Meeting & Agendas

Meeting called to order by the chair, Philip Johnston. Members introduced themselves.

Philip Johnston sets the next meeting date of February 19, 2010 from 11:30-1:30 p.m. He also adjourns the meeting.

Committee members reviewed last meeting minutes from April 24, 2009. The committee members voted to accept the minutes with no corrections.

Lisa McCartney reported an update on the status of experiential training sites. She distributed a list of the current practicum affiliation sites. Lisa commented that there were not too many affiliations south of Austin. She mentioned that there were a few new leads that she would pursue in spring 2010. These locations are currently moving to bigger facilities.
Practicum Affiliation - http://www.austincc.edu/health/minutes/phra/Final_practicum_affiliation.pdf

Lisa McCartney presented and distributed information regarding rational for creating an AAS degree option for ACC’s Pharmacy Tech program. Lisa mentioned that not only are students asking for the associate degree but employers have also discussed it with her. She also mentioned that by having an associate degree, students would be able to move into pharmacy supervisor positions and maybe even pursue to become Pharmacist. Eileen Klein told the committee that there were several steps to be taken before approving the associate degree. The Board of Trustees would to have to look at the justification of an associate degree option and would have to approve additional staff with the required credentials. Philip Johnston volunteered to get this data together and to get back with the committee in the future meeting.
Rational for AAS - http://www.austincc.edu/health/minutes/phra/rational_for_AAS.pdf

Program enrollment and graduate update- Richard Espinosa reported that the Pharmacy Technician program has 31 entering fall students and is expected to have 7 graduates in the summer. The present enrollment of students in the program is 61 which are up from the 41 it previously had. Finger printing requirement- Lisa McCartney mentioned that students will now be required to get fingerprinted by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy before their registration with the board as a trainee is approved. The cost is $44. Lisa McCartney reported that so far this process is going well with the students. The students are required to submit a copy of their receipt to the program which shows they have done the fingerprinting.

Richard Espinosa distributed the current graduation criteria handout to all committee members. He indicated that the criteria are set to have students complete the program in two semesters. Some students may even take up to three semesters to graduate. He mentioned that this information is available to all students in the Student Handbook and at new student orientation. Students must sign off that they received this information at new student orientation. The committee members reviewed the Graduation Criteria and voted to approve. Elizabeth Huss, CE Coordinator mentioned that for those students who are CE graduates in the program, they are now able to participate in the CE graduation ceremony. She invited the committee members to attend.
Graduation Criteria - http://www.austincc.edu/health/minutes/phra/graduation_criteria.pdf

ASHP Goals- Richard Espinosa distributed the Pharmacy Technician Program Goals handout to all the committee members. The committee reviewed each of the goals. Richard Espinosa mentioned that these goals are also in the student handbook and are presented to all students at the new student orientation. It is also presented in the practicum handbook for practicum students. Richard Espinosa motioned to approve the program goals of each course offered in the Pharmacy Tech program. The committee members voted to approve the goals unanimously. ASHP Visit- Lisa McCartney updated the committee members about the ASHP visit in April 2011. She mentioned that she and her assistant are working on the files and other criteria which will be reviewed when the ASHP committee makes their visit.
Program Goals - http://www.austincc.edu/health/minutes/phra/program_goals.pdf

Department Chair position update- The committee members were given Department Chair position update. Lisa McCartney will be the new Department Chair during the Fall 2009 semester and Richard Espinosa will be her mentor. Lisa McCartney’s full time position will be posted at the end of July and the new person will start in the fall semester.

ACC Library source- Margaret Peloquin announced that if the Pharmacy program needs special sources ordered for their program they should email her and she will try to order. Preceptor survey- Lisa McCartney said that she plans to get with the preceptors and find out what they need from the Pharmacy Technician program. She mentioned that she will probably send out a survey to all of them. CE Registration- Elizabeth Huss discussed CE registration start date with committee members. In the past CE (Continuing Education) registration date have not been in synch with those of the credit side. Elizabeth Huss said this could be changed if needed. Lisa McCartney motioned to make this recommendation to have CE and CR registration dates the same. Richard Espinosa seconds the motion. The committee members voted unanimously to have this motion made for Continuing Education and credit schedule to have same starting registration dates. This will be further explored. Job well done- Philip Johnston congratulated Richard Espinosa on the work well done while he was interim department chair for the Pharmacy Technician program. He mentions that Richard had truly made an impact on the department. The committee members thanked Richard as well.