Meeting & Agendas

Joe Szczytowski, MD (Medical Advisor; Non-Invasive Cardiology Austin Heart-Round Rock) Renee Edens, RCS (Baylor Scott & White Memorial Hospital Temple, Cardiac Manager) Kim Boston, RDCS (Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, Lead Sonographer) Shemirell Robles, RDCS (Metroplex Hospital Killeen, Lead Sonographer) Jennifer Reinhardt, RDCS (Seton Family of Hospitals-Seton Main, Lead Sonographer) Paul Torres, RDCS, RVT (St. David’s Medical Center Main, Lead Sonographer) David Hope, RDCS, RVT (St. David’s -South Austin Medical Center, Lead Sonographer) Ricky Rodriguez, RDCS (St. David’s Heart Hospital of Austin-Imaging Technical Director) Chris Kountoupis, RDCS (St. David’s Cardiovascular Imaging Centers- Lead Sonographer CVIC Austin Heart South) Lynn McDaniel, RCS, RVS (St. David’s Cardiovascular Imaging Centers-Lead Sonographer CVIC Post Oak South)

Each attendee introduced themselves and what facility they were associated with; Web-Ex attendees were signing on.

• Clinical Instructor/Preceptor training Planning major clinical instructor/preceptor training with CMEs We will put the information and training sessions in Trajecsys and on ACC Sonography website • Added faculty to assist with Echo and Vascular Labs • Potential for Saturday labs at RRC • New equipment will allow us to teach strain and strain rate

Janet asked for suggestions on grading at the Clinical sites due discrepancy in grades on student evaluations on campus versus off campus • Grading Recommendations Michael stated a CI admitted to giving all students passing scores regardless of how poorly they performed Some CI’s expressed concerns in giving failing grades Gabby and Billy thought that expanding the grading rubric from 0-3 to 0-5 would better Janet stated that in previous years the Clinical Coordinator went to the clinical sites, reviewed and graded student exams, in some cases with the Clinical Instructor. Most agreed that was useful, benefiting the student and the clinical instructor Billy and Dustin suggested the possibility of the Clinical evaluations counted only as a completion grade, that is a set number of required, successfully completed exams as a portion of the course grade Michael thought that a mixture of 1) site grading by CC, 2) grading by faculty and 3) a set number of completions would be ideal Discussion of forming a focus group to assist faculty with changes to clinical grading processes and procedures; Janet Barlow & Danna Thomas will facilitate Some discussion about ways to improve applicant pool: outreach, website updates, etc.

The meeting concluded with a tour of the newly renovated Cardiovascular Sonography Lab 7:45 pm Meeting adjourned The next DCVS Program Advisory Committee Meeting will be held on April 25, 2019 in conjuction with the DMVS Program meeting.

• To our current Clinical Sites • To Championship Hearts Foundation for the use of their privacy screens during renovation of the Sonography Lab over the Summer Semester.

• No 2017 Graduates due to Curriculum changes • 2016-2018 Graduation Ceremony held on August 11th, 2018 6 Graduates 100% pass rate with all students graduating with ARDMS credentials of RDCS and RVT Most recent ARDMS Global Exam Performance Summary is from 2016 with 66% pass rate for Adult Echo and Vascular Technology and 70% for Sonography Principles and instrumentation exam • 2015-2016 Outcomes posted on Program website which is required by CAAHEP & JRC-DMS Attrition 27% (10% academic and 17% health/financial/ relocation)

• Current survey results Graduates and Employers: 90% are 4-5 on Likert scale in most categories Surveys will be sent out using Google form and can be sent as paper form as well; will send out forms early in 2019 due to the timing of the JRC-DMS Site Visit for re-accrediation; may use Survey Monkey instead of Google form

• We are working through changes approved at the previous Advisory Committee meeting which began in Fall of 2018 • Return of Sonographic Sectional Anatomy Increased clinical hours in the beginning clinical courses (DSAE 1260 and DSVT 1260) Removal of Cardiovascular Concepts and replaced with intro to Vascular in 3rd semester of the AAS portion of Program Re-ordering of non-Sonography co-requisite courses in Spring I and Summer II semesters Increased clinical hours in Spring II Reorganization of DSVT courses in Summer II • College continues to fine-tune Guided Pathways system for students new to college and Student Services (Advisors and Counselors) • Many changes to Student Services with each campus having a Completion Counselor and a Clinical Counselor • Sonography website changed to new format with new expanded Online Information Session • Students took ARDMS credentialing exams prior to graduation within the time frame specified by the Programs (scheduled exams at the end of the Summer II semester) • Using Trajecsys reporting system for all students to enter attendance, case logs and reference documents for Clinical Instructors/Preceptors • We are considering using Trajecsys for some evaluations and other documentation • CAAHEP Standards are still in process of updating/revisions; implementation date unknown • State of Texas Program of Study for Sonography still in process; implementation date unknown • Remodel of DCVS Sonography Lab at the Round Rock Campus • More bays with curtains to accommodate sonographic equipment including simulator ad Parks Flo-Lab • In process of selecting new Cardiovascular Sonography units • Additional student use computers • Connected dedicated classroom with access to the lab • Faculty with new or remodeled offices • Low number of applications for Sonography Programs in 2018 due to unknown causes • Entire pool ranked and students placed in either elected Program or in a Program with seats available • This process provided both Programs with students who ranked high in the pool and students who ranked just high enough to be accepted

JRC-DMS Site Visit: • Site Visit for re-accreditation for all Sonography Programs will most likely happen in Spring of 2019 • Site Visitors will select 4-5 sites to physically visit during the two day visit (which usually only takes 20 min) • Once dates have been confirmed we will contact affiliates to schedule the visits

• The DCVS Program has seen significant attrition due to a variety of causes in the admission classes of 2016 and 2017 • Attrition above JRC-DMS 20% threshold • Causes for attrition continue to be health issues such as Experiencing significant pain while scanning, exacerbation of known health issues Occurrence of previously unknown physical/health issues Mental health issues Relocations, career change Academic and clinical failures Action Plan • Individual advising by Sonography Faculty continues • Revised Online Sonography Information Session and website content • Use of TEAS test Total and Reading Scores • Early intervention with referral to Counselor before in danger of failing • Introduced the LASSI (Learning and Study Strategies Inventory) to identify attitude, study skills, concentration, test strategies, time management, motivation and anxiety levels • Use of Ultrasound Student Assessment test for logic, hand-eye coordination, visualization, math, science, and other pertinent skills and abilities • We are considering using this as part of Admission Process in the future

• Access to clinical sites is limited and present a significant challenge for student placements ACC cannot send students outside of service area without permission from other colleges Planning for clinical rotations without assurance that sites will be available impacts student’ abilities to complete required competencies Revised CAAHEP Standards will clearly state that competencies must be done on clinical site patients only; scans in on-campus clinical will not suffice • Sharing of VT clinical sites with other Program (potential closure of this Program was mentioned by an attendee) ACC students and another student at a site on same days: issues with scanning opportunities can arise Other programs on quarter system which conflicts with our semester system • Some clinical sites repeatedly declining to accept a student or only allowing certain days which can conflict with lecture days/ times

• Not all types of vascular exams are performed in all clinical sites Limited access for students due to sporadic nature of occurrence and level of student instruction and scanning skills Hospitals primarily performing procedures inhibits a student’s ability to obtain scanning experience in complete studies/scans Some students have to attend up to 3 different sites per week during a semester to complete required competencies • Students not able to scan during the day Too busy/ scans on tight, short schedule/ add-ons and work-ins put daily schedules behind Training new hires Student skill level: unable to participate during early clinical rotations Some sonographers not working with students to improve scanning