Women's Health

Description

Women's Health: Supporting Patients Through Every Stage of Life introduces students to the wide range of healthcare careers that support women throughout their lives—from preventive care and reproductive health to pregnancy, cancer care, surgery, and healthy aging. Students explore how physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and community health workers collaborate to provide compassionate, patient-centered care while discovering the many educational pathways that lead to these rewarding careers.

Objectives

1. Describe the different stages of women's health across the lifespan.  

2. Identify a variety of healthcare careers involved in women's healthcare.  

3. Explain how healthcare professionals work together as an interdisciplinary team.  

4. Recognize the important role of allied health, nursing, public health, and support professionals in patient care.  

5. Explore the education, skills, and work environments associated with women's health careers.  

6. Apply critical thinking by identifying healthcare professionals, technologies, and services needed to care for patients in realistic scenarios. 

Resources

• Women's Health PowerPoint
• Women's Health California Department of Public Health  
• Women's Health Office on Women's Health  
• Every Stage Health- American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists  
• Resources for Women's Health - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality  
• Women's Health CDC  
• Women's Health Resources- AAFP 

Activity Options

• ACTIVITY ONE:  – Whole Class Activity (10–15 minutes) | 2 slides found within Powerpoint  
• Present one or two case studies to the entire class.  
• Facilitate a discussion by asking students to identify every healthcare professional who may be involved in the patient's care, explain each person's role, and discuss the tools or technology they might use.  
• Encourage students to think beyond physicians and nurses by considering professionals who support communication, transportation, mental health, nutrition, financial assistance, and community resources.  

ACTIVITY TWO: Small Group Activity (20–30 minutes) | Link: Handout to be Printed & Key

• Divide students into 5–8 small groups.  
• Provide each group with a printed case study prior to beginning the activity. (Duplicate scenarios as needed.)  
• Give groups approximately 10 minutes to analyze their patient, identify the healthcare team, and determine how each professional contributes to the patient's care.  
• Groups may choose how they present their findings, such as a:
  • Graphic organizer  
  • Timeline
  • Flowchart
  • Outline
  • Skit
  • Poster
  • Other creative Format
• After presentations, invite the class to identify additional healthcare professionals, technologies, or community resources that may have been overlooked.  
• Materials needed
  • Printed case study handouts (one per group)  
  • Chart paper or whiteboards (optional)  
  • Markers or pens  
  • Presentation supplies, if desired