| HEALTH PROFESSIONS E-LETTER, September
2006
Dear Reader,
An opinion piece in the July 21 Chronicle of Higher Education
raises questions about the development of clinical doctorates
in several health professions, including audiology, occupational
therapy, and physical therapy. (In addition, currently under
review and development is a clinical doctorate in clinical laboratory
science.)
The authors argue that the growth of clinical doctorates may
have unintended negative consequences, including a reduced number
of new graduates during a time of shortages across the health
professions, as well as a decrease in practitioners from minority
populations, for whom the time and expense of doctorate-level
education may prove prohibitive: http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.2.344263
Best regards,
Fred Donini-Lenhoff, editor
1. AMA survey response rate
now 42%
2. Featured Program: Rehabilitation
counseling, Western Oregon U
3. Surgeons recognize key role of
anesthesiologist assistants in OR
4. Seeking health professions data?
AMA book has the answers
5. Diagnostic medical sonography
featured on HPN site
6. Good news, bad news in medical
laboratory wage and vacancy survey
7. Radiologic science educators
graduate from leadership academy
8. These needles float like a butterfly,
don't sting like a bee
9. New 6th to 12th grade magnet
school to prepare future health professionals
10. Fat in the USA: Poor states
in South have higher obesity
11. On the calendar: Health Professions Network to meet in Phoenix
1. AMA survey response rate now
42%
Thanks to the 2,600 programs that have completed the 2006
Survey of Health Professions Education Programs.
Survey data will appear in the 2007-2008 editions of the
Health Professions Career and Education Directory and Health
Professions Education Data Book.
Following is a breakdown of completion rates by occupation:
| Occupation |
Total # of Pgms |
% surveys completed |
| Anesthesiologist Asst |
4 |
50% |
| Art Therapy |
31 |
19% |
| Athletic Training |
350 |
38% |
| Audiologist |
94 |
21% |
| Cardiovascular Technology |
28 |
46% |
| Clin Lab Scientist/Med Tech |
226 |
77% |
| Clin Lab Technician/MLT |
198 |
75% |
| Clinical Assisting |
3 |
0% |
| Counseling |
191 |
13% |
| Cytogenetic Technology |
5 |
60% |
| Cytotechnology |
48 |
60% |
| Dance/Movement Therapy |
5 |
60% |
| Dental Assisting |
267 |
39% |
| Dental Hygiene |
279 |
46% |
| Dental Lab Technician |
21 |
28% |
| Diagnostic Med Sonography |
138 |
45% |
| Diagnostic Molecular Scientist |
3 |
33% |
| Electroneurodiagnostic Tech |
12 |
25% |
| Emergency Med Tech-Paramedic |
209 |
27% |
| Genetic Counseling |
29 |
58% |
| Health Information Admin |
46 |
26% |
| Health Information Tech |
178 |
19% |
| Histotechnician |
23 |
60% |
| Histotechnology |
2 |
50% |
| Kinesiotherapy |
6 |
16% |
| Low Vision Therapy |
1 |
0% |
| Massage Therapy |
63 |
14% |
| Medical Assistant |
538 |
44% |
| Medical Illustrator |
5 |
40% |
| Medical Librarian |
55 |
9% |
| Music Therapy |
70 |
37% |
| Nuclear Medicine Technology |
96 |
90% |
| Occupational Therapy Asst |
135 |
40% |
| Occupational Therapy |
156 |
38% |
| Ophthalmic Assistant |
5 |
0% |
| Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician |
22 |
22% |
| Ophthalmic Med Technician |
8 |
37% |
| Ophthalmic Med Technologist |
8 |
62% |
| Orientation and Mobility Specialist |
18 |
16% |
| Orthoptist |
17 |
58% |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist |
7 |
42% |
| Pathologists' Assistant |
7 |
57% |
| Perfusionist |
21 |
38% |
| Pharmacy Technician |
96 |
28% |
| Phlebotomist |
52 |
67% |
| Physical Therapist Assistant |
222 |
32% |
| Physical Therapist |
202 |
38% |
| Physician Assistant |
133 |
53% |
| Radiation Therapy |
78 |
57% |
| Radiographer |
606 |
56% |
| Rehabilitation Counseling |
98 |
25% |
| Rehabilitation Teacher |
8 |
25% |
| Respiratory Therapist (Advanced) |
312 |
44% |
| Respiratory Therapist (Entry-Level) |
41 |
36% |
| Specialist in BB Tech |
12 |
58% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist |
238 |
15% |
| Surgical Assistant |
7 |
15% |
| Surgical Technologist |
400 |
36% |
| Therapeutic Recreation Spec |
40 |
30% |
2. Featured Program: Rehabilitation
counseling, Western Oregon U
Each issue we profile a randomly selected educational program,
using text provided by program personnel who filled out the
AMA's annual survey.
This month we feature the rehabilitation counseling program
at Western Oregon University, Monmouth, the oldest and largest
such
program in the Northwest.
"Our CORE-accredited program provides scholarships through
the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the US Department
of Education, covering up to 80% of students' tuition. We
also have a training option for persons specializing in rehabilitation
counseling for persons who are deaf and/or hard of hearing."
To learn more about this program, see: http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.3.344263
*** Reminder to program directors ***
Be sure to complete your annual survey so that the Health
Professions Career and Education Directory reflects your updated
information. Contact Dorothy Grant-Bryant at dorothy.grant-bryant@ama-assn.org
(312 464-4936) for survey login assistance.
3. Surgeons recognize key role
of anesthesiologist assistants in OR
As members of the anesthesia care team, anesthesiologist
assistants (AAs) help ensure the highest standards of patient
care, according to an article in the August 2006 Bulletin
of the American College of Surgeons.
In addition, as their numbers increase, AAs are playing an
essential role in easing the anesthesia provider shortage,
the article notes.
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.4.344263
(PDF, 145KB, requires Adobe Reader)
4. Seeking health professions
data? AMA book has the answers
The new Health Professions Education Data Book includes
30 tables of data for academic year 2004-2005, including number
of programs and enrollments, attrition, and graduates by occupation,
state/province, and race/ethnic origin and gender.
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.5.344263
5. Diagnostic medical sonography
featured on HPN site
The profession of sonography is now featured on the Health
Professions Network's Web site:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.6.344263
To request that HealthProNet.org feature your health profession
in the future, e-mail: webmaster@healthpronet.org
6. Good news, bad news in medical
laboratory wage and vacancy survey
The American Society for Clinical Pathology has released
the latest of its biennial surveys of wages and vacancies
in America's medical laboratories. Some highlights:
- The median average hourly wage continues to rise
at about 3.5% annually; salaries rose by about 7% between
2003 and 2005
- Nearly 44% of laboratories report they are having difficulties
recruiting or hiring medical laboratory personnel
- About 30% of surveyed laboratories report that employees
are being asked to work shifts as long as 12 hours
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.7.344263
(PDF, 124KB, requires Adobe Reader)
7. Radiologic science educators
graduate from leadership academy
Twenty radiologic science educators from the US and overseas
came together in July for the annual Leadership Academy for
Educators, sponsored by the American Society of Radiologic
Technologists.
The academy provides program directors, full-time faculty,
and clinical coordinators an opportunity to enhance their
instruction skills, incorporate new teaching methods and technologies
into their programs, and network with fellow educators.
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.8.344263
8. These needles float like a
butterfly, don't sting like a bee
Needles and syringes decorated with butterflies, flowers,
and smiley faces can ease fear of injections among child and
adult patients, according to a study at the University of
New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.9.344263
9. New 6th to 12th grade magnet
school to prepare future health professionals
An historic but troubled inner-city school in Indianapolis
has been reborn as a medical magnet school. It will offer
a demanding curriculum to prepare sixth through 12th grade
students for careers in health care.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, the IU
School of Medicine, and Clarian Health Partners have agreed
to help launch the magnet and will aid teachers, mentor students,
and provide internships.
"Developing medical pros from age 12"
Indianapolis Star, August 3
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.10.344263
10. Fat in the USA: Poor
states in South have higher obesity
The five states with the highest obesity rates -- Mississippi,
Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Kentucky -- also have
much higher rates of poverty than the national norm, according
to a recent report from the Trust for America's Health.
The South is home to nine out of the 10 states with the highest
obesity rates. It also hosts nine of the 10 states with the
highest rates of diabetes and hypertension.
Mississippi's adult obesity rate is 29.5 percent. Colorado,
at 16.9 percent, was the least heavy state, followed by Hawaii,
Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island.
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.11.344263
Fighting obesity is one of the AMA's priorities in its effort
to improve the health of the public. Visit http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.12.344263
to watch a brief AMA video that explores the controversy over
whether obesity can and should be classified as a disease.
11. On the calendar: Health
Professions Network to meet in Phoenix
The Health Professions Network (HPN) invites you to "Reaching
Across the Professions to Support Quality Care Initiatives,"
the HPN Fall Conference in Phoenix, AZ.
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.13.344263
ABOUT US . . .
The Health Professions Career and Education E-letter is produced
by the American Medical Association (AMA).
This periodic newsletter covers educational trends and career-related
issues for more than 60 professions that participate in the
delivery of health care, including diagnostic and rehabilitative
services, therapeutic treatments, health or information services
management, counseling for psychosocial and cognitive needs,
or related services.
Newsletter readers and contributors include staff of health
professions accrediting agencies, educational programs and institutions,
professional organizations, certifying/licensing boards, and
media contacts.
Previous issues are available online at: http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.1.344263
GIVE US YOUR STORY IDEAS AND FEEDBACK
What's happening in the world of health professions? If you
have any leads or story ideas, please contact us. Also, let
us know what you think about this newsletter--and feel free
to forward it to your colleagues.
Direct suggestions, comments, compliments, gripes, to
Fred Donini-Lenhoff
American Medical Association
Medical Education Products
515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
312 464-4635
312 464-5830 fax
fred_lenhoff@ama-assn.org
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.3646.1.344263
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