Programs continue growth at American National University

In the midst of a summer of depressing news regarding closure of medical education programs around Kentucky and nationwide, American National University (ANU), with six campuses in the Bluegrass State, stands out as a bright spot.  The university’s programs in nursing and other health science programs continue to grow and flourish.

The new RN-to-BSN program, offered via distance education through ANU’s eUniversity, reached an important milestone with an accreditation team visit by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in September.  ANU’s RN-BSN program can be completed in just 18 months, and with appropriate work experience can qualify graduates for Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) or Nurse Executive Certification (NEC).  As nurses assume an ever-growing role in delivery of healthcare, the push for more advanced nursing education likewise is on the rise.  The Institute of Medicine has called for the number of registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees to grow from 55 percent to 80 percent of the nursing workforce by 2020.

At ANU’s Pikeville, Kentucky campus, the associate’s degree in nursing program achieved a 94 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam, once again exceeding the minimum requirement of 85 percent.  The program, begun in 2008, passed the 100-graduate milestone in 2016 and has to date produced 105 registered nurses to help fill a critical need in the region.  The next cohort of 22 students begins their studies in November.

Caption: Pikeville Campus EMT students participate in a mock exercise during the campus’s annual Healthy Fun Fair on July 28.  In addition to providing students the opportunity to showcase their skills, the event provided free health screenings, services, and information to an estimated 500-600 attendees from the community.

The Pikeville Campus also launched paramedic and emergency medical technician (EMT) programs in the past year, and the first cohorts of each program are nearing their one-year mark.  This has the EMT students nearing graduation and readying to take their National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam.  Both programs enroll new cohorts in January 2017.

Finally, ANU’s campuses in Danville, Florence, Louisville, Pikeville and Richmond began enrolling for a new Phlebotomy+ECG program recently.  This program, designed to take eight months to complete, teaches students the basic clinical skills needed to enter the workforce with preparation for the National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT) and National ECG Technician (NCET) exams.  The program serves as a stepping stone to ANU’s medical assisting associate’s degree program as well as an add-on for current medical assistants who are interested in obtaining their phlebotomy and/or ECG certifications.

ATA College students put skills to test; assist man in cardiac arrest

ATA is very proud of two students, Meriah Armstrong and La Shawnda Herd.  They were in their final day of clinical assignment of the Patient Care Technician program at Floyd Memorial Hospital when they noticed a gentleman having a heart attack in the parking lot.  They jumped in and began to administer CPR immediately and continued until emergency staff could take over.   The family of this gentleman later reported that the cardiologist stated that he is here today because of their quick reaction.  We are happy to have these ladies as graduates of ATA College.

MedQuest College opens new campus

MedQuest College will be opening a new cutting edge campus located in Lexington, Ky. The new campus will offer classes toward careers in dental and medical assisting and diagnostic medical sonography.  These programs are in high demand and offer a wide variety of opportunities once the programs are completed.

In an effort to remain up-to-speed on the latest teaching techniques, MedQuest has invested in the SurgiCam Pro Video System by SurgiTel.  The SurgiCam can be used in many different ways:

• Training: Instructors can broadcast live teaching procedures to the students or record the lesson to discuss in class.
• Sharing: Allows procedures to be shared across our campuses via recording or live broadcast.
• Tutoring: Prerecorded procedures can be used for tutoring or studying and will be accessible through our web site.

MedQuest will open their doors in 2016. The campus offers an inviting, relaxing atmosphere to prospects, students and alumni.  Fully furnished classrooms that provide the latest equipment used in healthcare practices, which increases student engagement and leads to better prepared students entering the healthcare field, will also be available.

Sullivan University pharmacy camp

In August of 2016, Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (SUCOP) held their first week long pharmacy camp for rising juniors and seniors in high school. During the day, the students participated in didactic lectures covering the topics of diabetes, high blood pressure and the art of patient counseling. The program also allowed for students to experience life in the dorm by spending the week living at Gardiner Point Residence Hall.

Along with the didactic lectures, the students participated in several hands-on activities. They were able to spend time in the compounding lab learning sterile and non-sterile techniques. This included learning how to make IV bags, lip balm and capsules. Additionally, the students had the opportunity to work in the mock pharmacy learning how an outpatient pharmacy runs and how specialized medications are made.  Complementing the didactic lectures, they also learned how to take a patient’s blood pressure and teach a patient how to inject an insulin pen.

While much of the camp focused on learning, the students participated in fun activities at night, such as movie night, trips to the mall and Main Event. The week allowed campers to learn about the profession of pharmacy and start thinking about their own career paths. Because of favorable student reviews, the college plans to offer Pharmacy Camp again in the summer of 2017. SUCOP hopes that this program will help to educate youth on the career of pharmacy and help them make smart decisions for their future.

Sullivan pharmacy technician student represents success

Arielle Smith knows exactly what it means to be rewarded for hard work—she has been offered a job as a hospital pharmacy technician before she officially completes the Sullivan University Pharmacy Technician program in Louisville, Ky.

Smith, a native of Louisville, Ky, entered the Pharmacy Technician program immediately after graduating from Seneca High School, just down the road from Sullivan’s Louisville campus and the Sullivan College of Pharmacy (SUCOP), where Pharmacy Technician program classes are held. While she counts cousins and other extended family members who pursued higher education as inspirations, Smith notes that in her immediate family she is “the only person who went to college.” As the oldest child “in a big family,” Smith hopes to influence and inspire her siblings to work similarly hard toward their goals.

Smith’s passion for the medical field led her to pursue the Pharmacy Technician program. “I wanted to know the medicine and I wanted to work with patients,” Smith said.

“One of my favorite things about Arielle is that she actively seeks out knowledge,” said Luke Spears, Pharmacy Technician supervisor at Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Ky., and Smith’s most recent preceptor. “Arielle is easy going and works really well in a team setting. She knows how to present herself as a professional, and is very respectful to everyone she encounters,” Spears remarked. “If she sees someone doing something that she hasn’t seen or done before, she gets involved.”

Sullivan integrates Pharmacy Technician program into College of Pharmacy

The Sullivan University Pharmacy Technician program in Louisville, Ky., is one of the only technician programs in the nation incorporated uniquely into a college of pharmacy. While the Sullivan University Pharmacy Technician program has been associated with the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (SUCOP) since the former’s inception, the technician program and SUCOP both aim to further cultivate this professional assimilation. Under the leadership of its newest director, Dr. Sarah Lawrence, the Pharmacy Technician program seeks to develop and strengthen faculty relationships and curricular parallels between the technician and PharmD programs.

Currently, students in the pharmacy technician program have access to the same resources, facilities and equipment as PharmD students. As a result, pharmacy technician students use SUCOP’s study rooms and classrooms, its technology resources, and its compounding lab, where students from both programs receive hands-on experience. In addition, pharmacy technician students are encouraged to participate in SUCOP’s clubs and organizations, naturally leading to professional socialization outside of the classroom.

While the two programs are already sharing space and resources, the pharmacy technician program is actively working to reinforce collaboration in the classroom. The fall quarter will see a number of strides made to bring pharmacy technician and PharmD students together, including classroom activities like an integrated education event in which Technician students join PharmD students in their communications and collaborative solutions course.

Moreover, a number of PharmD faculty cross-teach in pharmacy technician classes, bringing their high levels of proficiency to the technician courses. Professor Barbara Jolly, for example, brings her significant expertise in sterile compounding and health and safety to the pharmacy technician classroom, pulling from many of the same topics and skills taught in her PharmD courses. Likewise, Dr. Amber Cann, who teaches in and coordinates the medication safety course in the PharmD program, will teach the pharmacy technician medication safety course in the winter quarter, allowing her technician instruction to focus on similar topics and themes taught in the PharmD classroom.

Finally, the pharmacy technician law and ethics class currently uses the same course material as the PharmD law and ethics course, exposing the technician students to curriculum just as rigorous as the PharmD material. As a supplement, the PharmD law and ethics lectures are made available to the pharmacy technician students as well, giving them an opportunity to further reinforce the material that they have already been taught in their technician course.

Undoubtedly, PharmD students and pharmacy technician students will work collaboratively when they are one day employed. The Sullivan University Pharmacy Technician program aims to foster curricular overlap and a culture of professional cooperation before students even leave the classroom.

Medical assisting week celebrated at College for Technical Education

The College for Technical Education (CTE) in Lexington, Ky. honored students during Medical Assisting week in mid-October.  The Medical Assisting department takes great strides in recognizing the importance of medical assisting and the students who have dedicated their education to the career.  Students took part in the celebration with potluck luncheons and ice cream socials.

Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing professions. Often the doctors’ “right hand man,” it’s important for students to understand the significance of the profession.

“The College for Technical Education students in the Medical Assisting program know that in only nine months, not only do they have to understand the business of the medical profession, but they must also understand they may be the first person someone sees at the office,” said instructor Donna LeGere.  “We want to ensure that when the student enters the physician’s office, they understand the weight of their duties,” said Bethely Morton, lead instructor.

Medical assisting credentials, such as certification and registration, are not always required to practice as a medical assistant. However, employers today are aggressively recruiting medical assistants who are credentialed in their field. Bethely Morton, lead instructor for the Medical Assistant program at the College for Technical Education believes it is important for students to get a step up in Career Education and that’s why CTE students sit for the RMA.  “We find that Human resource directors place great importance on professional credentials for their employees.”

Brenda Evans, college director stated, “We should celebrate the medical assistants throughout the year, so many times they are the unrecognized work horse in the field.”