New Lean Healthcare Curriculum To Be Created With CarePartners
A-B Tech, in cooperation with CarePartners, is creating a new curriculum for healthcare professionals using the Lean Manufacturing curriculum as a model.
"We will, as a team, be converting the Lean manufacturing-centric model into a healthcare-centric model," said Doug Jones, Productivity Institute and Quality Initiatives Coordinator.
The Lean Systems for Healthcare will be designed with Lean applications in administrative functions, clinical functions, as well as delivery of service.
"We're excited about that," said Jones. "We're starting right at the very beginning, and making a primer for their management, administrative and clinical staffs.
"The root of Lean comes from the manufacturing perspective. Its applications, however, are much more diverse than just manufacturing. What we're going to do is take a group of Lean experts from A-B Tech and health professionals from CarePartners and work through the Lean manufacturing curriculum part by part. The goal of this process is to create a Lean Healthcare curriculum that can be used to train healthcare professionals in how to implement effective Lean practices in their environment. An equally important goal of the curriculum development effort is for the course creators to become a core of skilled and knowledgeable Lean trainers and facilitators who can rapidly spread Lean practices through Lean process improvement projects," said Jones.
A group of 11 people from CarePartners will attend the Lean course. Each day of instruction in the manufacturing course will be followed by a day spent converting Lean material from the previous lessons to healthcare applications and examples, tailored to CarePartners' business. A team from A-B Tech will work with CarePartners for about 10 weeks to accomplish this conversion.
"Making computers, or watches or basketballs in a factory is obviously quite different from the goals and tasks in an organization like CarePartners. But mounting evidence from healthcare organizations across the country makes it clear that the application of Lean principles is having a dramatic impact on both patient care outcomes and costs. There are significant differences on how the Lean Systems model is applied, but the opportunities for dramatic improvements and savings are there," Jones said.
The course conversion will be a big job. All materials including slides, exercises, workbooks and examples have to be converted to a healthcare-centric model. But everyone is excited at the challenge. "It truly is a cooperative venture. It's a win-win for everybody when we pull this off," said Jones.
Unified Theatre Auditions Scheduled at A-B Tech in February
A-B Tech will host the 2006 Western North Carolina Theatre League Unified Auditions Feb. 15 and 18. Modeled after the Southeastern Theatre Conference auditions, this annual event allows local actors to showcase their talents in a professional audition setting for a variety of companies throughout the region. Last year, 192 actors and technicians met 23 theatre, talent and media companies.
The purpose of the Unified Auditions is to develop a database of local actors and technical artists for regional, community and professional theatres and their seasons.
The schedule for the Unified Auditions is 6 p.m. auditions on Feb. 15; 10 to 11:30 a.m. technical interviews, 12:30 to 4:45 p.m. auditions on Feb. 18.
The auditions will be in Ferguson Auditorium on the Asheville campus.
Actors are asked to prepare 90 seconds of material: one monologue or two contrasting monologues or monologue and 16 bars of a song. An accompanist is available. Singers should bring their own sheet music in their key, as the accompanist will not transpose. Children should present a memorized selection, poem, rhyme, monologue and, if they wish, sing a song. Singing to tapes is not allowed. Actors should also mail 30 copies of a photo/headshot and resume for distribution to the different theatre groups.
Pre-register by emailing thestagepicture@aol.com or by mail with 30 copies of actor's photo/headshot and resume to Unified Auditions, c/o Peter Carver, Drama, A-B Tech, 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801. Actors should indicate preference for Wednesday evening or Saturday afternoon.
An Audition Information Workshop will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at A-B Tech's Ferguson Auditorium. At this workshop, actors will hear from a panel of directors and casting agents on effective auditioning technique and what to expect at the auditions.
Interested technicians or directors should email for an interview slot and mail their resumes or bring them to Ferguson Auditorium at 10 a.m. Feb. 18. An instructional meeting will take place approximately 15 minutes before each audition session.
The following companies were represented at the 2005 Unified Auditions: North Carolina Stage Company, Bright Star Children's Theatre, BellaLuna Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, Burning Coal Theatre, Holderness Theatre (NYC), Poetry Alive!, Highland Repertory Theatre, Parkway Playhouse, Brevard Little Theatre, Hendersonville Little Theatre, Asheville Community Theatre, Bittersweet Productions, The Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), North Carolina Theatre Conference, Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, Talent Trek, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, Asheville: The Movie, HCC Film and Video Production Technology, Scapegoat Theatre Collective, Montford Park Players, Spartanburg (SC) Little Theatre, and Asheville Storytelling Circle.
Faculty Access Award Given To Sue Olesiuk
Sue Olesiuk, (left) Social/Behavioral Sciences and Developmental Studies instructor, with Annie Clingenpeel, Disability Services coordinator and counselor, after Olesiuk received the Faculty Access Award at the Student Services Holiday Party.
Sue Heath Olesiuk, Social/Behavioral Sciences and Developmental Studies instructor, received the 2005 Faculty Access Award from A-B Tech's Disability Services Office.
In celebration of Disability Awareness Month each year, a faculty member who has demonstrated commitment to creating a climate that fosters success for all students on campus is recognized.
"Our students continue to amaze me. They accomplish so much," said Olesiuk. "The students who work with Annie (Clingenpeel, Disability Services coordinator and counselor) are a true inspiration to me each and every semester. If we can continue to create a climate that fosters success for all students then we are truly dedicated to student success. Receiving the Faculty Access Award means so much to me. I appreciate the students' vote of confidence."
The Disability Services Office sends out a letter to all students served the previous year to obtain nominations. Students choose a faculty member based on the person's show of support to students with disabilities, developing support in the classroom, delivering accommodations in a respectful manner, assuring confidentiality, challenging students academically, and being a good role model.
"Sue has been my advisor and also my instructor for American History," wrote a student nominator. "One incident that touched me so deeply was when the hurricane hit New Orleans, my sister had to evacuate and lost everything. I was under extreme amounts of stress and was having major difficulties focusing on my studies. I called Sue and told her that I would be missing class in order to help my sister. Sue took the time to call Annie C. and tell her the situation. Sue went out of her way as she always has when I thought I was losing my mind. Her kindness brought tears to my eyes. I am thankful to have her as my instructor. She truly is an amazing woman."
Olesiuk was recognized at the Student Services Holiday Party in December with a plaque. Another plaque is displayed in the lobby of Ferguson Auditorium showing annual recipients' names for public recognition.
"I think Sue Olesiuk is a very special faculty member," said Clingenpeel. "She makes time with her students and refers them to services available. She is a supportive, excellent person. I was real pleased she was nominated."