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| Issue: # 27 |
September /2011
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Connecting Students to Health Careers
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| Greetings!
Welcome Back!
It is hard to believe it is already the end of September and we are back into the swing of things! We hope you had a relaxing summer and were able to enjoy some much deserved time-off! As you begin the school year, keep in mind your regional AHEC offices across the state. We are here to help provide health, science, and math resources to you and your students. Best of all, everything we do is FREE of charge to you!
Here's to a great 2011-2012 school year!
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Curriculum In-A-Box
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Brains, Guts, Eyes, Ear, Muscles and Bones...Oh My!
 Our curriculum boxes contain a wealth of resources and lessons related to the human body, body systems, health, diseases and prevention, and health careers. The trunks are designed for grades 4 - 8, but the materials and lessons are easily adaptable for older and younger students. These boxes are approved by OPI and can be used by teachers, counselors, administrators and/or parents. The boxes may also be used by high school organizations such as HOSA, National Honor Society, Key Club, After School programs, Youth programs, etc. as an educational project for younger students.
The boxes are free of charge. Contact your regional AHEC to arrange delivery. To reserve a curriculum box and/or obtain a list of box contents visit: http://mtahec_inabox.airset.com/
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MPSEOC Career Fair Circuit
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September Busy With Career Fairs State-Wide
 Your local AHEC offices have been on the road the month of September attending the Career Fair Circuit hosted by the MPSEOC (Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council). Through these career fairs we were able to reach students about the opportunities available in the healthcare industry and provide them with resources about healthcare education. Career Fairs were attended in: Havre, Glasgow, Plentywood, Sidney, Glendive, Miles City, Colstrip, Bozeman, Livingston, Billings, Lewistown, Great Falls, Cut Bank, Butte, Helena, Missoula, Hamilton, Polson, and Kalispell.
For more information on MPSEOC and to discover what resources they can offer your students, please visit: MontanaColleges.com
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REACH Camps in Eastern & South Central Montana
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Healthcare Career Exploration for High School Students
 The 2010-2011 school year was very successful for the Eastern Montana AHEC, they partnered with rural medical facilities to offer 7 REACH (Research and Explore Awesome Careers in Healthcare) day camps for 170 high school students in the Eastern region of Montana. Students were able to hear from healthcare professionals and take part in hands-on activities such as injecting oranges, suturing chicken breasts, and defibrillating a simulated patient.
 Upcoming REACH camps in Eastern Montana:
Sidney - October 5th (open to all 11th and 12th graders in Richland county) Poplar/Wolf Point - October 25th (open to 9th -12th graders in Poplar and Wolf Point) Miles City - November 7th (open to 9th and 10th graders from Custer, Garfield, Fallon, Prairie, Powder River, and Carter counties) Students can contact Cass Staton: cass.sta@riverstonehealth.org, or their school counselors for more information.  Upcoming REACH camps in South Central Montana:
Sheridan - October 4th (open to 9-12th graders from Sheridan & Twin Bridges) Ennis - November 2nd (open to 9-12th graders from Ennis) Dillon - December 2nd (open to 9-12th graders from Dillon and Lima) Students can contact Bergen Morehouse, bergen@mtha.org or their school counselors for more information.
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This month's Spotlight Lesson: FREE PowerPoints!
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Health & Wellness PowerPoint Presentations The University of Texas School of Medicine has some amazing resources, lesson plans, curriculum materials, and even pre-built PowerPoint presentations for use by classroom teachers! The free website has over 20 PowerPoint presentations covering topics such as sleep, eye disorders, nutrition, mobility, physics, and oral health! Definitely worth checking out!
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Education Spotlight: Clinical Laboratory Science
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CLS Degrees Available at Montana Schools
Clinical Laboratory Scientists (also known as Medical Technologists or Medical Laboratory Scientists) are important health care providers that perform laboratory analyses used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and maintenance of health. Because of the demands of this career, Clinical Laboratory Scientists receive extensive education and training using biomedical analyses and complex instrumentation. Medical Laboratory Scientists typically receive their degrees in Microbiology or Biology.
CLS degrees are available in Montana at the following schools:
MSU-Billings
MSU-Bozeman
University of Montana
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Career Spotlight: Psychiatrist, DO/MD
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 Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. The stereotype of the "bearded analyst" sitting by the couch is obsolete. While psychoanalysis is still practiced, most psychiatrists today provide a wide range of biological, psychotherapeutic, and psychosocial treatments tailored to the specific needs of the patient. Psychiatrists also serve as the medical experts for the mind/brain/body interface.
Like other medical conditions, mental illnesses can range from relatively mild and self-limiting conditions to severe and life-threatening disorders. Recent research by the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that 26% of the adult population in the U.S. suffers from some diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. Nearly 6% of all Americans suffer from severe mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia or bipolar disorder). Psychiatry is one of the oldest medical specialties. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is over 150 years old. Psychiatry is also one of the frontiers of medicine, as researchers constantly make new discoveries about the brain. Recent advances in the neurosciences have led to significant new technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of many mental illnesses. Among other innovations, brain imaging and new pharmaceuticals have led to mental illness treatments that are just as effective as treatments in other medical specialties. The prospects for finding a good job in this field are excellent for the foreseeable future. There is still a great need for psychiatrists in all aspects of the public, as well as in the private care sector. Psychiatry was designated as a shortage specialty and a priority specialty in a recent report by the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee. Sub-specialists such as child psychiatrists and geriatric psychiatrists are in even greater demand. The average salary for a Psychiatrist ranges from $150,000-300,000. text courtesy of www.explorehealthcareers.org 
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Distance Learning Course Offered through Western Montana AHEC: Certified Outpatient Coding
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Become a Certified Professional Coder
Do you have students looking to enter a healthcare career right out of high school? Have they thought about Medical Coding?
Why Medical Coding? --
- Coders work in every type of healthcare facility and some can work from home.
- The salary range is $30-$40,000/year (national average).
- On average certified coders make 17% more than non-certified coders.
- A statewide survey on the need for coders indicated that 70% of Montana's healthcare institutions reported a reoccurring need to hire medical coders
Program Dates: Jan. 24- Mar. 24, 2012
Meeting times: Tues & Thurs 5:30-9:30 pm, plus 3 Sat. sessions
Total Hours of Instruction: 84
Distance Learning Costs: Tuition and textbooks: $1344. Additional fees: Certification exam $260, AAPC membership $70, Vidyo license $5
Instructor: Lisa Rae Roper, MHA, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, PCS
Technology Utilized: Vidyo and Moodle
Required Prerequisites: Medical Terminology and Anatomy & Physiology
College Credit from The University of Montana may also be available
This exciting opportunity for students in rural areas is available through distance technology & a partnership between the Western Montana AHEC & The Lifelong Learning Center. For more information, please contact Anne Linn in the W MT AHEC at anne.linn@mso.umt.edu
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New Staff in Western MT AHEC - Missoula
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Martha Robertson Hired as New K-12 Program Coordinator
 Martha Robertson began her position as the K-12 Program Coordinator for the Western Montana AHEC the end of August. Martha holds a BA in Secondary English Education from Marquette University. She has been a zoo curator, a chef, a high school English teacher, and most recently, worked for Missoula County Public Schools as Outreach Specialist for the Russell Elementary Family Resource Center. Her favorite job is "Mom" for 2 children, Noah and Alice, ages 12 and 17. Martha enjoys yoga, quilting, gardening, and her volunteer work with Partners Hospice and the Ronald McDonald House.
For questions on K-12 programming in the Western region, please contact Martha at 243-4746 or martha.robertson@mso.umt.edu
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AHEC - The Basics
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This E-News is being sent to you by the Montana Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in order to open a dialogue among educators about Health Science Education for K-12 students of Montana. Through this newsletter we intend to:
1) build a shared resource of activities, materials, and lesson plans to draw on in teaching the health sciences
2) highlight the cross-curriculum nature of the health sciences
3) build an interest in and awareness of health career paths for students in the state of Montana
Please contact us with your comments, ideas, questions or projects you'd like to see highlighted in future issues of this e-newsletter. And thank you for the work you do every day to inspire and support Montana kids!
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Sincerely,
Montana AHECs (Area Health Education Centers)
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