Diagnostic Medical Imaging-Radiology Advisory Committee

Current Status of Minutes: Final
Date	October 6, 2016
Time	11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Location	Eastview Campus
Members Present
Cynthia Abromitis, Kristy Baker, Ray Boring, Melissa Bowen, Bill Cummings, Paul Dubiel, Rudolph Garza, Teresa Garza, Michelle Hamilton, Hynek (Joe) Hejl, Maria Kelly, Rebecca Lamberth, Tina Leger, Marcus Lines, Joe Lopez, Patricia Recek, Jennifer Rigsby, Kathryn Verdun, Chad Yokum
Guests Present
Andrew Gallegos, Student, Greg Bartlett, Student, Rosanna Meenan, Student
Item # 1:	Status of the Radiogrpahy Program
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	Admissions and Retention The program admitted 49 radiography students for the fall 2016 semester. Currently have 38 students in the second year of the program. Most students leave in the 1st semester of the program. The Radiography Program admitted 49 students for the Fall 2016 Semester. To date this semester, we have retained all of the admitted students which is an excellent finding. Typically, the program loses several students from both campuses by this time in the semester. In the second year of the Program we have 38 students and they are progressing normally. We anticipate finishing the second year cohort with the same number of students. Program faculty feel encouraged that the retention of the first year students indicates that the revised admissions process is making a difference with the retention of the students. IT is important to note that when a student drops out or is not successful during the first semester, that student is eligible to return the following year on a space available basis. When students that did not make it the first semester come back to repeat the course(s) that they missed, although they are in the program with a different cohort of students, the JRCERT policy requires that the Program consider that student as a graduate of the cohort he/she started with. Students are given 150% time to finish the program and be considered a graduate of the cohort that they were with originally. Program Facilities/Resources The program now has 3 state-of-the-art xray units. We have acquired 1 piece each over the last 3 years. The program is pleased to announce that the Eastview campus now has 3 state of the Art x ray units. The third unit to be replaced at EVC was finished in May and is in use now. The new machine is a Digital Direct Radiography Unit. The next unit that the program will propose to replace is a portable unit. We hopefully will be able to apply for a grant to fund replacement of our current portable x ray unit at EVC. Plans are to do the same for the portable x ray unit at the Round Rock Campus. Establishing New Clinical Sites in Progress Rudy Garza reported that the department has met with Baylor Scott & White to add new BS&W facilities in Sun City (1) and Round Rock (2) as well as Medical Center at Marble Falls and Lakeway Medical Center. The department is in the process of gathering required information/statistics. As a rule, there are no problems with larger facilities but sometimes small facilities don’t meet the criteria. It’s anticipated that BS&W will be online as a clinical partner spring 2017 semester. We are also in the process of gathering information and statistics from Seton @ Highland Lakes facility, which is about a 1 hour commute from Austin. The department tries to limit student clinical assignments to the “commuter” facilities to those students who live in close proximity.
Item # 2:	Program Effectiveness Data: Class of 2015
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	These statistics are updated and published on the Program website each year as required by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The Program Effectiveness Data includes each of the following criteria: Employment Status The employment status benchmark is set by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The benchmark is 75% of the graduates should be employed by 12 months after graduation. For the Class of 2015, we had a total of 37 graduates. The program has confirmed that 34 graduates were looking for a job and out of the 34 graduates, 32 are employed which is a 94% job placement rate. ARRT Credentialing Exam Passing Rate Of the 34 graduates, 2 students did not take the exam within 6 months and, therefore, cannot be included in the program credentialing exam pass rate statistics. We had 32 students pass the exam on their first attempt for a 100% pass rate. Program Completion Rate It’s important to note that based on JRCERT policy, students have 3 years to complete the program, therefore, the figures currently posted will change. It should be noted that if a student is unsuccessful in a Rad course and then returns the following year to re-take the class. If they pass the course and complete the entire program, that graduate may be included in the program statistics with the cohort that they started with. The completion rate posted now (65%) does not include the returnees that completed the program in three years. The revised completion rate is now (74%). Program Assessment Plan Completion The assessment plan will soon be published on the Program website. There are 4 major goals that the program evaluates. These are: clinical competency, problem solving/critical thinking skills, professional growth/development, and communication skills. Each of the assessed goals have multiple outcomes with benchmarks that are evaluated. We are pleased to report to the Advisory Committee that all the established benchmarks were met. Further comments: The committee is encouraged to submit feedback on what graduates achieve in the program. The graduate skills can be evaluated by the Employer Survey which the program sends out to all employers in the College Service area. The focus is skills as perceived by the employer. We thank each and every one here that has assisted the Program by completing the surveys. ACTION ITEM: The assessment plan is included in the committee’s meeting packet. The committee is requested to please review the plan. The department will contact committee members by email for feedback and recommendations or clarification.
Item # 3:	Cardiovascular Interventional Program Status
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	Faculty Member This program started about 4 years ago with a faculty member credentialed in the specialty. The program ran for one year and then Interest declined and the program was not offered in 2014 or 2015. The faculty member resigned this past summer and we currently do not have an instructor for that modality.. Michelle Hamilton, assistant professor – radiology at the Eastview Campus, is credentialed in both Vascular-Interventional and Cardiovascular-Interventional and could help with future development of the curriculum for the program. Viability of Program The closest competitor CV programs are located in San Antonio, Dallas and Corpus. There was a discussion on whether or not credentialing in in this specialty area would be required in the future in our medical community and the general opinion was that this is not known at this time. Pat Recek noted that no curriculum is currently developed and to do so requires planning time of at least 1 – 2 semesters. We have guidelines we can follow but need firm commitment from clinical sites that they will serve/support students. In the past, the experience has been that cardiologists have been reluctant to work with students and declined accepting them in the clinical environment. Recommendation by Committee on Perceived Need for CV Program The industry cannot predict employee turnover and, therefore, the demand from employers varies from year to year. A suggestion was made that the required skills could possibly be added to job descriptions. Another suggestion was to look at possibly offer the program via On-line for the didactic courses. Curriculum development should be structured as self-paced and online with the ability to complete didactic while working. ACTION ITEM: Michelle Hamilton will investigate further and collaborate with committee members.
Item # 4:	Mammography Training: Is There A Need For a Program?
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	Rudy Garza informed the committee that Austin Radiological Association (ARA) is inquiring if we could develop a program because they are currently sending employees to a proprietary program located in Houston for training. He further reported that we offered this program in the past but discontinued it due to the digital trend and faculty qualifications. A mammography program could be taught by adjunct faculty. Approximately 40 hours of instruction is required required, however the exact number will be researched. Mr. Garza has contacted the Department of Health for more information on the requirements.. He then asked the committee if their sites could be used for the clinical teaching experience and the response from the committee was positive. Pat Recek suggested weekend clinical time to eliminate interference with regular work hours. In reviewing the ARRT Credentialing Examination requirements, the applicant must have 16 hours of structured education our course work plus the Clinical time that will permit achievement of specific requirements. It should be noted that the following information was researched after the advisory committee meeting and would need to be part of any educational program in mammography: • 16 hours of didactic structured education. • Clinical hours to achieve required competencies. Please see the following information at the ARRT Website: • https://www.arrt.org/pdfs/Disciplines/Clinical-Experience/MAM-Clinical-Experience.pdf ACTION ITEM: Proceed with development of program.
Item # 5:	Trajecsys: New Clinical Records On-Line System
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	• Clinical Instructor Training meeting on new Trajecsys System • Release time for Clinical Instructors attendance request The program will roll out the Trajecsys clinical record-keeping system in the spring 2017 semester with the junior students. The system allows us to keep electronic record of clinic time and, eventually, records of competencies in the clinical environment. The system requires that students have access to a desk-top computer in the clinical radiology department for log in/log out which will take only about 30 seconds. Security access on this computer is not needed, just internet. It’s possible to log in/out on a cell phone but past experience shows that they log in at home and not at clinical site. CI’s professional skills evaluations will be added in future. Most programs across the country are converting to Trajecsys or similar electronic program Conclusion: Positive support received from committee.
Item # 6:	MRI Program Update
Presenter	Teresa Garza, Faculty
Discussion	Teresa Garza, MRI program faculty, presented the following statistics on the program: • Fall 2016 Cohort – admitted 14 students. One student withdrew in beginning of program for personal reasons, currently have 11 students participating as declared students (where we provide the clinical experience + didactic) and 2 students as non-declared taking didactic only. • Fall 2015 Cohort – 9 students enrolled with all 9 completing the program. 7 were registry eligible and 6 passed on their 1st attempt. 1 student still needs to take registry. Ms. Garza is looking at hybrid instruction (combination of classroom and online). When asked about the length of the program, Ms. Garza explained that because MRI exams take about 30 minutes, the program needs to be 2 semesters for students to be able to meet the procedures requirements.
Item # 7:	CT Program Update
Presenter	Maria Kelly, Faculty
Discussion	Maria Kelly, CT program faculty, presented an overview of the program that included enrollment and program effectiveness outcomes for the past 2 years (see CT Program Update document attached). Ms. Kelly requested input from the board members on a number of issues (see CT Program Update document attached). Much discussion followed with the focus that the board felt the program could be offered more frequently to meet the needs of the community. The board will reflect further on the issues brought forward that were not resolved. MOTION made and passed to offer the CT program for the spring 2017 semester.
Item # 8:	Designating CT and MRI Students as """"""""""""""""Declared"""""""""""""""" vs """"""""""""""""Undeclared""""""""""""""""
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	This item was not discussed due to time. The Advisory Committee will be apprised about this issue via email once we get additional information on the question of what happens when a student does not participate in clinic (undeclared student) because they are already working in MRI. The rationale here is that if an individual is already working in MRI, they do not need to do the clinical part of the program. The program faculty will consult with the graduation office to see if there are any issues with students only taking the didactic courses and not clinic.
Item # 9:	Clinical Observation Sessions for Admitted Students
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	This item was not discussed due to time.
Item # 10:	Scheduling of Next Advisory Committee Meeting
Presenter	Rudy Garza, Department Chair
Discussion	TBD