Summer Internship: JPS Health Network

By: Emil Kalloor and Chelsea Van Vark

Heavy rain and flash floods are not the words we expected to use to describe the beginning of our summer in Texas. However, the hot Texas summer swiftly followed, and all is well in the Dallas – Fort Worth area. Our internship is at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, which is an up-and-coming city with a much different vibe than its counterpart, Dallas.

John Peter Smith (JPS) Hospital, is a 537-bed, county-owned hospital that serves Tarrant County, Texas. It is a Level 1 trauma center and provides care to all citizens, regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital is the main headquarters for the JPS Health Network, which extends throughout the county through various types of clinic and locations.

There are four interns at JPS Health Network this summer, two of which are from Iowa (Go Hawks!). Each intern was paired with a Vice President as a preceptor according to their interests. Emil’s preceptor is Dianna Prachyl, the Vice President of Community Health, and Chelsea’s preceptor is Kathleen Whelan, the Vice President of Operations.

Emil is currently working on four projects. Along with a fellow intern, he is working on a Geriatric Asset Map that is helping to identify areas in Tarrant County that are lacking in resources for its geriatric population. He is helping organize a Home Visit Pilot that will have physicians visit elderly, homebound patients in their homes. The four interns are working on a time study in which the work days of case managers will be observed. In the communications department, he is also working with the social media department to improve the connection JPS has with its community.

Chelsea is currently working on two main projects on her own, and one additional project with the 3 other interns. In her first project, she was given the task of identifying new dining options for the late night shift workers. She came up with the idea of food trucks and implemented that idea. Two to three food trucks now come to JPS every night between 10 PM and 2 AM to serve our late night staff, our patients, and our visitors. She is now working on hardwiring that process. Her other project is to work conjointly with the construction workers to design and construct a new microbiology lab.

While busy at work, Chelsea and Emil are finding there is a lot to do around Fort Worth. Chelsea spends her time exploring the downtown and surrounding areas. She has found lots of great places to shop, eat, and hang out at. She misses her family and friends back in Iowa, but is finding plenty of stuff to keep her occupied here in Texas.

Emil is spending the summer with his family in Irving, which is a short drive from Fort Worth. He is spending quality time with his parents, little sister, cousins and two dogs. Catching up with various family members and friends, playing football on the weekends, and indulging in his brand new Xbox One take up the majority of his free time at home.

We are having a blast in Texas, and more specifically JPS Health Network, and we hope everyone is having a great experience as well!

We can’t wait to see “Y’all” again in August!