NC Speech Hearing Language Association
Wayne Foster, Immediate past president
Wayne Foster announced that the NCSHLA held its 51st annual
convention on April 30, 2005 in Winston-Salem. Despite anticipating
a down year due to last year being the association’s
celebratory 50th anniversary at Grove Park Inn, instead membership
at this years convention approached 500 and membership in
the state association is at record levels. Student attendance
at the convention was very high as is current student membership.
The state of the professional organization in North Carolina
is strong, reported Foster.
This year NCSHLA has addressed a serious problem confronting
audiologists. The current scope of practice as detailed in
the licensure law is woefully inadequate and does not reflect
current practice in audiology. After considerable debate and
a great deal of drafting, NCSHLA has, through supportive members
of the legislature, presented legislation to correct this
problem. The association anticipates a successful outcome.
In the near future similar legislation will be offered to
address scope of practice issues for speech/language pathologists.
While the dearth of speech/language pathologists particularly
in the public schools seems to always be a problem, explained
Foster, current evidence shows that the need for clinicians
is growing faster than availability. Some figures from the
Department of Public Instruction indicate that there will
be a shortfall of approximately 150 therapists in the public
schools alone. Foster elaborated that this is unfortunately
a nationwide problem and the shift of clinicians from one
state to another only works to rob Peter to pay Paul. The
university programs continue to have waiting lists of students
and are cranking out students at capacity levels. As far as
it can be discerned without an analysis of need, it appears
that other public and private agencies continue to have many
unfilled positions.
The collaboration of speech, OT and PT has had a positive
impact on rate setting in North Carolina. This is a continuing
process, as honorary membership to the association was bestowed
upon Jeri Bates (who is not a speech pathologist) for her
work in organizing and facilitating this collaboration.
Foster concluded by stating that the national association
has finally mandated continuing education as part of maintaining
certification. There are approximately 4000 speech pathologists
and audiologists in North Carolina. These individuals will
be seeking CEUs. The association’s annual convention
and fall meeting cannot serve that many individuals. So, the
state association is gearing up to provide continuing education
through distance learning. The use of the website continues
to grow and it appears it will become a force for continuing
education in the near future.
Foster added that the NCSHLA is committed to working with
the Allied Health Council and welcomes any collaborative efforts.
North Carolina Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
Elizabeth Haile, Representative
Haile began her presentation announcing that four members
of the North Carolina Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
- Dr. Rebecca Laudicina (UN-CH), Dr. Karen Sullivan (ECU),
Dr. Margaret Schmidt (Duke), and LaVonda Benbow (Wake Tech
student) received national awards at the ASCLA Annual meeting
this past last July. She indicated to attendees that an information
handout on the Society was included in the meeting material
folders for their review.
Some of the challenges confronting the Clinical Laboratory
Science profession in North Carolina reported Haile include:
workforce data – the retirement/resignation rate far
outweighs the number of new graduates. The average age of
Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Technicians
(CLS/CLT) is 47/43. She explained that many CLS/CLTs remain
in the clinical laboratory area for only a few years, and
then leave the profession and move into industry and pharmaceutical
sales jobs with better pay/salary growth and working conditions.
Haile added that the increasing demand based on slightly unrealistic
CSI series for quicker turnover in DNA testing will result
in more new forensic labs that will also recruit skilled CLS/CLT
from clinical laboratories.
Haile added that the salary ranges for clinical laboratory
science professionals in North Carolina are well below the
national averages, neighboring state, and significantly lower
than other health care professionals with similar educational
requirements. This encourages CLS/CLT to leave healthcare
and is a deterrent in recruiting students into the profession,
which possessed an academically rigorous program. Haile added
that in the area of education, aging and retirement of faculty
impacts the CLS/CLT programs. There are requirements for advanced
degrees but there are no advanced degrees programs specifically
in the clinical laboratory sciences in North Carolina.
Areas of professional concern include Point of Care (POC)
testing which is being conducted by many other healthcare
professionals and not CLS. She explained that CLS professionals
need to be involved with POC testing in order to maintain
the integrity of those tests and the accuracy and interpretation
of their results. She ended by stating that licensure is also
an issue, as CLS/CLT are not licensed in North Carolina.
NC Academy of Physician Assistants
Audrey Tuttle, President-Elect
Tuttle commenced by stating that the goals of the Academy
is to continually monitor legislature and bills due to the
impact that these bodies have on the profession and to provide
continued education to physician assistants in order for them
to develop their skills. She explained that the Academy has
two conferences per year and announced that the next conference
will be at Houston Plantation in August 2005. An anticipated
1000 participants are attending the meeting and will be representing
34 states.
The Academy had recently constructed the Stead Center located
at 1121 Slater Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27703. The
North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants is the first
state academy to construct its own building, Tuttle said.
She provided attendees with an information handout on the
Center.
Art Therapy Association of North Carolina
Naila Gazale-Lowe, President
Naila Gazale-Lowe began her presentation with a PowerPoint
presentation. She stated that the Art Therapy Association
of North Carolina exist in order to: provide a voice for art
therapists in the state as well as a supportive network, to
promote ethical standards of practice; and to educate the
public and health care institutions about the benefits of
art therapy.
She discusses the recent completion of the Association’s
Crane Project at a hospital, which was supported by a grant
in which patients made cranes for a period of two weeks. The
project was very successful however, securing support for
its implementation was difficult.
Gazale-Lowe explained that the Art Therapy Association of
North Carolina operates under the auspices of the American
Art Therapy Association whose website is located at www.atanc.homestead.com
and which list the ethics for the profession. Challenges confronting
Art Therapists in North Carolina, she explained include visibility,
which equates validity of the Art Therapy profession. Currently,
there are 48 art therapists in North Carolina which is considered
to be a great deal due to there being no existing in-state
training institutes. She added that many students contact
her in their attempts to find Art Therapy training institutes
but that none exist. An individual cannot be an art therapists
without a Master degree added Gazale-Lowe. There are not many
art therapists and very few people who know what art therapist’s
duties entail.
In another matter, the North Carolina legislature has not
granted the profession licensure, therefore denying the occupation
an identity and validation as clinicians. She explained that
not having an accurate job description dis-empowers art therapists
from their diagnostic roles. Presently art therapists struggle
for an accurate job description and often work in the umbrella
communities of occupational therapy and recreational therapy.
Art therapists are often found working within hospitals, geriatric
and prison centers, children’s homes, hospice systems,
wellness centers and private practice.
She concluded that more challenges, which confront art therapists
include job isolation –the inability of being unable
to communicate with fellow colleagues, engage in peer supervision,
and share notes about the profession in general.
NC Association of Blood Bankers
Julie Simmons, President
Simmons indicated that the members of the NC Association
of Blood Bankers work in blood banks and large blood collection
centers. The association allows students the opportunity to
attend meetings for free and annual spring workshop at discount
rates.
Some of the current challenges confronting the association
stems from a blood problem – a human product. Presently,
there is now increased blood testing, and increased restrictions
as far as blood donors are concerned. Simmons explained that
only a small existing percentage of individuals are eligible
to donate. Limited professional resources exist and increased
blood testing has resulted in increased expenses.
The association is comprised of about 140 members.
NC Society of Cytology
Lena Cox, President
The NC Society of Cytology has been working hard the past
four years to revitalize the society, stated Cox. This year
will be the society’s 35th annual meeting and membership
over the past few years has experienced a 20% increase. She
explained that the society encourages student participation
and does not charge them to attend their meeting or to become
members of the society. Presently only two existing programs
in Cytology exist in the state of North Carolina. One program
is located at the Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte
and the other is located in Chapel Hill.
In another matter, current concerns in the cytology profession
include deficiency testing. The 2005 deficiency test results
will not count, however the 2006 test results will count.
Only one organization is offering this very expensive test,
which is causing some cytologists great concern. Cox elaborated
that cytologists are trying to become comfortable with the
knowledge that the results of the 2006 test will count. The
2006 test will require cytologists to score a 90% average
or better. If this score is not achieved, then cytologists
will be subject to remedial training and to retaking the test.
Deficiency tests are not much of an issue with new individuals
to the profession due to their being more familiar with test
taking skills. The test is of a larger concern for older cytologists
who might be on the verge of retirement. Cox anticipates that
there will be an increase need for cytologists as some cytologist
are nearing retirement. She added that she is hoping that
deficiency testing will be the start of a good trend in the
profession and not a terrible concern for cytologists.
American Massage Therapy Association of North Carolina
Rachel Mann, President
Mann announced that the American Massage Therapy Association
of North Carolina presently has 52,000 members and is over
77 years old. The state chapter of North Carolina has 13,000
members and received licensing in 1998. The first licenses
were issued in 1999. Mann indicated that the organization
is still struggling with getting all therapists licensed and
that the association wants all massage therapists to become
licensed therapists. She said that the association needs the
Council’s help in spreading the word in encourage message
therapists to become licensed.
She reported that the association requires therapists to
undergo continuing education of 25 hours every two years and
currently has three bills in the North Carolina legislature.
Mann announced that there had been a discrepancy in the schools.
Currently, there are 29 existing programs in the state, with
13 proprietary schools, and the remaining programs are in
community colleges. The association is working on resolving
the school discrepancy issue before it goes to all the committees
in the legislature.
Message therapy is a profession that is found in spas, homes,
offices and hospitals. The national organization is working
with other interested parties in constructing a definition
for medical massage. She added that hopefully this comprehensive
definition will exist in a few years.
In another matter, massage therapists do not receive third
party reimbursements. Major insurance companies in the state
do not recognize message therapy as a health care profession.
It is recognized in other states and the association’s
national organization is working on developing the association’s
CPT codes and will be resubmitting these codes for next year.
The NC Association for Deans and Chairs of Health
Sciences
Nancy Sumner Porter, Representative
Porter began her presentation by announcing that she was
representing a new allied health association – the NC
Association for Deans and Chairs of Health Science, which
was established in 2004. She explained that the deans and
chairs gathered in Raleigh at the request of Cathy Franklin-Griffin
to address the issue of defining retention and attrition for
health programs in the North Carolina Community College System.
Many of the Deans have served as ADN Department Chairs and
lamented the lack of a network for deans similar to the ADN
Directors organization. The group decided to form an organization.
A constitution was adopted and officers were elected on December
1, 2004. Porter said that the purpose of the organization
is “to promote the advancement of health science education
by encouraging innovation, collaboration, cooperation, and
communication among Deans and Chairs of Allied Health Sciences.”
The association also seeks to provide leadership by advocating
the interest of health science and by reflecting the broad
scope of health science disciplines. Within the community
college system, the leadership of promoting the interest of
health sciences extends to the associate pre-nursing degree
all the way to the vet tech degree.
Porter added that the association has been fortunate in its
elections of its officers as they are currently geographically
distributed throughout the state. Since their December elections,
the officers have addressed criminal background checks for
students and faculty, the NC Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations
for Educational programs, Medication Aide, NCIOM recommendations,
and the status of Therapeutic Massage programs.
She indicated that there was an information handout for reference
in attendees meeting material folders.
NC Physical Therapy Association
Daniel Dore, President
Dan Dore the president of the NC Physical Therapy Association
indicated that his group represents both physical therapists
and physical therapist assistants. Dore said that the association
is very interested in making sure that North Carolinians are
not underserved in the area of Physical therapy. His association
is concerned with individuals, primarily children, who do
not have the payment to receive care or treatment. Dore said
that his association is interested in working with attendees
in trying to create a significant impact upon state legislators.
He concluded by saying he was looking forward to working with
any attendees who are interested in making changes legislative-wise
in their professional areas.
NC Recreation Therapy Association
Julie Bradwell, President
Bradwell announced that the NC Recreation Therapy Association’s
recent efforts have consisted of contributing to their national
association’s efforts of working on the Medicare Project.
The Medicare Project asks federal representatives of the association
to support their colleague letter requesting language and
clarification in the CMS Regulatory guidelines with regards
to the provision of recreation therapy services as needed
in inpatient rehab hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and school
nursing facilities. Since recreation therapists are already
currently working in facilities that are covered by a preferred
provider system out of Medicare, this request on a national
basis is budget neutral, explained Bradwell.
The association’s board of directors currently are going
to the colleges and universities in the state that have recreation
therapy curriculums and conducting town hall meetings for
their future leaders. These meetings consist of educating
recreation therapy students on what NCRT’s mission is
and membership benefits. Students identify their concerned
with the recreation therapy profession and solutions are created
in trying to resolve them.
In another matter, the association is submitting a letter
to the NC Medicaid requesting that Recreation Therapy be identified
as a qualifying service providers for various outpatient and
rehab settings, mental health facilities and within CAP and
NRVB, including others. A recreation therapy licensure bill
has been introduced on the house side and currently is in
the finance committee. The Therapeutic Recreation Certification
Board is initiating this bill and Betty Garrett the executive
director of the Board is the appropriate individual to contact
regarding comments and questions about this bill, Bradwell
said.
The association’s annual conference will be on September
18 – 20, 2005 in Charlotte with a one day pre-conference
on altheimzers presented by the NC Recreation Therapy’s
national association ATRA. Bradwell welcomed attendees to
speak at their upcoming conference and that information about
the association is available at their website located at www.ncrta.org.
NC Dental Hygiene Association
Debbie Levefers, President
Access to care is currently the critical issue of concern
within the dental hygiene profession, said Levefers and is
being taken up with the North Carolina legislature. She explained
that there exist a huge unmet need for dental care in the
state among the very old and the very young. The average cost
of getting teeth cleaned is now about $120.00, which is a
luxury few state residents can afford.
The North Carolina Dental Hygienist practice act requires
that dental hygienists operate under the direct supervision
of a dentist. Levefers said that this requirement will not
allow dental hygienists to catch up with the state’s
current need for dental care due to hygienists being required
to mirror their supervisor’s hours of practice. The NC
Dental Hygiene Association is requesting that the law read
that general hygienists can operate under general supervision.
This way, she explained, a patient could have a dental examine
at the respective facility, have a prescription written, and
then a dental hygienist could be hired by the particular facility
to performed that duty without having a dentist on the premises.
This would help with the demand for dental care as well as
address the underemployed issues in the area of dental hygiene.
There are twelve dental hygiene programs in the state of
North Carolina and nine of the twelve programs have indicated
to Levefers that they cannot put last year’s graduates
to work due to a glut in the profession. Levefers elaborated
that direct supervision mandates that a dentist in North Carolina
can only hire two dental hygienists at a time. If general
supervision existed, a dentist could hire whatever amount
of individuals that were required to accomplish the job. General
supervision would allow dental hygienists to go off-sites
and perform their duties. General supervision would also put
underemployed and unemployed dental hygienists to work. She
asked for the attendees to discuss issue with their contact
and to view general supervision of dental hygienists as a
positive thing for the profession.
In another matter, the association wants to introduce into
the legislature the right for dental hygienists to administer
local anesthesia. This right would help dental hygienists
help older patients in nursing homes to be more comfortable
when they require dental treatments. Thirty-seven states currently
allow hygienist to administrate local anesthesia.
She said that the association would also like to work toward
self-regulation. The association would like to see North Carolinian
hygienist to be viewed as professionals that can regulate
themselves, have their own dental hygiene board of examiners
and not have to operate under the auspices of the Dental Board
of Examiners.
Association membership has increased steadily. There are
4,000 registered dental hygienists in the state and 668 members
belong with the association.
NC Society of Respiratory Care
Bob Campbell, Representative
Bob Campbell spoke on behalf of A. Ray Braxton the president
of the North Carolina Society of Respiratory Care. Campbell
stated that respiratory therapists in the state have been
licensed since 2002. Approximately 350 respiratory therapists
are employed in North Carolina. The goal of the NC Society
of Respiratory Care has been to enhance the science of respiratory
care and respiratory therapy by primarily conducting their
annual meeting every year in September. The last past meetings
have been extremely successful with attendance being at four
hundred plus individuals, he said.
North Carolina has a continuing education requirement for
state licensure that the association helps respiratory therapists
meet by running that continuing education program. Campbell
indicated that the association always thanks the local and
state AHEC for helping run these programs. His association
is active in the local level and is an affiliate of the American
Association of Respiratory Care. At the 2004 annual meeting
in New Orleans, the NC Society of Respiratory Care was awarded
the Affiliate Award.
Campbell thanked Fraher for her Respiratory Therapy Workforce
Report and concurred that the issues her report identified
are indeed issues that respiratory therapists are confronted
with such as the manpower shortage. He concurred with Fraher’s
2005 Vacancy Report providing accurate vacancy rates within
the profession. Campbell indicated that the association fills
out their job vacancies with individuals from agencies. Due
to the nature of the work at Duke Hospital, an agency person
does not do the entire scope of the respiratory care practice
and therefore the agency person does not substitute for a
trained, full-time employee.
Campbell identified attendee Bill Croft as being a proponent
in the creation of a bachelors degree program in respiratory
care in North Carolina. The NC Society of Respiratory Care,
the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board, and the North Carolina
Educators all support the creation of bachelor degree programs
in the state to help address the problems associated with
public agencies, faculty positions, government agencies, and
in hospital positions.
Music Therapy Association of North Carolina
Becky Engens, President-Elect
Engens announced that there are three schools in North Carolina
with programs in music therapy and that the Music Therapy
Association of North Carolina is in the process of accrediting
a forth school. Due to there only being four national roster
internships, retention is an issue.
The association’s website was established ten years
ago on a geocities account but the association has recently
purchased a domain name that echoes the national association’s
domain name and regional format. This new domain name will
allow the association to be more accessible to individuals
looking for its services.
In another matter, senior exit projects are a current issue
confronting the group. The association is overwhelmed by calls
by high school senior students who contact the association
to extract information about the music therapy profession.
Due to the popularity of music therapy, the association receives
annually an average of 100 calls from among 6 or 7 clinicians
in the state in about a six-week time span. These calls range
from extremely articulate students who have conducted background
research on the profession, to individuals who have not yet
accessed the national website. Engens explained that at this
time no one centralized place exist to address such concerns
as these projects. Engens questioned attendees if this had
been a problem that their associations were confronted with
and welcomed comments on how respond with such calls.
North Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologists
Melissa Jackowski, President
Jackowski provided attendees with a PowerPoint presentation
and handouts. She focused on three issues within the radiologic
technologist profession, which include: workforce issues,
advanced practice clinician and the C.A.R.E. Bill legislation.
She said that in 2002 the profession had the highest vacancy
rate for all health professions and that since 2000 the number
of first time registrants in radiography has increased by
66%.
She announced that the profession has added the position
of radiologist assistant to the field. She explained that
radiologist assistants are new advanced practice clinicians
and work under the supervision of a radiologist. They exist
to assist with the workflow and cannot make official interpretations
of images - only initial observations of diagnostic images.
The First registry exam for RAs will take place the fall of
2005. UNC has received a grant to start a class for radiologic
assistants and will hopefully have an incoming class this
fall.
Jackowski discussed the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic
Excellence (C.A.R.E.) Bill. This bill will establish education
and credentialing standards for personnel who plan and deliver
radiation therapy and perform all types of medical imaging
exams with the exception of ultrasound and echocardiography.
Jackowski attended a nationally sponsored event called RTs
in DC. She elaborated that the consumer assurance of radiologic
excellence in the field is the goal to promote to legislators.
The C.A.R.E. Bill will ensure the quality of images and reduce
the need for additional testing, delays in treatment, and
patient anxiety. North Carolina is one state that does not
have licensing requirements for radiologic therapy and this
lack of licensing poises a threat to the public.
Current legislation for House Bill 1426 was introduced by
Congressman Chip Pickering on March 17, 2005 and Senator Michael
Enzi will introduced Senate Bill 1197 but no specific date
for this bill’s introduction has yet been announced.
Jackowski said that North Carolina support is needed in order
for legislators to hear from their constituents over this
important bill. She directed Council members to the North
Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologist’s website
at www.ncsrt.org and stated that more information on the C.A.R.E.
Bill could be found at the American Society of Radiologic
Technologists website at www.asrt.org.
NC Occupational Therapy Association
Cherie Conroy-Harman, President with Carol Siebert, President-Elect
Conroy-Harman thanked the Council for its work in the allied
health professions. She stated that the NC Occupational Therapy
Association is a powerful group that has focused its efforts
this year on legislation. The association has strove to provide
excellent continuing education for OT members and OTA members.
The 2006 American Occupational Therapy Association national
meeting will be in Charlotte, North Carolina and the association
is collaborating with the national group.
Conroy-Harman introduced president-elect, Carole Siebert
to speak on the association’s legislative endeavors.
Siebert stated that she had been involved in a task force
that was formed in a collaborative effort between their association
and the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy to bring
their profession’s practice act up to date. The act has
not been revised since it was passed twenty years ago.
June 2004 of last year saw the endorsement of draft language
for the act by the association and the regulatory board. The
regulatory board then placed the draft language on their website
last fall in order to seek input from allied health professionals
and from other interested partied. The task force kept meeting
and the bill was introduced in the house and the senate in
late February. The senate health committee heard Bill 208
on April 27, 2005 and moved the bill on to the finance committee.
Siebert said the association was examining the concerns that
were raised at that committee meeting and were working with
their national accreditation board, their national board and
their education curricula to resolve them. She concluded that
the association could look forward shortly to having a practice
act that would be comprehensive to the twenty-first century.
Bacon indicated that in future, the Professional Associations
Presidents meeting might be spread out over more than one
day due to many good ideas stemming from the attendees. He
added that continuing education is an area of great concern
for these associations and that he and other council members
would be pleased to endorse efforts in the area of continued
education.
