Georgia Department of Public Health Dietetic Internship Update

Georgia Department of Public Health Dietetic Internship Update Presentation to: Nutrition Services Directors Presented by: Rhonda Tankersley, MPH, RD, LD Date: March 2016

DPH Vision A Healthy and Safe Georgia DPH Mission To prevent disease, injury, and disability; promote health and well being; and prepare for and respond to disasters.

Internship Update • Accreditation – July 10, 2015 full accreditation reinstated – Accreditation term ends June 30, 2018 – Self-study due early 2017 – Site visit spring of 2017

Internship Allowable Expenses Program Code 443 § Used solely to support dietetic internship § Only for districts actively participating in dietetic internship § Allowable: § Travel § Temporary CPA Staff § Dietetic Internship Support (books, computer, resource study material, etc. ) § Not Allowable: § Other WIC or non-WIC services § Indirect Cost

Internship Update • Graduated 11 interns in August of 2015

Pass Rate Data (A) # of List years Studen sequentially ts from least Taking recent to most the recent Exam (e. g. , 2006, for the 2007… 2010) First Time 2011 2012 Students Passing the CDR Exam Pass Rate Percentages (C) # of Students (B) # of Students Passing (C/A) One-Year Pass (B/A) First-Time Passing on within One Rate Their First Year of Their (if available) Try First Try YTD (if available) 16 10 11 63% 69% 2 0 0 0% 0% 2013 9 3 3 33% 2014 10 9 9 90% 2015 Current Five Years 2011 -2015 12 8 9 67% 75% 49 30 32 61% 65%

Program Improvement • Application Changes – Work experience requirement – GPA and recency requirements – Application project

Program Improvement • Contract Changes – Withdrawal without financial penalty – Testing requirement – Time limited

Program Improvement • Community Rotation Pre-work – June 30 th VICS 9 – 10: 30 am – Community preceptor and intern participation required – Head start on activities • Grant writing (Diane Shelton) • Community needs assessment (Gwenna Egart) • Health Fair (Rachel Cordle)

Program Improvement • Performance review in community rotation – 21 week rotation – Formal performance review due at weeks 7 and 14 – Final performance review due at week 21

Program Improvement • Monthly study session • Exit Training – Professional Development Portfolio – Job Description – Salary Review – Resume – Interviewing – Future plans (management training)

Program Improvement • Community Preceptor Agreement – Time Commitment – Relationship – Responsibility – Planning – Implementation

Benefits of Supporting Interns • Interns: § § § gain experience and confidence develop skills make connections learn more about the field of nutrition assess their interest and abilities

Benefits of Supporting Interns • Districts: § Recruitment/Retention § Need for quality RDs in WIC/PH § Staff with advanced skills § Improved Collaboration/Relationships § Interns network with community organizations, schools, hospitals, other PH programs

Benefits of Supporting Interns • Preceptors: § Interns can assist preceptors get projects completed § Helps develop “best practices” § Improved employee morale and performance § Employees who are given a role in teaching interns often feel a greater sense of importance and contribution to the team § Role model/mentor/ sharing experiences

Benefits of Supporting Interns • Preceptors: § Improves knowledge § Keep up to date on current practices/research § Challenged professionally § Professional development opportunities § Network with other districts and community organizations § Participate in events/projects § Giving back to profession

A Successful Preceptor • A mentor and teacher – Attention to curriculum – Understanding of program and accreditation competency based philosophy • Not just a check-off internship

A Successful Preceptor • Knowledgeable of WIC and Public Health Programs. – Community needs assessment – Grant writing – Reimbursement

A Successful Preceptor • Flexible with their time – Assisting with planning and implementation of projects, – Attending activities • Health fair, shopping tours, etc. • Observations may occur outside of typical work day – Giving timely feedback and grading projects

A Successful Preceptor • Organized • Patient • Honest • Knowledgeable of community & agency partners • Lifelong learner

Preceptor Comments “Having interns makes me a better dietitian!” “I am able to attend training that I would otherwise never get!” “I have earned a lot of CEU’s while serving as a preceptor!” “My intern helped me complete a clinic audit and a patient flow analysis. I don’t think I could have done it all without her help!”

Successful Intern • • Independent worker Critical Thinker Organization and time management skills Eagerness to Learn – Does the intern request to work on special projects? – Does the intern develop solutions on their own?

Best Practice Intern Selection • Consider a screening process for the selection of your community intern: – Work history and performance – Undergraduate GPA? Does it exceed the minimum for the Dept. of Public Health Internship program – Does the potential intern display characteristics of success?

Screening Process • PMF – What areas on the PMF does the intern exceed? What are their challenges? • Special Project – Completing a special project with a deadline of submission

Special Project • Case Study – Completion of a minimum of 2 case studies • Formal Presentation – Present special project and/or case study to potential community preceptor and Nutrition Services Director • Rubric – Development of a rubric for grading case studies, presentations, and special projects

2016 -17 TENTATIVE TIMELINE Date Action December 11, 2015 and January 8, 2016 Internship Open House Informational Session March 31, 2016 Applications due April 15, 2016 Applicants notified of interview status May 2016 Conduct interviews May 30, 2016 Notification of acceptance or rejection sent to all candidates who received invitation to interview June 2016 Accepted applicants notify internship management of their intent to enter and complete the internship (or not) and submits additional required documents

2016 - 2017 Tentative Schedule Rotation Estimated Practice Hours Dates Didactic Hours General Orientation 24 0 August 15 -17, 2016 Community Public 24 Health Rotation Orientation 0 August 22 -24, 2016 RD Review course 0 August 29 -31, 2016 504 September 5, 2016 – January 27, 2017 24 Community/Public 100+ Health Rotation

2016 -2017 Tentative Schedule Rotation Estimated Practice Hours Didactic Hours Dates Food Service Rotation 50 192 January 30 – March 24, 2017 Clinical Orientation and Skills Training 24 0 March 27 -29, 2017 Clinical Rotation 50 432 April 3 – August, 2017 Renal Rotation 30 72 August 7 – August 25, 2017 RD Review Course 16 0 August 28 -30, 2017 Graduation 0 0 August 31, 2017

Career Track • DOAS Human Resources Administration and State Agency partnership – JCCP: Job Classification and Career Path Project – Implications for Nutrition • Some limitations to career track • Entry at a lower level

Workforce Report Percent Vacancy Rate 18 16 16 14 12 11 16 12 10 10 8 8 6 6 4 4 6 3 2 0 5 0 RDLD Nutritionist RN Oct 14' - March 15 LPN April 15' - Sept 15' Nutrition Assistant Overall

Workforce Report Georgia WIC Program Filled Positions: April - Sept. 2015 75, 14% 44, 8% Nutritionist 215, 41% LD Unlicensed RD 74, 14% RD, LD RN 109, 21% LPN Nutrition Assistant 9, 2% 0, 0%

Workforce Report • Next steps – Next report due April 15, 2016 – Outreach to RD eligible – Outreach to DPD programs – Participation in DPH WIC Dietetic Internship – Request verification statement at interview – June meeting further exploration activity

Internship Model • How can we structure a program that meets the needs of managers and employees? – Recruitment and Retention • Internship participation is an important factor in recruitment and retention of nutritionists and dietitians – Program Philosophy • Full Time employment addresses financial barrier • Commitment to employee improvement • Does part-time option fit/is it needed?

Dietetics Practice Update • January 1, 2024 Deadline SET – Completed master’s required to sit for RD exam – Can be any master’s (art, biology, education, language, etc. ) • Moving forward, programs will be required to be coordinated programs offering ACEND graduate degrees (timeline not specified)

Dietetics Practice Update • DPH WIC DI Options – Coordinate with a college/university to offer masters and supervised practice combined – Change admission requirements to accept only those with completed graduate degree – Accept the last class in 2022 and close

THANK YOU