Jack Edwards is a recent hire at Tower Health’s Phoenixville Hospital, but he’s already nailed his job as a guest services attendant — greeting people as they enter the building, directing them to their proper locations and helping them to feel at ease.
“Most people who come into the hospital don’t really want to be here, because they’re coming to see someone they care about who is sick,” Edwards explained. “If I can put a smile on their face, then I know I’m doing a good job.”
Edwards, 20, of Spring City, Chester County, was hired at the hospital in August after completing a one-year internship there.
The internship was sponsored by Project SEARCH, a program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities looking to move into the workforce after completing high school.
Founded at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Project SEARCH partners with KenCrest, a Blue Bell, Montgomery County-based employment service provider, to pair area high school students with businesses and organizations willing to host them as interns.
Jessica Birkmire, director of employment services at KenCrest, said Edwards was a senior at Owen J. Roberts High School when he was identified as a potential Project SEARCH intern.
Because interns must technically still be high school students, Edwards deferred his graduation until he had completed the hospital internship.
“I finished my senior year and walked at graduation with the rest of my class, but didn’t officially graduate until I was finished,” he explained.
While interning, Edwards rotated through three hospital departments, working for 10 to 12 weeks each in patient registration, volunteer services and nursing administration.
During those rotations he collected information and signed in patients, worked in the gift shop and wrote articles highlighting the work of volunteers.
Edwards, who said he had no interest in working in a hospital setting before starting the internship, was pleasantly surprised by his experiences.
“A lot of what I did turned out to be very interesting,” he said. “I love to be able to help people and give however I can, and I looked forward to learning about new things. I’m glad I had a chance to be an intern here.”
Program Builds Confidence along with Skill Sets
Kathy White, a volunteer coordinator at Phoenixville Hospital, worked closely with Edwards during his time with volunteer services.
The two became close, with White referring to Edwards as her work son.
She praised him for his enthusiasm and willingness to go above and beyond the demands of his job.
“Jack was very shy when he started here, but he quickly became more confident and did a great job in every position he held during his internship,” White said. “He did far more than he was asked to.”
While working on articles highlighting volunteers, Edwards developed an electronic form that could be used to gather information and make it easily accessible for anyone needing it.
“He took that process to a whole new level,” White said. “He came up with a system that greatly improved what we had been doing. Jack is a strategic thinker and very creative.”
Having mentored Project SEARCH interns for three years, White said the program helps them develop skill sets along with their confidence.
“It’s a great program in that it really helps prepare the interns for life,” she said. They come in feeling very nervous, but when they leave they’re confident and ready to take on just about anything.”
Phoenixville Hospital has so far hired five employees who have completed the Project SEARCH internship program.
Interns are valued and encouraged, according to Birkmire, with support coming from the top down.
“Even the CEO (Phoenixville Hospital president and CEO Rich McLaughlin) gets involved with the program by visiting the interns when they first come in and speaking at their graduation,” she said. “He shows a lot of interest in them and is very encouraging. I think that really says something about Tower Health.”
According to Elizabeth Deczynski, corporate communications coordinator for Tower Health, Reading Hospital does not host Project SEARCH interns, but does work with volunteers from Reading-based Prospectus Berco, an organization that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Berks County.
Hiring of Edwards “a Win-Win” Situation
Edwards had nearly completed his internship with Phoenixville Hospital and was contemplating what to do next when a position opened in guest services. White, Birkmire and others who worked with him encouraged him to apply.
“I interviewed with HR and then the department head, and then it felt like I was waiting and waiting and waiting to find out if I got the job,” Edwards recalled. “Finally, I got the call, which was amazing.”
While Edwards is thrilled to have the job, his coworkers are thrilled to have him.
“It’s definitely a win-win situation,” White said. “Jack is very good at working with people and he does a great job. It just seems to come naturally to him.”
Meanwhile, Edwards looks forward to work each day.
“I wanted a job, but I didn’t expect to get something that I like doing so much,” he said. “I’m so thankful for the internship and all the people who helped me get to where I am today.”
