Goal A: Continuously Advance Educational Excellence

ACTIONS COMPLETED:

1. Interprofessional education program mission and goals, vision and timelines, program core components and five-year goals were established in March 2012.

2. IPE competencies were determined in April 2012.

3. Core planning teams were in place and competencies were mapped to existing KUMC IPE events in July 2012.

4. The KUMC Center for Interprofessional Education and Simulation website was created in October 2012

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS:

1. KU Medical Center is piloting an online IPE scheduling tool for events and students in spring 2013.

2. Upon receiving approval from the Board of Regents, medical center leaders in fall 2012 launched the University of Kansas Medical Center's Health Education Initiative, requesting state support for the construction of a new interprofessional education and simulation facility on the KU Medical Center's main campus in Kansas City.

ACTIONS COMPLETED:

1. In the School of Medicine, an Academy of Medical Educators has been established, and its charter group named, to recognize and celebrate teaching innovation and excellence, foster the continued improvement of medical education and learning and advocate for the resources necessary to do so.

2. The School of Nursing substantially improved and expanded new faculty orientation to better acclimate new faculty and ensure retention of high quality educators.

3. Since summer 2010, the School of Nursing has recruited 12 new faculty members who teach in the undergraduate programs and graduate core (e.g. Research, Theory), Advanced Practice (e.g. Primary Care, Midwifery, Psychiatric Mental Health, Adult/Gerontology) and Leadership (e.g. Informatics, Organizational Leadership, Clinical Research Management), all of which are vital to advancing nursing education, practice and research into the future.

4. The School of Nursing successfully secured grant funding from the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence to support educational development of new nursing faculty.

5. In the School of Health Professions, the Dietetics and Nutrition department successfully recruited two doctorally prepared faculty members with research grants focusing on dietary intake and cancer, and the impact of the maternal environment on the health of mothers and their children.

6. In the School of Health Professions, the Health Information Management department recruited a faculty member experienced in electronic health record Meaningful Use standards and interoperability standards - key areas of expertise necessary for educating students as they move into the new health care environment.

7. Four nurse anesthesia faculty members completed their Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS:

1. The School of Medicine's Academy of Medical Educators is in the process of developing its mission and vision statements, bylaws, policies and governance procedures, developing short- and long-range goals and objectives and proposals for financial and human resources support of the academy.

2. The three schools at the medical center have worked collaboratively to develop a proposal for Educator Track faculty appointments, with the potential for promotion to full professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, including the Wichita and Salina campuses, for eligible faculty members who have primarily educational responsibilities in non-clinical areas. This track has been approved by the Council of Chief Academic Officers and the Council of Presidents and should be in place for fiscal year 2014. Medical education is one of the core missions of the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and School of Health Professions. The existence of this track will facilitate recruitment and retention of outstanding educators in the three schools who will now have an academic career trajectory with an emphasis on education of health professionals and development of innovative approaches to 21st century education.

3. The School of Nursing is developing a formal faculty mentoring program, focusing on professional development and work-life balance.

ACTIONS COMPLETED:

1. With expansions in Wichita and Salina, the School of Medicine now has 211 students per class, having increased the number of slots in the M.D. program by more than 20 percent since 2010.

2. The School of Nursing announced articulation agreements with 18 community colleges throughout the state of Kansas and in Kansas City, Mo., providing nurses with an associate's degree from a participating college the opportunity to receive their bachelor of science in nursing from KU's online RN-to-BSN program.

3. The School of Nursing implemented a new baccalaureate program curriculum to continue to meet the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Baccalaureate Essentials.

4. Additional high-quality academic programs in the School of Nursing include:
• The Kansas Advanced Practice Collaborative, led by KU, where faculty collaborate with Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University faculty in teaching nurse practitioner students.
• Quality Matters, where the KU School of Nursing is a national leader in online teaching and learning using an evidence-based approach for quality assessment in online courses.
• SEEDs (Simulated E-hEalth Delivery System), an education-business partnership with Cerner Corporation with the project for simulated clinical education.


5. The School of Health Professions has increased the number of students participating in international clinical experiences in developed and developing countries.

6. The School of Health Professions' Cytotechnology program has completed a curriculum revision to continue to meet ever-changing health care and medical recommendations. KUMC's program has been in the forefront of these curriculum revisions to continue to meet the needs of employers.

7. The University of Kansas Medical Center is the largest provider of Continuing Medical Education in Kansas. Over the past 3.5 years, KUMC CE/CME increased program offerings 69 percent.

8. KU Medical Center's Master of Science in Clinical Research degree is a critical component for the Clinical and Translational Science Award, providing infrastructure to support both individual and institutional research training programs.

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS:

1. In October 2012, external consultants from peer universities submitted a review of the School of Medicine curriculum. Within the school, committees are conducting a content audit of the curriculum.

2. Working with ECG Management Consultants, School of Medicine leaders have been examining the funding model for education in an effort to ensure that 1) educational activities are appropriately funded from proper sources and 2) the proper way to encourage development and innovation in curriculum and educational methods.

3. The University of Kansas Hospital, The University of Kansas Physicians and the KU School of Medicine continue to work toward quality improvement and patient safety. The offices of Medical Education and Graduate Medical Education will incorporate best practices into the curriculum.

ACTIONS COMPLETED: Recruiting Students

1. The School of Medicine encourages students from populations underrepresented in health, math and science to pursue successful careers in these fields.
• The Health Careers Pathways program provides opportunities for middle and high school students to attend science and math academies and to work alongside researchers at the medical center.
• For college graduates, a conditional admissions program accepts promising medical school applicants who show potential but require additional preparation.
• KU Area Health Education Centers work in dozens of school districts to provide career days, internships and student placement opportunities for Kansas children and adolescents to discover the challenges of a rewarding career in health care.
• Undergraduate students from Kansas who are interested in building successful careers as physicians in rural areas may participate in the Scholars in Rural Health program, which provides a path to admission to the School of Medicine.


2. The Student Services office has expanded or enhanced its recruitment and admissions tools:
• The Office of Admissions has transitioned into a stand-alone office and expanded its staff to two full-time employees.
• The "Prospective Students" website was enhanced to include more comprehensive information about how to apply to KUMC and include profiles on selected students.
• All undergraduate and graduate programs were transitioned to the online application for admissions that includes seamless integration between new central application systems for Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.

ACTIONS COMPLETED: Retaining Students

1. All medical students are assigned to one of eight KU Medical Alumni Academic Societies, designed to enhance the students' interactions with faculty and students in other classes, promote a sense of community and encourage the development of professional attitudes and behaviors.

2. The School of Nursing implemented the annual Nightingale Ceremony, along with four professional societies, that introduces nursing students to the profession and conveys the expectation of high ethical conduct.

3. The Student Services office has expanded its offerings.
• A new Electronic Medical Record system was implemented by Student Health and Counseling and Educational Support which allows students to view their records and schedule appointments online.
• A full-time staff member was added to accommodate the doubling of student appointments for immunizations and titers to stay in compliance with clinical requirements.
• Writing Services began in fall 2012 with two half-time employees.
• Career Services will begin in spring 2013.

ACTIONS COMPLETED: Retaining Students

•  ADA Services for students was moved to Student Services, becoming more easily accessible.
• Counseling and Educational Support has expanded to include online consultations with psychologists and learning specialists, reaching off-campus students and distance learners.
• The Office of Student Financial Aid was consolidated with Veterans Services.
• The Office of Student Life continued to expand interprofessional wellness, diversity and social programming for students.
• The Interprofessional Orientation Program for new students will expand in summer 2013.
• Student satisfaction surveys have been expanded and reworked for distribution in spring 2013.
• Student Services and Dykes Library will offer expanded library hours beginning in spring 2013.

ACTIONS COMPLETED: Graduating Students

1. KU School of Nursing students continue to achieve above-average first-time pass rates on National Council Licensure Examination board exams (averaging above 95 percent).

2. School of Health Professions students continue to achieve on-time graduation rates and high board certification pass rates.

3. KU School of Medicine students continue to show improvement between Step 1 and Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). At approximately 94 percent, the KU School of Medicine's first-time pass rate on Step 1 is at the national rate; our mean score is just below the national figure. Step 2 scores improved significantly, with a first-time pass rate of 99 percent and a mean score at or above the national figure.

4. The Student Services office of Counseling and Educational Support Services has worked with the KU School of Medicine to expand the KU Step Prep Program (which helps medical students prepare for their board exams) to the Wichita and Salina campuses.

5. Residency placements: KU School of Medicine students match in all major disciplines, with approximately 40-50 percent going into primary care annually. At least 80 percent of KU students match in one of their top three programs.