Alberta students get hands-on health-care experience this summer

A stock photo of health-care workers during a surgery. (Pixabay.com/sasint)

Thirty-three Alberta high school students will get a chance to gain paid health-care work experience this summer.

"Investing in young people is how we create our future workforce,"says Athana Mentzelopoulos, president and CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS) in a news release.

Described as unique and authentic, AHS and industry-led non-profit foundation CAREERS is providing the hands-on experience.

It's billed as a way for students to gain an insider’s look at how health care operates.

AHS tells CTV News Calgary, "AHS provided CAREERS with a list of available positions and locations. We focused on areas in Alberta that have historically been more difficult to recruit to."

"CAREERS then engaged with the various high schools and students to collect their applications, and AHS conducted interviews with students to select the successful candidates in alignment with our recruitment and hiring practices," AHS said.

"The training occurs at the start of employment, which for most of these roles was July 8."

The students will perform general support duties and take on roles in departments including pharmacy and laboratory services, and recreation therapy.

"In the case of recreation therapy, they will assist with activities such as bus trips, games, arts and crafts, pet visits and gardening," AHS said in the earlier news release.