TURNING POINT REGIONAL

ALLIED HEALTH ROUNDTABLE

Steering Committee Meeting

Wednesday, April 30, 2008
10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
Area L AHEC
Learning Institute, Classroom C

Minutes
Mr. Eric Evans, Presiding
Ms. Trinnette Cooper, Recording

Present:
Area L AHEC: Ms. Alice Schenall, Ms. Trinnette Cooper
Turning Point Workforce Development Board: Mr. Eric Evans
Halifax Regional Medical Center: Ms. Mary Davis
Nash Health Care Systems: Ms. Vandora Holt
Edgecombe Community College: Ms. Robin Pigg
Turning Point Workforce Development Board: Ms. Catherine Moody
Agenda item (s) Follow up
Issues raised and decisions made (who’ll do what by
when?)
Alice Schenall welcomed the group. Introductions were made by each participant. Alice will forward
Alice provided a brief overview of how the TPR evolved for those new members. minutes from the
Shared that Mr. Eric Evans is the chair of the roundtable/steering committee, Ms. past meetings to
Pigg is the vice-chair, and Ms. Trinnette Cooper is the secretary. Ms. Moody.
Ms. Schenall and Mrs. Pam Whitaker will serve in an ex-officio role.
Discussion Points:

Review Grant (Goals & Timeline)

Ms. Schenall asked the steering committee for feedback on the proposed plan in
the grant and encouraged feedback to adjust the plan if needed. She then turned
the meeting over to Mr. Evans to facilitate the group discussion;

Mr. Evans welcomed the group; provided a visual concept to the committee
members on what was needed to do to achieve the activities, etc. written into the
grant as it relates to getting a qualified pool of candidates into the allied health
pipeline; he also shared that there is a “drain pipe” on the other side of the pool
(i.e. retirees-graying of the workforce, those relocating, those who desire higher
salaries, those who are dislocated, etc.);

Mr. Evans suggested that we focus our efforts more on getting folks into the
pipeline as opposed to in the “drain pipe”. We then discussed the potential feeders
into the pipeline: those coming into the pipeline because they are now
dislocated/dissatisfied, having participated in the high school programs, are
graduates from the area colleges, and those out of “towners” who come to the

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region, get their education, and then leave – focus on retention, those retirees who
are still interested in working (experienced, qualified, etc), and the advancement
within the current pool of healthcare professional;
Ms. Mary Davis brought up the issue of keeping folks in our region as employees This information
that actually stay out of town – considering the increase in gas prices, wear and will be given to the
tear, etc.; other workgroups
Mr. Evans shared that we need to be able to pay them well or get them to move to to address the
the region; issues…

Committee discussed the following areas that we need to target:

MARKETING – List of what we are currently doing: reaching out to middle

schools; health careers awareness programs; health fairs; discussed the gaps in our
community colleges – discussed the idea of other community colleges considering
a similar orientation course modeled after Edgecombe Community College. The
course exposes students to all allied health careers not just nursing or the field they
are interested in;
List of what needs to be done: expand on existing programs, expose those adults
who are currently dislocated, etc. by offering a course; have health careers
awareness programs attending PTA meetings; hold community presentations;
reach out to schools; develop billboard/radio/ TV (local channel) ads; build a
speakers bureau; reach out to math and science teachers – new high schools and
STEM programs; work with guidance counselors; develop rapid response teams;
Retirees – how do we market to them, start/market to a retiree club;

TRAINING – List of what we are currently doing: health professions

programs at community colleges, discussed the gaps in our community colleges,
and current on the job training opportunities;
List of what needs to be done: Look at policies; be in position to change the
rules of the game to make sure we can meet the demands; offer scholarships for
target disciplines; expand seats in the current allied health education programs;
lobby for more money to help those average students (who might not have the 3.0-
3.5 GPA) and for those who want to pursue health careers but just can’t afford it;
spend our efforts on home grown students; be flexible in offering the courses and
the locations of the courses to meet the student’s needs; increase on line
availability and telecommunications;

Mr. Evans shared information on WORK KEYS – a program developed by ACT;

more employers are using this tool to test their employees and it was suggested
that this be considered for allied health fields to determine what skill levels the
students and current employees have; if they don’t score well then the use of
WORK KEYS will help train folks in the specific;
Mr. Evans also shared information about an RFP that could fund the training
needs;

PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND SUPPORT – List of what we are currently

doing: employers offer educational assistance; UHS has a home grown program
offering students their same salary and the time to go to school to become an RN;
there are programs that allow nurses to pay off their student loans by working at
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the institution for a number of years; scholarships are available;
List of what needs to be done: encourage incumbent employees; provide
mentorship; provide support for continuing education; have a program similar to
the REACH Program that Area L AHEC had; offer incentives to allied health
preceptors to ensure positive clinical experiences which helps with retention; offer
community perks (ie, membership to YMCA or golfing club); Alice suggested
that we invite
POLICY – List of what needs to be done: look at the needed policy changes to others to the
help affect the student pipeline going into the qualified pool; make professional workgroup.
development (i.e. continuing education) a part of the employees’ benefit package;
Council discussed…

Work Group Activity

Need to review the list that we have created – add/subtract to our list;
The Work Group will decide the what; develop specific objectives that are
specific, measurable and time sensitive; decide the who; who will carry out the
objectives; decide how much; what it will cost and where to get the funds (Kate B.
Reynolds, County Commissioners, Golden Leaf Foundation);
Alice shared that we need to select chairs for each workgroup;; this would be a
great opportunity to recruit others to become involved in the partnership with less
of a time commitment;
Council Discussed…

Learning Exchange (May 13 & 14, 2008)

Alice shared an agenda for the meeting; will do the presentation along with Mr.
Evans on the 13th; shared that registration, hotel and mileage reimbursement will
be covered by the grant;
Alice also shared that mileage reimbursement for meetings is available for those
attending who travel outside of the Rocky Mount area;

Site Visit (June 3, 2008)

Shared an agenda
Alice shared information on the request from the National Advisory Committee on
Rural Health and Human Services to host a site visit giving them the opportunity
to meet with the workforce and community development subcommittee and the
committee members are invited to attend; USDHHS and the Department of Labor
will be talking and the hope is for them to work together and co-fund some of the
recommendations we have to offer; the recommendations will be published in a
report submitted the USDHHS Secretary; Mr. Evans stated that TPR’s Roundtable
could serve as a demonstration project; Alice asked members to arrive at 11:00am
and she shared that AHEC staff were invited to attend;

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Next Roundtable Meeting: Alice shared the proposed agenda for the next
meeting;
Date: Friday, May 16, 2008
Location: Edgecombe Community College, Tarboro Campus, Room 152 (new
building)
Time: 9AM- 1PM (lunch included)

Alice suggested that the steering committee meet again before the August meeting;
she stated that we can meet at other locations if desired.
Mr. Evans suggested that we meet the third week in July, on the 24th at 10:00
am (to be confirmed); the meeting will be at Area L AHEC.
Meeting was adjourned with lunch.

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