Health Occupations Students of America

Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is a national career and technical student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of ACTE. HOSA is composed of secondary and postsecondary students. It is headquartered in Flower Mound, Texas. HOSA is the largest student organization that prepares students to enter the health care field.

Mission

HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.

"To enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students, therefore, helping students to meet the needs of the health care community" [ [http://www.hosa.org/whatis.html HOSA ] ]

HOSA's goal is to encourage all health occupations instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSTE-HOSA Partnership.

HOSA's mission is especially critical when considering the acute shortage of qualified workers for the health care industry. It is essential that the HSTE-HOSA Partnership maintain its momentum and encourage all HSTE instructors to integrate HOSA into their curriculum and classrooms.

Description

Since its inception in 1976, HOSA has grown steadily reaching 96,000 students through forty-six (46) affiliated state associations with involvement in three (3) unaffiliated states and 2,600 chapters in the 2007-2008 membership year.

HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in HSTE programs. HOSA is 100% health care!

HOSA is not a club to which a few students in school join. Rather, HOSA is a powerful instructional tool that works best when it is integrated into the HSTE curriculum and classroom. HSTE instructors are committed to the development of the total person. Those who join the HSTE-HOSA Partnership recognize the importance of providing students with training far beyond the basic technical skills needed for entry into the health care field. The rapidly changing health care system needs dedicated workers who, in addition to their technical skills, are people-oriented and capable of playing in a leadership or follower role as a member of a health care team.

2008-2009 National Theme

"HOSA: Where one Person’s Passion Becomes Another Person’s Hero" (Submitted by Pennsylvania HOSA.)

National HOSA Creed

I Believe in the Health Care Profession.

I Believe in the profession for which I am being trained; and the opportunities which my training offers.

I Believe in education.

I Believe that through education I will be able to make the greatest use of my skills, knowledge, and experience in order to become a contributing member of the health care team and of my community.

I Believe in myself.

I Believe that using the knowledge and skills of my profession, I will become more aware of myself. Through fulfilling these goals I will become a more responsible citizen.

I Believe that each individual is important in his or her own right; therefore I will treat each person with respect and love.

To this end, I dedicate my training, my skills, and myself to serve others through HOSA.

National Leadership Conference

The highlight of every year for HOSA members is the HOSA National Leadership Conference. The conference is held in June in different cities across the United States.

The HOSA National Leadership Conference includes:

* Exciting general sessions
* Educational and social learning activities
* Leadership academies
* Tours to health care facilities
* Exhibits presented by professional health care associations
* The National Competitive Events program
* The annual business of the national student organization of HOSA by the national voting delegates
* The Educational Symposium - workshops presented by professional partners that provide Information about current health care issues
* An opportunity to meet people from across the United States and Puerto Rico with similar career goals
* Fun, excitement, recognition, and opportunity for HOSA members!
* Corporate Partnerships

HOSA National Leadership Conferences:

* 2002 - June 26-29 - Anaheim Hilton and Marriott Anaheim, California
* 2003 - June 18-21 - Atlanta Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton Atlanta, Georgia
* 2004 - June 23-26 - Marriott World Center Orlando, Florida
* 2005 - June 22-25 - Opryland Hotel Nashville, Tennessee
* 2006 - June 21-24 - Anaheim Hilton & Anaheim Marriott Anaheim, California (the largest NLC thus far)
*2007 - June 20-23 - Marriott World Center Orlando Florida
*2008 - June 18-21 - Adam's Mark Hotel Dallas, Texas
*2009 - June 24-27 - Opryland Hotel Nashville, Tennessee
*2010 - June 23 - 26 - Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL

Competitive Events

Category I - Health Science Events

*Dental Spelling
*Dental Terminology
*Medical Spelling
*Medical Terminology
*Medical Math
*Knowledge Tests

Category II - Health porfessions Events

*Administrative Medical Assisting
*Biotechnology (recently added in 2007/08)
*Clinical Nursing
*Clinical Specialty
*Dental Assisting
*Home Health Aide (recently added in 2007/08)
*Medical Assisting - Clinical
*Medical Laboratory Assisting
*Nursing Assisting
*Personal Care
*Physical Therapy
*Sports Medicine
*Veterinary Assisting

Category III Emergency Preparedness Events (recently added in 2007/08)

*CPR/First Aid
*Emergency Medical Technician
*First Aid/Rescue Breathing
*CERT (recently added in 2007/08)
*Epidemiology (recently added in 2008/09)
*Public Health Emergency Preparedness (recently added in 2008/09)

Category IV- Leadership Events

*Extemporaneous Health Poster
*Extemporaneous Speaking
*Extemporaneous Writing
*Medical Photography
*Job Seeking Skills
*Prepared Speaking
*Researched Persuasive Speaking
*Interviewing Skills
*Speaking Skills

Category V - Teamwork Events

*Biomedical Debate
*Career Health Display
*Community Awareness
*Creative Problem Solving
*Forensic Medicine (recently added in 2007/08)
*Health Education
*HOSA Bowl
*Medical Reading
*Parliamentary Procedure
*Public Service Announcement (recently added in 2007/08)

Category VI - Recognition

*Outstanding HOSA Chapter
*National Recognition Program
*Kaiser Permanente Health Care Issues Exam
*National Service Project
*Barbara James Service Award
*Outstanding Alumni Member
*Outstanding State Officer
*Chapter Newsletter
*HOSA Week

References

External links

* [http://www.hosa.org/index.html HOSA homepage]