV lighting, the hemoglobin in your veins darkens. This makes it easier to visualize veins for blood draws and IV insertion which increases first-stick improvement to 3.5 times, decreases pain by 39% overall and 59% in children. The Center for Oncology Services created a Lego model of their linear accelerator.
These were just a few examples of how IRMC uses the latest technology to continue to provide our area with high-quality, low-infection, maximum patient comfort healthcare.
Lego contest winners – CONGRATULATIONS!
Judged by: Keaton Stants, Technology Instructor at Indiana Sr. High School, John Emerson, with Gibson-Thomas Engineering, Wendy McGinnis with ATA Taekwondo and Hunter Waltemire a student.
0-4 years: Category – Duplo or Mega Blok Creation
First Place: Marcy Melliott
Second Place: Addison Reiter
Third Place: Ethan Anderson
5-8 years: Category – Transportation Theme
First Place: Jacob Reiter
Second Place: Tyler Melliott
Third Place: Grayson Brunetto
9-11 years: Category – Buildings
First Place: Kira Friedal
Second Place: Stella and Henry Rummel
Third Place: Ella Miller and Makayla Stephens
12-14 years: Category – Entertainment in IRMC Park
First Place: Levi Waltemire
Second Place: Bristol and Travis Nace
People’s Choice Award Winners:
First Place: Kira Friedal
Second Place: Jesse Mackanic
Third Place: Tyler Melliott
Food was provided by IRMC’s Nutrition and Food Services including donations by Turner Dairy. Special thanks to Whirlwind Toys and Hobbies, Sy’s Pizza, the STEM Committee members and our junior volunteers, Evan Marino and Andrew Paouncic. For more information on Snapology and their summer programs, please visit Johnstown.snapology.com. Information on the 4-H Gears Robotics Club (A Penn State Cooperative Extension) can be found at extension.psu.edu/Westmoreland. For upcoming programs and events at Indiana Regional Medical Center or to learn more about our services, please visit indianarmc.org.
?