| HEALTH PROFESSIONS E-LETTER, July
2005
Dear Reader,
It's official: The AMA House of Delegates, meeting in June
in Chicago, recognized that a physician shortage exists, at
least in some regions and specialties, andthat evidence points
to additional future shortages:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.2.344263
What do you think? Have you seen evidence of physician shortages
in your community? And do you think that media coverage of physician
shortages will help increase awareness of similar shortages
in many allied health professions?
Please e-mail your thoughts to fred.lenhoff@ama-assn.org,
for publication in a future issue.
Best regards,
Fred
1. New data book based on
survey: Please complete it now!
2. Where to go for more dough? Rad
tech salary, by region
3. The elite eight (hospitals) providing
patient-centered communication
4. Bridging the gap between health
professionals, family caregivers
5. "Nutra-sweet Home Alabama?" Diet
plan to trim the fat
6. Two new North Carolina allied
health reports available online
7. Media messages: Bonuses, scholarships
for in-demand health professionals
8. Nonphysician Surgical Assistant
"Allied Health Profession of the Month"
9. ASRT officially defines radiologist
assistant
10. Service learning in physical
therapy education
11. Diversity Allied Health Careers
now online
REMINDER: Order your copy of the Health
Professions Career and Education Directory online at:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.3.344263
1. New data book based on survey:
Please complete it now!
The new Health Professions Education Data Book includes 30
tables of data for academic year 2003-2004, 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?A40.576.2440.4.344263
The data in this publication are based on the AMA's annual
Survey of Health Professions Education Programs -- have you
completed yours?
If not, please contact Dorothy Grant-Bryant at dorothy.grant-bryant@ama-assn.org
(312 464-4936) for login information.
2. Where to go for more dough?
Rad tech salary, by region
A survey from the medical imaging Web site AuntMinnie.com
found that the most lucrative region for radiologic technologists
was the US Pacific, with an average base salary of $65,785,
followed by the New England zone ($59,655).
At the low end were the East South Central region ($48,395)
and West North Central ($49,331). See:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.5.344263
3. The elite eight (hospitals)
providing patient-centered communication
Eight hospitals have been recognized by the AMA for developing
exemplary programs to improve communication between health
care professionals and patients:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.6.344263
4. Bridging the gap between health
professionals, family caregivers
Hospital leaders can take practical steps to reduce tension
and improve relations between family caregivers and hospital
staff, according to a recent article in Hospitals & Health
Networks:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.7.344263
5. "Nutra-sweet Home Alabama?"
Diet plan to trim the fat
Increasing physical activity by building more sidewalks and
trails and encouraging physical education classes, as well
as training health professionals in preventing and treating
weight-related problems, are part of a plan to help the state
with the highest obesity in the US reduce its size:
"Task force has diet plan for fat Alabama"
The Birmingham News, June 8
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.8.344263
Similarly, the AMA has issued several new directives to encourage
school-based initiatives that promote nutrition and exercise:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.9.344263
6. Two new North Carolina allied
health reports available online
A. The State of Allied Health in North Carolina
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.10.344263
(Adobe Reader required)
Note: Also available in PowerPoint, at:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.11.344263
B. The Allied Health Vacancy Report
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.12.344263
(Adobe Reader required)
This report shows that occupational therapists, respiratory
therapists, and speech-language pathologists had the highest
vacancy indices in the state, versus pharmacy technicians,
medical lab technicians, and medical technologists with the
lowest. (See link to news coverage of the report in "Media
messages," below.)
Source: The Council for Allied Health in North Carolina,
in partnership with the NC Area Health Education Centers Program
and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
7. Media messages: Bonuses, scholarships
for in-demand health professionals
To fill vacancies in high-demand professions like occupational
therapy, respiratory therapy, and speech-language pathology,
North Carolina hospitals are offering incentives like scholarships
and referral bonuses. See:
"Allied health professionals in high demand"
The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area (NC), June
20
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.13.344263
8. Nonphysician Surgical Assistant
"Allied Health Profession of the Month"
Now featured on the Health Professions Network's Web site
is the profession of nonphysician surgical assistant:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.14.344263
To request that HealthProNet.org feature your health profession
in the future, send an e-mail to: webmaster@healthpronet.org
9. ASRT officially defines radiologist
assistant
Meeting in Orlando last month, the American Society of Radiologic
Technologists' House of Delegates:
- Defined the radiologist assistant as an advanced-practice
radiographer who enhances patient care by serving as a radiologist
extender
- Recommended that ultrasound examinations be performed
only when there is a clinical indication, and not for nonmedical
"entrepreneurial" or "entertainment"
purposes
- Endorsed culturally competent health care education as
necessary for radiologic technologists
Read more at:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.15.344263
10. Service learning
in physical therapy education
The May 2005 issue of Physical Therapy Magazine featured
an article on service learning in physical therapy education.
The article is available via the service learning resources
page of Community-Campus Partnerships for Health, along with
examples of service learning programs and course syllabi in
physical therapy and other health professions:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.16.344263
11. Diversity Allied
Health Careers now online
Diversity Allied Health Careers, a multicultural career and
educational development magazine for allied health students
and professionals, is now available online:
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.17.344263
Available articles include:
A Race for Life (on EMTs and paramedics)
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.18.344263
Careers in: Speech-Language Pathology
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.19.344263
A Day in the Life (profiles on practitioners in occupational
therapy, respiratory therapy, dietetics, physical therapy,
and social work)
http://enews.ama-assn.org/UM/T.asp?A40.576.2440.20.344263
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?A40.576.2440.1.344263
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?A40.576.2440.1.344263
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