Sounds of Innovation : A Mobile Hearing Lab Responds to Missouri’s Workforce Training Needs

Presenters Hal L. Higdon, Ph.D., Chancellor Larry Snyder, Chair – Board of Trustees Maryellen Stratmann, M.D., Secretary – Board of Trustees J. Howard Fisk – Board of Trustees

The “Graying” of Missouri By 2030, those over age 65 will represent more than one-fifth of all Missourians Number of Senior citizens is expected to increase by 87% between 2000 and 2030 – Projected to be 1.4 million seniors Missouri needs more qualified health care providers, especially in rural areas. Source: “Missouri State Plan on Aging FY ” Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Hearing Instrument Legislation As of January 1, 2013, an Associate’s degree in Hearing Instrument Sciences is required for HIS license in Missouri Missouri and Washington are the only two states to require an associates

Trade Adjustment Act Community College and Career Training Grant (TAACCCT) – Round 1 (2011) $20 million MoHealthWINs consortium award, $3.6 million for OTC Training for Tomorrow grant: Curriculum development, program faculty $218,000 Grant Funding

Hearing Instrument Science Program OTC offers an Associate of Applied Sciences in Hearing Instrument Science Only three similar programs in the U.S. OTC has accepted three cohorts Total of 250 applicants, 135 were accepted, and of those 95 are currently enrolled

Curriculum Curriculum was created based on input from professionals The program utilizes a hybrid model: – Didactic portion is completed in an online format – Laboratory portion is conducted hands-on with the instructor

H.I.S. Courses H.I.S. Specific Courses: – Acoustics and Psychoacoustics – Hearing/Auditory Disorders – Real Ear Measurement – Anatomy & Physiology of Auditory & Speech Systems – Hearing Healthcare Legal Responsibilities and Ethics – Practicums – etc.

H.I.S. Courses General Education Required Courses: – Mathematics – English – Political Science – Communication – Psychology – etc.

Program Sequence Semester I (Fall) Semester II (Spring) Semester III (Summer) Semester IV (Fall) 18 Credit Hours (1 st Practicum) 9 Credit Hours (2 nd Practicum) 17 Credit Hours (3 rd Practicum) Total Credit Hours = 62

Mobile Lab Mobility – One of the key innovative components of this program is the mobile lab – Providing each of the 12 community colleges in Missouri with access to the lab Cost of the Motor Coach is $360,000 – Cost of an individual on-site laboratory at each campus site $100,000 or more

Mobile Laboratory

OTC Allied Health Simulation Center The Allied Health Simulation Center is approximately 2,000 square feet Includes four patient rooms and a residential suite – ICU, ER, birthing suite, medical-surgical room The Simulation Center provides clinical experiences for OTC Allied Health students, community agencies, and local hospitals

Simulation Laboratory

Internship All students must complete an internship OTC has 28 employer partners providing jobs and internship opportunities

Budget H.I.S. Program initial allocation of $950,000 – (About $600,000 has been spent) Reallocation of the discontinued MoHealthWINs Information Technology Program to H.I.S. $160,000 reallocated from St. Charles Community College to OTC for administering the program Projected total to be spent is $1.2 million – (Including St. Charles transfer)

Expenditures Roughly half of the budget will be spent on salaries and benefits for instructors and personnel Cost for the Mobile Laboratory equals $380,000 Rental of the OTC Allied Health Simulation Center

Program Impact The estimated salary for graduates is $50,000 per year This will add approximately $2.5 million in the state economy About $800,000 going to federal, state, and local taxes – A five-year “payback” of $4 million in tax dollars

OTC expects 50 graduates (eligible for employment) in May 2014 The MoHealthWINs grant end September 30, 2014

Questions?