Amy Crisson - Allied Health Professional Rep, Group 6

1. Members of the Council and guests introduced themselves.
2. Changes to the membership of the Council were noted:
   • Kimberly Jernigan, head of Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program, will join the Council in October as the Community College’s representative. Judith Mann will be the back-up representative.
   • Timothy Holmes is the new Allied Health Professional Representative of Group 2, Rehabilitation Sciences. He is the current Vice-President of the NC Occupational Therapy Association.
   • Wayne Foster, who was the Allied Health Professional Representative of Group 2, is now the Allied Health Professional Representative to the Council’s Executive Committee.
   • Amy Crisson is the new Allied Health Professional Representative of Group 6, Medical Sciences. She is a member of the NC Health Information Management Association.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the May 3rd, 2006 Council minutes. A voice vote was taken. The minutes were approved by voice vote.

1. “Sleep Disorders and Their Effect on Physical, Emotional Behavior and the Economy” by Dr. Brad Vaughn, Professor of Neurology & Medical Director, UNC Sleep Disorders Center
   • An excellent description of the physiology of the delicate yet physiologically complex system of sleep.
   • Cost of sleep disorders about $150X109 in the nation; $1.3X106 in NC
   • 15-25% of automobile accidents in NC due to drowsy drivers; may soon exceed figure for DUI accidents
   • Main point of presentation: tremendous shortage of accredited sleep centers, accredited physicians and polysomnography technicians to handle present demand (UNC gets 50-80 referrals per week to the Sleep Clinic). In focusing on the allied health workforce issue, the need for polysomnography technicians in NC is critical: 800-1,000 needed as compared to 51 registered technicians.
   • Polysomnography technicians must have specific training to obtain the set of skills necessary to perform the labor intensive tasks of a sleep study which measures 27 physiological parameters. The sleep technologist must understand human anatomy, physiology, electrophysiology, electronics, and possess good computer skills. In addition, the technician must understand and appreciate human nature – patients are under stress from conditions imposed by the test and from lack of sleep.
   • Turnover Rate – 12-15% turnover rate due to job satisfaction, 3rd shift, overtime. Dr. Vaughn pointed out that at UNC turnover less than 7% attributed to satisfaction with continuing education opportunities provided by weekly training seminars
   • Only two accredited Polysomnography Training Programs in state – at Pitt Community College and at Catawba Valley Community College, one certificate program at Sanford Community College
     • 9 programs have submitted application to the Community College System – about one year to obtain approval; difficulty in finding accredited sleep centers to place students for clinical rotation. Donna Neal, chair of Polysomnography and Respiratory Care Program at Pitt Community College, substantiates this point. At Pitt, classes are limited to 14 students because not able to find accredited sleep centers. Contract sleep centers are not interested in taking students and would pose a problem in that there is little consistency among staff to provide supervision.
     • Difficulty in finding faculty – faculty must have at least same level of degree as program, preferably higher. Lee McLean pointed out role of UNC in training faculty with more advanced degrees for these programs. UNC Charlotte has submitted a proposal for a BS in Respiratory Therapy, but it is unclear whether polysomnography is part of the program. Donna Neal pointed out that Pitt spent $10,000 in advertising costs for recruiting faculty.
     • The State of Maryland may provide helpful insight – has active training programs with an active registry
   • Jim Sadler inquired whether there is another role for the Council in this scenario:
     • Yoder mentioned the possibility of polysomnography being included as one of the professions in the 2006 AH Job Vacancy Tracking Report. A survey of sleep centers is now underway by Fraher and her colleagues at the Sheps Center.
     • Yoder asked Bill Croft, who is a member of the board of the NC Sleep Society, to invite the Society to join the Council.
2. “Wake Early College of Health & Sciences” by Alisa Nagler, Dean of Health Sciences at Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh
   • Powerpoint handout of this excellent presentation of a specialized version of the early college concept is attached to the minutes. The unique feature of Wake Early College High School (WECHS) is its emphasis on the health and sciences fields because of its location on the Health Sciences Campus which is adjacent to WakeMed. In fact, the students will be able to walk back and forth as the current college students do. WakeMed will take an active part in the program by providing speakers, mentors, paid internships, and the opportunity for students to actually experience relevant working environments.
   • Principle behind Early College concept: “traditional high schools don’t work anymore for all students”. This is not a redesign of the outdated 1959 NC high school model to lower standards but an attempt to provide an alternative to 40% of high school students who do not graduate. Whitehurst pointed out that 30-40 community colleges are involved in this endeavor. The focus is on kids in the middle range (not high achieving students who want to get on a fast track to college). Students entering early college programs are recommended by the middle school where the selection criteria might include: home situation, lack of motivation, lack of role model. There is an attempt to recruit first generation college bound students. There are students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) being served at the WECHS. There is a special education teacher and it is believed these students will in fact excel at this school given the non-traditional surroundings and intense student support. It is estimated that only 28% of kids with disabilities finish high school (15% of kids in high school have disabilities; 65% of those are mild disabilities and these should be able to graduate). At Wake Tech, a lottery was used because of the number of applicants (a suspension of more than 10 days disqualified applicant). Whitehurst mentioned AVID program which attempts to accomplish similar goals but with the students housed in traditional high schools.
   • Greatest asset at Wake Early College is student support
     • Academic Advising (PULSE program) – 9 to 12 students meet with a staff or counselor everyday for 45 minutes. The staff member or counselor will retain this relationship with the student for 5 years resulting in continuity of support. During this period, academic, social and general needs are discussed.
     • Professional Development for faculty – time is created each day/week for planning for both the high school and college faculty. This is a requirement of the staff.
   • Some logistic problems that needed attention:
     • Bus schedule – transportation is provided; trying to minimize bus ride
     • Lunches – especially for students qualifying for subsidized lunches
     • Waiver of health class requirement from DPI
     • Resistance from college faculty and students – explain importance of goals and invariably agree to become mentors
     • Students are young to be on college campus – are contained as freshmen until become adjusted to new surroundings
     • Are students being locked in too early for career choice? Not necessarily, because can transfer credits to four year institution. Also, have to consider entrance into highly competitive programs – will they be given priority or have to wait after graduation to enter those programs?
     • Financial plans for sustaining program in future – The school is being supported from Governor Easley’s Learn & Earn Initiative. The state-wide funds have been matched by money from the Gates Foundation. Right now, a $300,000/yr grant for 5 years covers counselors, professional development, and college liaison position. The mechanics to generate revenue are already in place, but it must be recognized that the biggest challenge will be facility needs.

1. Projected Workforce Activities for 2006-07 – Erin Fraher, Alan Brown, David Yoder
   1. Introduction of Phillip Summers – graduate student in Public Health Leadership Program who will be conducting Sleep Center Survey and the Fall 2006 Allied Health Job Vacancy Tracking Report
   2. Survey of Sleep Centers – attempt to quantify lack of sleep technologists
   3. Release of August 2006 Vacancy Report – there will be a press release, and report will be posted on the website (http://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/hp/ ). It continues to be a good barometer of AH workforce demand. Newspapers have noticed data and published relevant stories: EMT story in the Raleigh News & Observer and OT story in the Durham Herald Sun
   4. NC Health Professions 2005 Data Book – now available at same website. Book is a great source of statistics for 18 licensed health professions; includes county level statistics.
   5. Allied Health and Economic Development in NC
      • Governor’s Office Meeting – Yoder and Fraher – proposal to identify AH as driver of economy. Important to forge connections with Governor’s Office, DHHS, Dept. of Labor, Dept. of Commerce
      • National Governors’ Association Policy Academy - State Sector Strategies: Innovative Workforce Policies to Address Worker and Employer Needs. Fraher and Yoder will participate as members of North Carolina's Allied Health Sector Strategy Team. The team will focus on developing a statewide strategy to address worker and employer needs in the allied health sector of the health care industry.
   6. Conference/Symposium in June
      • Yoder and Fraher are often invited to attend out of state conferences on allied health workforce issues, and have found that the data produced by Fraher and her colleagues are used as a basis for their cases and the Council as a model example.
      • The Conference envisioned as a day long event at the Friday Center, would highlights several items:
        • Impact of allied health on economy of NC
        • Council as model for rest of nation
        • Provide more visibility for the Council
        • Provided information for all constituents of the Council

1. Ken Whitehurst – Community Colleges have funds from the Legislature for purchase of equipment for allied health laboratories – waiting for proposals
2. Dissemination of information about the Council to member associations - Presidents of various associations requested copies of Council flier for distribution at annual conferences. The Council flier will be updated, printed, and mailed to these associations. Requests were made by the NC Recreational Therapy Association (9/23-9/24), the Carolinas Chapter of the American Horticultural Association (9/16-9/17), the NC Dental Hygiene Association Fall Scientific Meeting (9/14/16 in Cherokee,NC) . Others are encouraged to email the Council with their requests.
3. Utilization of Speech Language Pathology Assistants – Sherry Curtiss noted that an ad hoc committee has been formed to look at utilization of SLP assistants in public schools. Also, noted the addition of swallowing to scope of practice.
4. Concern raised by Marge Ottofy on behalf of Glenn Grady of the NC Society of Medical Assistants over the use of unqualified professionals as medical assistants – discussion of licensure, certification issues, title protection for this profession. Patients are not well informed or knowledgeable enough to be able to distinguish the education/certification of allied health care providers. Nancy Porter mentioned that The Gaston Gazette ran two articles that were very popular with the readership and are precisely related to this discussion.
   1. “Who takes care of you? Deciphering the alphabet soup of health care credentials”, Thursday, August 22, 2006
   2. “Decoding health’s alphabet soup: What do MOA, PBT and MT mean?”, Thursday, September 5, 2006.

1. The next Council meeting will be November 1, 2006 at the UNC General Administration Building Board Room
2. The 2007 Council Meeting Dates
• January 3, 2007
• March 7, 2007
• May 2, 2007 (Meeting at the Friday Center with Association Presidents)

Meeting adjourned at 12:30 pm.

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