Rider University students recently applied a myriad of analytical skills to enhance the care provided at the Mount Carmel Guild, a Trenton-based agency which services needy families.

During the spring 2005 semester, student groups in System Analysis & Design (CIS-370), under the guidance of Dr. Drew Procaccino, assistant professor of computer information systems, designed the structure and interface prototype of a relational data base system. This past fall, students in his Systems Project class (CIS-380) used the specifications and prototypes from the spring class to create a Microsoft Access data base. Another of Procaccino’s classes, Business Graphics (CIS-260), designed several versions of a brochure to market the Guild’s services.

In the Health Research Seminar (HTH-450), students of Dr. Kelly Noonan, associate professor of economics, examined whether or not home health care services positively affect patient outcomes based on the data collected by The Guild from 75 patients. They focused on the home health nursing services that Mount Carmel provides its elderly clients. Their overall assessment: the services provided reduced the likelihood of hospitalization.

Although classes were comprised of students from various disciplines, the majority were senior economics and computer science majors with minors in health care administration, businesses and/or the sciences.

“This is the first time that we did this jointly and the synergy was tremendous,” said Dr. Noonan, who has had a previous class conduct hands-on research for the Mercer Street Friends, a local non-profit home health care agency. “We wanted to totally engage students in the research process.”

Last month, the students presented their research in one of the case study rooms in Sweigart Hall. In attendance were economics department faculty, Dean of Students Tony Campbell, Russell Hansel, executive director of the Mount Carmel Guild; Mary Linda Hahn, the Guild’s program director of Home Health Nursing Services; Rowena Madden, executive director of the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service; Ofira Schwartz-Soicher, program support specialist; and Dr. Procaccino.

“Students seem to be motivated by having a real world client come to class and explain what they need in a computer-based system as opposed to some fictitious project that I dreamed up over the summer,” said Procaccino.

In Noonan’s class, Stuart Gray’s responsibilities were to gather information on nursing homes admissions in relation to home-based assisted living. He also helped review literature on the topic. “I felt the class was great; I gained a lot of knowledge on how to work as a team to accomplish a common goal,” said Gray, who graduated this May with a bachelor’s degree in business economics major. He plans to one day work in investment banking. “It also gave me a sense of moral accomplishment being able to help a non-profit organization that does such great work for the poor elderly.”

Maria Fontana, who graduated this May with bachelor’s degrees in finance and business economics, found that home health care services are not only cost effective, but are also shown to improve patient outcomes.

“I’ve never had a class like this in my four years at Rider, so this was definitely an exciting experience,” said Fontana. “Although we are always working with groups in other classes, this one was different because the whole class was involved with the same project. Because we worked with such a larger group than usual, I feel this class has prepared me more for the business world.”

For Mount Carmel Guild executive director Russ Hansel, it was a win-win situation. “Mount Carmel benefited from the students' research,” said Hansel. “We will incorporate it into reports and grant applications. There is a strong need to have a collaborative effort between non-profit organizations and the educational sector, particularly colleges and universities. Community-based learning for both entities is a great way to go.”