Meeting & Agendas

a.Allow ACC faculty to perform mini-clinicals at your site to familiarize themselves with current technology and get input on how we can mirror those activities on campus. b.Please copy and post handouts: 1.Case Study Materials Needed 2.Donations of Expired Reagents, Controls or Other c.Review clinical competencies and provide feedback. 1.Clinical II -http://www.austincc.edu/mlt/clin2/clin2 Urinalysis, Hematology and Clinical Chemistry 2.Clinical III http://www.austincc.edu/mlt/clin3/clin 3- Blood Bank, Microbiology d.Assistance with recruiting. Keri asked the group to let the program know about ALL expired products and provided lists (as attached) to assist in identifying what is needed. The program will come and get all of it and will “farm out” to other ACC programs the things which they do not need/can’t use. Clinical Competencies: Keri provided the link to the clinical competencies within the MLT program and asked those present to review and give her feedback in the future regarding the accuracy/completeness

a.Number of openings for MLTs and Phlebotomists- is ACC meeting the needs? If not, what can be done to enhance recruitment? b.Weaknesses of graduates? Is there a consistent weakness among new graduates? c.Strengths - what are the graduates doing competently or exceptionally well at entry-level? d.Other e.What can we do for you? Recruitment: Keri reminded the Advisory Board that their assistance in recruiting students to the program was still needed, as always. Facilities are encouraged to come and talk to grads about positions during recruitment events. The MLT/Phlebotomy program will assist to facilitate it. Also, summer time is the best time for these activities

Please review at your leisure and email DC with any questions or comments. a.MLT Site Surveys 2013 1.Blood Bank Site Survey 2.Clinical Chemistry Site Survey 3. Hematology/Coagulation Site Survey 4. Microbiology Site Survey 5.Urinalysis Site Survey b.Phlebotomy Site Survey Summer 2013 1.Phlebotomy Site Survey Tech Prep Students 2.Phlebotomy Site Survey Traditional Students Keri provided the link to the surveys so that facilities can review what students are reporting on their clinical experiences. In addition, she encouraged employers present to complete the surveys in order to assist with curriculum/process feedback and improvements.

Employer surveys were given to the affiliates to capture baseline data regarding the overall preparedness of our graduates.

Janice Frakes volunteered to serve in the role of Advisory Committee Chair. Jeff Shinn agreed to serve as Vice–Chair to step into Chair role as/if needed. Ellen Wuertz agreed to transcribe minutes for the current meeting. Keri-Brophy Martinez, Department Chair, stated that she will be working to identify set members for the committee to assure representation from a broad cross-section of networks.

1.Direct potential students to http://www.austincc.edu/health 2.Second year of MLT program can be completed online! Keri highlighted these sessions as an important way to get information to the public and potential students. She encouraged committee members to review the sessions, as well as, to pass the links on to potential students. The information sessions serve as a gateway and provide students with tools and resources needed for the program. Also, as a recruitment tool, the second year MLT courses can now be completed online. A goal for the next couple of years is to expand the online offerings.

a.Moving courses forward one semester so clinical will be in the Fall semester. b.Need students for Spring class - PLEASE post flyer.- Molecular Diagnostics Courses for this certificate have been re-arranged following Advisory Committee feedback. The first course is now offered during spring so that clinicals will take place during Fall rather than Summer semesters, easing the strain on clinical sites. Keri encouraged those present to relay information regarding this program within facilities represented by those present. She mentioned that the Certificate is available either through Continuing Education at ACC or for credit.

a.Number of Graduates - Summer 2013 - started with 25, 20 graduated Summer 2013- 1 DL Student (80%) b.Second Year - 21 Students c.First Year - 60 Students working on MLT Pre-requisite courses d.ASCP Board of Certification Results results: http://www.austincc.edu/mlt/mlt_boc e.Online Parasitology course with virtual lab. Attrition data is not yet available for 2nd year students A process of ranking is now in place and will begin with the next application cycle The number of applicants who are eligible is increasing – and the program continues to be able to take only 24 per year Phlebotomy Certificate Results: Summer 2013 Class – 97/118 passed (82% pass rate) Since 1998 – pass rate average is 80.5% MLT Program: Internal curricular changes instituted in the program one year ago. Capstone exams done each semester. Spring Capstone includes spring and fall courses. Since Capstone exams were instituted, there has been a decreased number of students needing to re-take exit exams. Each semester they are able to id weaknesses during the Capstone exams and focus on learning in those areas to assure students passing the exit exams. Keri provided data of student scoring in different subject areas. Keri introduced Joanna Ellis as the Student Success coach. She explained that Joanna was focusing on improving retention. Joanna described the applicants as: • 30% of applicants have a Bachelor’s degree • Of those applicants, 30% do not complete – many do not get the degree as opposed to not doing well • Average student age = 33 and the unsuccessful average age = 38 • Degrees if applicants are largely microbiology and biology • Of unsuccessful applicants – 70% or white The question posed to Joanna was whether or not the non-completers are taking the core courses. Joanna stated that additional research is needed to determine this. Online Parasitology class: Keri mentioned to Advisory Board knew of folks interested, this course is entirely online and students do not need to be enrolled in the MLT program to take it. Enrollment is open.

a.2012 Completers - Traditional - 34 started, 31 completed - 91.2% b.2012 Completers - Tech Prep - 67 started, 64 completed - 95.5% c.2013 Completers - Tech Prep - 56 started, 54 completed - 96.4% d.2013 Completers - Traditional- 38 started, 36 completed - 94.7% e.ASCP Board of Certification Results http://www.austincc.edu/mlt/phb_boc There are low numbers of students who complete the Certification exam. Exam cost is $125 and many employers do not require. Pass rate from July ’94 to October ’13 is 87%. Information available on certification exam allows program to see the areas in which students have difficulty. Pass rate in 2013 is 100%.

This template shows you the dates and types of rotations we will need for Spring-Summer 2014. Web link is: http://www.austincc.edu/mlt/ACC_Clinical%20Schedule_2014_ADVISORY.pdf

1.On-Site clinical. Input is needed to determine the specific skills common to all clinical laboratories to focus on during on-site clinical. Would like to set up focus groups with appropriate ACC faculty to set curriculum and standards of practice for commonly performed tests. 2.Need input from clinical practitioners on competencies established at ACC for both on-site and off-site (in the actual clinical laboratory) to establish entry-level practices. Suggestions for additions and deletions in the documents created. 3.Competency assessment is routine in the clinical laboratory. ACC wishes to mirror these activities and need input. Which skills need to be observed? Which skills are evaluated based on results obtained with remediation and additional practice offered if the skill is failed? Which part of a competency are \'\'essential\'\', resulting in a failure, versus requiring remediation but allowed to pass? Advisory board members are encouraged to provide input to the program regarding the following: What does ACC do well? Affiliates are pleased with our students. What areas show needs for improvements in curriculum and students learning? Nothing was mentioned. NAACLS has gone to a competency-based assessment. ACC process is as follows: a) If competency assessment is failed, an oral action plan is developed for remediation and progressive discipline b) If a second failure occurs, a written remediation and progressive discipline plan is developed c) A third failure results in probation and/or withdrawal of the student from the program. *Note: The student perspective has been that it is “scary” but useful as a process. Competency areas: ESR Microhematology Blood smears Differentials Urine micros Serial dilutions/kits Hemocytometer Body fluid cell id *With UA and heme – the expectation is that they can recognize the image under the microscope or on the computer *Some competencies tested are based on whether or not test is still done manual in the Austin area *Competency for hemocytometer is based on ability to “load” it Advisory committee member Jeff Shinn reported that Breckenridge still performs spun hematocrits. Several committee members also reported that they still do sed rates in the “old school” manner. Keri asked the group to consider whether there are other skill sets needed for MLT students and to provide her with feedback. 4.Phlebotomy- what is the expectation of the clinical practitioners in regards to hand venipunctures? New for Spring 2014: Bleeding times, blood smears, and donor interviews will be withdrawn from the Phlebotomy curriculum to allow more time for competency testing. These areas will still be covered in MLT curriculum. Also, for Spring 2014- butterfly check off form. Phlebotomy Competencies: Keri requested information from the committee regarding the level at which students should be able to perform hand-sticks. Currently the program is not teaching this. Feedback: Cancer patients – many of this type of stick is required with cancer patients. Janice Frakes reported that they would not consider letting students do them during their first rotation and, in fact, Texas Oncology does not take Phlebotomy students. Committee members recommended that student practice technique before but would not expect them to be able to do hand sticks. Rachel Burlingame asked that student become empowered to ask mentor to perform those. Particularly since the problems with student needle sticks arise primarily due to butterfly needles. Vacutainer draws require five (5) mentor sign offs prior to allowing student to perform independently. Plans regarding butterflies: A minimum of five (5) must be observed before performing. This does not mean five (5) are required but it does mean that five must be observed if a student is to be allowed to perform them. Rachel Burlingame, CPL Labs shared that feedback about students from ACC is very positive from patients with a few concerns that students do not always identify themselves as students. Discussion took place about requiring practice with butterflies and vacutainers on dummy arms. Carolyn Ragland asked Advisory Board members to share information regarding final verification process used in facilities for patient identification to ensure students are being taught correct process. CPL representative shared that they may go to the process of asking patient for final verification and encouraged ACC to teach it so that students are familiar with it. Keri shared that bleeding times, blood smears, donor interviews have all been eliminated from the Phlebotomy curriculum to allow more time for competency testing and a butterfly check-off form (as attached) will be used beginning spring 2014. 5.Senate Bill - SB 457 - This bill, passed in the state legislature this past session, as attached, mandates that credit hours for Associate Degrees be capped at 60 credit hours. This affects health sciences programs significantly since any reduction in credit hours would come from the health sciences courses and not from the required general education courses the student takes. Currently there are 71 credits in the MLT degree program. This will take effect in Fall 2015 and the possibility of waivers do exist. ACC is reviewing/determining the best way to approach this for all the health sciences programs to avoid a knee jerk response. Waivers would be granted for individual careers/professions and not school by school. Discussion centered around: 1) Does a way exist to make pre-requisite health sciences courses part of the core curriculum? 2) Issues regarding workforce readiness of individuals would need to come from employer groups. 3) Review the long list of mandatory skills from accrediting bodies to make a case for meeting regulatory skill requirements in the number of clinicals in the program. 4) Input needed from employers, associations, regulatory bodies for the professions. 5) Sending a survey to employers to obtain feedback.