Search

A 2-year study of the health care industry in the San Francisco Bay Area identified avenues for reducing health care labor shortages. Focus was on classifications where demand was expected to grow and where current demand exceeds supply: nursing, medical imaging, medical therapy, and medical records management. A modified job analysis technique collected data through intensive interviews with subject matter experts, focus group meetings for data collection on occupational clusters, and surveys of major health care providers. Information obtained for each occupational cluster included the following: changes in settings in which these jobs are practiced, occupational skills that have changed in importance, skills important for entry-level jobs, and skills significant for career advancement. The study identified issues related to the role of educational programs in meeting labor supply and skill requirements in these occupational clusters, changing skills requirements that cross occupational clusters, and skill deficiencies identified by health care employers. Two sets of educational policy recommendations were made: one addressing integration of vocational and academic programs to increase the supply of personnel and another centering on articulated educational programs and their value in increasing labor supply through improved employee retention. (Appendixes, amounting to approximately one-half of the report, include a 91-item bibliography; medical imaging, medical therapy, and medical records occupations tables; and instruments. The occupations tables list skills, knowledge, and abilities that are important for advancement or have recently increased in importance.) (YLB)

This report contains information from a fall 1991 health occupations assessment of 1,021 health-related employers in Eastern Iowa and the Illinois Quad Cities area. Twelve chapters present comprehensive results of all surveys; results of 10 labor market survey instruments developed for chiropractic offices, dentists' offices, emergency medical services, home health care organizations, hospitals, laboratories, long-term health care facilities, physicians' offices/clinics, veterinary offices, and weight control services; and results of another instrument for certified/licensed health professionals. Information is provided from 350 respondents regarding these broad personnel classifications: chiropractic, clinical laboratory, dental, emergency medical, medical records, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, and radiology. Chapters 2-12 are in two parts. The first part discusses target markets, survey design, and data collection, tabulation, and analysis. Results presented in narrative and table formats provide information on number of present full-time and part-time employees, entry-level hourly wage paid to employees in each of the personnel classifications, and immediate and projected employment needs through 1994. Responses regarding emerging trends and educational needs are then provided. The second part of each chapter is the instrument. (YLB)

This report presents results of a project to assess the adequacy of existing data sources on the supply of 21 allied health occupations in order to develop improved data collection strategies and improved procedures for estimation of manpower needs. Following an introduction, chapter 2 provides a discussion of the general phases of the project and makes general recommendations for procedures to improve supply estimates and to improve estimations of requirements for allied health personnel. Chapters 3 to 11 contain individual reports and recommendations for each of the 21 occupations within the nine occupational clusters in this study. For each occupation, the discussion includes an overview of the occupation, definition of the population within the occupation, a description and assessment of data sources, and recommendations for estimating the supply within each occupation, current requirements, and future requirements. Each chapter also contains a summary of findings of the interviews conducted with individuals knowledgeable of the cluster and personnel-to-population ratios for each occupation for which data were available. (YLB)

The North Carolina Allied Health Articulation Project was launched to develop procedures which would enable an individual to transfer credit from an allied health education program in one setting to some program in higher education. In 1972-73, study committees were appointed to deal with the allied health professions of physical therapy, radiologic technology, medical laboratory technology, and the dental auxiliaries. The following year committees focused on medical record administration, nutrition and dietetics, respiratory therapy, and environmental health technology. The disciplines of this report are restricted to those for which preparation is likely to be acquired in two and four-year institutions of higher education. The three basic patterns leading to professional status which are expected to prevail are: (1) pre-professional curriculum--associate degree (optional), (2) basic professional curriculum--academic certificate or associate degree, and (3) intermediate professional curriculum--academic certificate or associate degree. The third section of the report examines problems related to credit transfer involving criteria for admissions, credit, grades, curriculum, student services, and institutional autonomy, and then recommends appropriate guidelines. More than half of the document consists of an appendix which outlines the status and the recommendations for the transfer of credit of the eight allied health professions studied by this project. (EA)

The need for medical record administrators in New Jersey, and specifically in hospitals, was studied using a methodology that projects requirements and accounts for the utilization of Registered Record Administrators (RRAs) in alternative health care settings by 1990. Furthermore, employment opportunities in such nontraditional settings as insurance and pharmaceutical companies were explored. Surveys of hospitals were conducted to determine staffing patterns and personnel needs of the medical records departments. Positions were rated both in terms of the job title and professional certification of each individual employed. A survey, distributed to 100 New Jersey Medical Record Association (NJMRA) members at their January 1981 state meeting, collected data on present employment position and setting, educational training, and interest in further education. Response rates ranged from 62 percent for a mail survey to 94 percent for the survey of NJMRA members. The survey results were supplemented by a series of telephone conversations with state and national experts in the field. A shortage of 250 RRAs by 1990 was estimated. The continuing inability of hospitals, the principal employers of such personnel, to attract and retain RRA is presumably due to the increasing complexity of medical record management and to the lack of baccalaureate programs in New Jersey. It is recommended that two baccalaureate programs in medical record administration be established in the state, one in the north and one in the central or southern region. Evening and weekend courses are also recommended for continuing professional education. Survey forms are appended. (SW)

This is a report of an interdisciplinary team which: (1) examined the literature from medicine and health, law, computing, and social science; (2) conducted interviews with manufacturers, developers, health professionals, consumers, and public interest groups; (3) made site visits to health organizations using computers; (4) corresponded with health organizations; and (5) subjected the initial draft report to review by experts. Findings are in four parts: (1) description of medical data and citizen rights in three areas--primary health care, service payers, and health care reviewers, and social uses of health data; (2) patterns of computerization in health care in the three above areas; (3) profiles of six health-care organizations; and (4) the impact of computerization on health records, including a comparison of American progress in health care automation with experiences of six other democratic nations, and 12 management principles for health care data systems. An extensive bibliography and appendices of supporting documents are included. (Author/DAG)

The Delphi method was used to obtain estimates from 15 experts in medical education and biomedical communications of events and conditions which might occur in the next 20 years in biocommunications, health care services, and medical education that would effect the job and training requirements for future medical librarians. Ninety-five events and conditions were identified, and then information was gathered about the types of librarians and biocommunications personnel that might be affected by various events, and the probable effects, and training implications of each event. Most frequently mentioned events related to improvements in computer information storage and retrieval systems; systems for transmitting information; changes in future job duties, training, and manpower requirements of future libraries; development of special libraries and/or information centers; and increased involvement with cooperative efforts, especially standardization projects. (Author/CH)

The right of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected students and staff members to continue in the public school system without disruption has been legally established. However, the question now lies in the legal implications of confidentiality. School districts must implement policies and procedures to ensure medical record confidentiality of HIV positive students and staff. A successful policy covers student, teacher, and community education; evaluation of infected students and staff; as well as confidentiality. The National School Boards Association suggests that school districts designate individuals such as the superintendent, the infected individual's personal physician, a public health official, and anyone chosen by the individual to be informed of the situation. All documentation should be kept in a locked file by the superintendent and access granted only to those with written consent. (EJS)