HOULTON – Houlton Regional Hospital has announced plans to establish a health care careers program for local high school students interested in the profession.

“We’re facing a shortage of health care workers,” said Thomas Moakler, the hospital’s chief executive officer, referring to a national problem that also is affecting the local hospital.

“We need to invite the area’s youth in and make them aware of the career opportunities available right here in their own community,” he said.

As proposed, students in the program will go to the hospital once a month to take part in an interactive session with a specialized medical staff member, including nurses, emergency room medical technicians and radiology or respiratory therapists.

“We want to give these students exposure to as many facets of health care that we can,” said Moakler.

Along with getting a firsthand look at professional opportunities within the hospital, students also will be able to find out what colleges offer training in their field of interest, what financial support and scholarships are available and the potential salary they can expect for a particular field.

Last month, hospital representatives met with officials from five area school districts, the Greater Houlton Christian Academy and Maine Applied Technology Region Two to discuss the idea.

Beverly Cullens, the school nurse for SAD 25 in Sherman Station, said Wednesday that the program would be a great way for students to see professional health care employees in action.

“The hospital setting is a big plus,” she said.

“It’s an excellent way to allow kids to see the actual professional at work.

“Having the kids there will help ignite a little interest, more than a guest speaker or video would,” she added.

Making students aware of what is available to them for employment within the vicinity also can help keep young people in the region, Cullens said.

“Students right here in the community aren’t aware of the career opportunities here,” said Ann Joy, director of community relations and education at Houlton Regional Hospital.

“By introducing area youth to the health-care environment, the hope is to encourage more young people to become educated in health care fields.

“We’ve got to do something, because the shortage is becoming acute,” she said.

So far, the hospital has received more than 60 letters of inquiry about the new program, which is expected to begin by the end of the month.