Occupational Therapy Assistant Advisory Meeting Minutes

Oct. 26, 2023, 3-3:45 p.m.

Meeting place

Microsoft Teams

Chair

Yvonne Cosentino, O.T.D., O.T.R./L, OTA Program Director

Purpose

Annual review of program effectiveness, student census and forum to collaborate with community stakeholders

Required Materials

Internet access for attending the Microsoft Teams meeting

Preparation

You are invited to email ahead of the meeting with questions or other agenda items.

Agenda

  1. Introductions – 3 p.m. – Introduce faculty, PAC members and Lincoln Land Community College leaders
  2. Mission, Vision and Values – 3:05 p.m. – LLCC and OTA program mission, vision and values
  3. LLCC Student Census and National Enrollment Data – 3:10 p.m. – OTA class of 2023, 2024 and prospective 2025
  4. Program Evaluation Data – 3:15 p.m. – Graduate and employer surveys results
  5. Program Response to Graduate Surveys – 3:20 p.m. – Detailed program changes and additions
  6. Areas of Growth - New Partnerships – 3:25 p.m. – New LLCC inter-professional collaboration opportunities; psychosocial FW placements; Expanded Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant; article development
  7. Open Forum – 3:35 p.m. – Open meeting forum for collaboration and discussion

Minutes

1. Introductions

13 participants

Six LLCC representatives

Facilitator: Yvonne Cosentino, O.T.D., O.T.R./L, OTA Program Director
Gretchen Conway, M.S.O.T., O.T.R./L, OTA Program Assistant Professor and Fieldwork Coordinator
Dr. Jason Dockter, LLCC Vice President of Academic Services
Dr. Cynthia Maskey, LLCC Dean of Health Professions
Kimberly Williams-Wilson, LLCC Recruitment Specialist
Karina Moore, LLCC HLPR Recruitment specialist

Seven community stakeholders

Nicole Thomas, Renewal Rehab, Vice President of Operations
Grace Newman, Renewal Rehab, Regional Director of Operations
Anna Sanders, Decatur Memorial Hospital
Ann Short, Springfield School District #186
Hirut Harris, Springfield School District #186
Lisa Meyer, Empowerme Wellness
Jessica Range, Rochester School District

Absent members

Janet Icenogle, ISVI
Carla Sturdivant, Springfield School District #186
Danielle Rister, SASED

2. Mission, vision and values

Yvonne Cosentino identified the LLCC mission, vision and values followed by the OTA program mission statement:

“The occupational therapy assistant program at Lincoln Land Community College aims to graduate competent, entry-level healthcare professionals dedicated to the advocacy and provision of quality occupational therapy services.”

3. LLCC student census and national enrollment data

Yvonne Cosentino reported LLCC OTA 2022, 2023, and 2024 cohort census data was also reported.

Current LLCC OTA census:

  • OTA cohort 2022 = 11/16 students (69% enrollment capacity)
  • OTA cohort 2023 = 6/16 students (38% enrollment capacity)
  • OTA 2024 January = 13/16 students (81% enrollment capacity)

NBCOT new graduate pass rate 2022= 100%

4. Program evaluation data

Yvonne Cosentino summarized the information collected from graduate and employer surveys for cohorts 2019, 2020 and 2021. The information was organized by domain and reported using a Likert scale from “Very Satisfied” to “Dissatisfied”. Strategic action plans were identified for each domain.

Employer Survey Results

Four employers responded to the survey and reported a rating of 5/5 for recent graduates hired readiness in the areas of:

  • Clinical Skills
  • Professional Behaviors
  • General Healthcare knowledge
  • Overall rating for future LLCC Graduate hires: “Extremely Likely”

Graduate Survey Results

4 Graduates responded to the survey and reported rating ranges from “Very Dissatisfied – Very satisfied” for overall quality of the program including:

  • Instructors
  • Program facilities
  • Entry Level Clinical skills
  • Exam Preparation
  • Fieldwork Opportunities
  • Professional Identity Development

Starting Salary Range

  • $45,000 - $55,000

5. Program response to graduate surveys

  • Minimized use of adjunct instructors
  • Increased use of guest speakers and specialty clinicians
  • Participation in nursing and health professions simulation projects
  • Perform practical/clinical skills in the nursing simulation labs
  • Added opportunities for community-based learning
  • Provided supports for exam preparation and assignment tracking
  • Changed advisement meetings from the end of the semester to the middle of the semester

6. Areas of Growth - New Partnerships

  • Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant Expansion – Thank you to the LLCC Foundation for adding additional funding to the OTA IDI grant!
  • LLCC OTA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois partnership to bring engaging activities promoting fitness, emotional well-being, and social language development to students participating in a local under-served after-school program.
  • 2nd annual Fall virtual assignment with Elmhurst College
  • LLCC OTA student groups work virtually with an OT student group to simulate a case from evaluation to discharge.
  • The assignment allows OTs and OTAs to learn about each other’s role in the OT process and to develop communication, documentation, and collaboration skills prior to starting fieldwork.

7. Open forum

  • Hirut Harris, OTA School District #186 shared her gratitude to the college for funding the IDI grant and providing material and student resources to a struggling population of elementary school children.
  • Employers were invited to speak to the class about potential careers.
  • Stakeholders were invited to share a special interest or skill with our students as guest speakers.
  • Anna Sanders has offered her time to speak to the second-year cohort about lymphedema and becoming a certified lymphedema specialist.

Adjournment

  • The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.