To help keep up with new trends, Texas State Technical College and Practice Management Institute have teamed up to train Hendrick Health staff members on the new upscale medical and billing coding systems. The one aspect of the industry that never changes is the need for current, up-to-date information by doctors, nurses and staff on the business side of running a practice.

TSTC recently received a $255,586 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission to facilitate the training with PMI for Hendrick employees in Abilene and Brownwood.

“This is a great opportunity for us to partner with a great team at PMI to facilitate this training,” said Cindy Brunett, TSTC’s executive director of workforce training.

PMI, recognized by both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Labor for training in medical coding, third-party billing, office management and compliance, is a leading training, networking and credentialing resource for medical office professionals.

Michael Moore, PMI’s vice president of partner development, is thrilled with the continued difference that these partnerships are making in the everyday work lives of Hendrick Health employees.

“Our organizations share a common mission to help medical office personnel stay on top of the latest industry changes, trends and solutions, and we support them fully in the commitment they have to the success of their employees,” he said. “This is our third Skills Development Fund grant in the Hendrick Health/TSTC/PMI collaboration, and it is so great to see the Texas Workforce Commission mission being carried out in this way.”

Hendrick employees will be offered numerous courses taught by TSTC and PMI employees.

“We are going to cover a wide range of topics, from clinical documentation to medical coding,” said Sarah Brooks, TSTC’s Health Information Technology program director.

Lori Sweet, compliance manager for Hendrick, said having the most up-to-date information will help the staff become stronger.

“Hendrick is very supportive of their staff and believes any education that will support and help build a stronger health care system is important,” she said. “The partnership with TSTC and PMI has helped to build and improve employee skills that impact the quality of care of patients, families, the community and surrounding areas.”

In 2021, Hendrick expanded its services to a larger community and new facilities.

“This opportunity has brought training to staff that has not had opportunities of specialized training,” Sweet said. “This partnership has created an enthusiasm by staff to expand their knowledge and expand on their skills within our organization.”

Brooks said employees will learn the latest information to keep pace with the growing health care industry – with one goal.

“We want the staff to be abreast of the best and latest practices because this all leads back to offering the best patient care possible.”

For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Tucker, of Westbrook, said having her entire family present when she received her nursing pin and diploma was important. She earned her vocational nursing certificate this month and plans to return to TSTC to begin the Associate Degree Nursing program in the near future.

“Today has been overwhelming for me,” she said of graduation day. “I would not have gotten this far without my family.”

Tucker admitted that she faced challenges during the program. Those challenges ranged from raising her three children to facing different situations during clinicals. There were also some humorous moments that she shared during the pinning ceremony.

“My funniest nursing school memory was that time I continued to wave my badge to open one of the hospital doors but forgot you still had to push the door open to open it,” she said.

She continues to laugh about that event, which happened at Cogdell Memorial Hospital in Snyder, adding, “Nursing school takes all of your common sense.”

Tucker’s mother and stepfather, Belinda and J.D. Rogers, drove from New Mexico to see their daughter honored during the ceremony, as well as being recognized as a Phi Theta Kappa honor society member and being named to the Scholastic Excellence honor roll.

“It is awesome to see her life come together, because she has been through a lot,” J.D. Rogers said. 

Belinda Rogers never doubted that her daughter would graduate – and with honors.

“She has been so driven to finish. I knew when she set her mind to it, she would be a success,” she said.

For Blake Tucker, Blaine Tucker’s father, it was a first for his side of the family.

“She is the first person in my immediate family to go to college and finish,” he said. “I am proud of her decision to become a nurse, and I cannot wait to see what happens during her next journey.”

Blaine Tucker’s decision to enter the nursing field was inspired during her pregnancies. She said each was difficult, but having “monumental nurses” watching her led to the career choice.

“I knew I needed to pay it forward and help people,” she said, adding that a career in a maternity ward could be in her future.

Instructor Joan Coldiron said Tucker will be successful no matter which direction she chooses.

“From the first time I met her, she made a great impression on me,” she said. “She is a very dedicated and hard-working person who will do a good job helping others.”

Tucker said graduation night ended one “whirlwind” experience and she is ready for the next.

“I am so very thankful to each and every person who believed in me and pushed me along the way,” she said. “The last 16 months have come with a whirlwind of emotions, trials, hardships and amazing experiences. I would not have made it through without all of the people God put in my corner.”

TSTC’s Vocational Nursing certificate program is available at the Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. Upon completion of the program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination, graduates are classified as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).

According to onetonline.org, LVN jobs are forecast to increase 11% in Texas by 2028, with more than 82,000 nurses in the workforce. The median salary for LVNs in Texas is $47,760, the website showed.

TSTC also offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing at the Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Recently she added to her credentials when she graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing from TSTC.

The experience she gained while working at Windsor Atrium nursing home and currently at Little Miracles Home Health agency in Harlingen has helped her professional growth.

Munoz had more than 20 patients under her care as a vocational nurse at Windsor Atrium. She administered medications to patients, assisted with patient transfers and collaborated on a patient care plan.

Her transition to Little Miracles Home Health afforded her a part-time opportunity to enhance her knowledge of pediatric care.

“It brings me great satisfaction to know my efforts help their health improve,” she said of the pediatric patients.

Richard Martinez, director of nursing for Little Miracles Home Health, said Munoz has been a valuable asset to the company.

“Kimberly brings a great level of professionalism to our home health agency,” he said. “She is respectful of the families and the work environment. Most importantly, it is great to have one of our employees complete TSTC’s Nursing program.”

Munoz credits her training in TSTC’s Vocational Nursing program for her professional success.

“I was very shy at the time,” she said. “Collaborating in groups helped me to understand the importance of voicing concern.”

In addition to TSTC’s Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing offered at the Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses, the college also offers a Vocational Nursing certificate program at the Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.

Licensed vocational nurses can make an average salary of $47,760 in Texas, with a projected job growth of 11% by 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses can earn an average of $75,320 per year in Texas, with a projected job growth of 17% by 2028, according to onetonline.org.

Registration for the spring semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

More than 100 fall 2021 graduates walked the stage to receive their diplomas during the first in-person TSTC commencement ceremony since fall 2019.

“Tonight means the completion of two years of hard work paying off,” said Chase Carey, who earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Powerplant Technology with honors. “Earning the honors means that all of my late nights of studying were worth the time and effort.”

Edward Deanda, who earned a certificate of completion in Aircraft Powerplant Technology, also graduated with honors.

“These honors accomplishments mean so much to me,” Deanda said. “But I am not through because I am coming back to work on a backup career in Digital Media Design. I want to have something to fall back on, and TSTC is the place to do that.”

For Omar Alvarez, it was the completion of a second degree program. After earning a degree in Automotive Technology, he returned to TSTC and earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Airframe Technology. He graduated as a TSTC Board of Regents Honor Roll member.

“It was a lot of work for me, and it was worth it because I maintained a 4.0 grade-point average during each semester,” he said. “The best part is I now have a job lined up and am ready to start my career.”

Alfred Rodriguez also added to his TSTC collection of TSTC degrees. After earning a certificate of completion in Diesel Equipment Technology, he added an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Systems.

“This is a great day for me, and I am so excited because it has already paid off for me at work,” he said.

Kiana Abarintos said she can now pursue her passion in aviation with her Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Powerplant Technology.

“My father was in aviation for 20 years, and it was always something I wanted to do,” she said. “When my husband was transferred to Dyess Air Force Base, I did my research and found TSTC had an aviation program. I am so proud of myself for achieving this goal in my life.”

Misty Burton, who earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing, also realized a dream.

“This was 16 years in the making,” she said. “I graduated in licensed vocational nursing when my baby was a baby. That was 16 years ago, and I have completed my goal of completing the program. This has been an amazing experience.”

Ken Becker, interim executive director of the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development, said students were given a key during the ceremony.

“The key is your hard work. The key is the completion of your studies,” he said. “The key is the certificate or associate degree that you will walk across the stage tonight to receive. It’s the key that can take you places you want to go.”

Registration for the spring semester at TSTC is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

She graduated in August 2021 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology from Texas State Technical College.

When Basave was doing her student clinicals at Rio Grande Regional Hospital Outpatient Surgery Center, she found the company culture there to be very heartwarming.

“During my clinicals the employees were very helpful and willing to teach,” she said.

Basave recalled having difficulty as a student in the area of ophthalmic eye surgery. Now it is an area that she really enjoys.

Jeff Randall, director of nurses for the Rio Grande Regional Hospital Outpatient Surgery Center, remarked that Basave has an incredible work ethic.

“What I truly appreciate is that she has a willingness to get her hands dirty and keep going,” he said.

One of the most important things that Basave incorporates into her job is sterile technique. This involves proper hand-washing, the use of a sterile field, the use of sterile gloves for application, and the use of sterile instruments.

“My perspective is that I imagine it is one of my own family members going into surgery,” she said. “I think of how I would want them to be treated. This is what I do for our patients.”

Basave describes the feeling of working in the operating room as very exciting.

“You will always learn something new,” she said. “As a surgical technician, your focus is to ensure that everything is perfect.”

According to onetonline.org, surgical technologists can earn a yearly median salary of more than $49,000 in Texas. Jobs are expected to increase 14% in the state by 2028.

TSTC offers Surgical Technology at the Harlingen campus, where students can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Registration for the spring semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Rogers toured the campus December 2 with some members of TSTC’s West Texas administration and experienced using some equipment that students train with on a daily basis.

“I am really impressed with the technology that is available at TSTC and the Breckenridge campus,” Rogers said. “From Welding to Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance to Nursing, the level of technology is great.”

During the tour, Rogers took part in some Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance lab activities. He “extinguished” a virtual fire, then donned a hazmat suit and worked with chemical tank simulators.

Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance instructor Teresa Purcell also showed Rogers some water samples that students have tested during lab sessions.

“I am grateful he took the time to come here, put on our suit and see how our students train,” Purcell said.

Throughout the tour, Rogers asked instructors questions related to job needs in the state. During his visit with Welding Technology instructor Stephen Hope, Rogers asked about the need for welders in different fields.

Hope said he wants his students to find jobs that are best suited for them.

“We have students who work on pipelines and others who work construction,” Hope said. “I want my students to be the best at the profession that they want to pursue.”

While touring the Nursing lab, Rogers asked about job prospects for licensed vocational nurses compared to registered nurses. Instructor Marchelle Taylor said there is always demand for all nurses.

“We are seeing more of a need in our area for LVNs, and we want to make sure we fill the needs of our health care systems,” she said.

After the tour, Rogers said he was pleased to see TSTC training the future workforce.

“I am definitely a supporter of TSTC and the programs it offers,” he said. “The people who lead these programs are very dedicated to what they do, and that was evident during the tour. Having passionate teachers will help our future workforce.”

TSTC’s spring semester registration is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Her choice to pursue the Biomedical Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus has been a rewarding one.

The program teaches students how to inspect, calibrate, maintain and repair high-technological medical devices.

In lab sessions, students work on activities such as building circuits and rectifiers. A rectifier is an electrical device used to convert alternating current into direct current by allowing a current to flow through the device in only one direction.

“We have to find a rectifier, de-solder it and place it on an oscilloscope,” Jimenez said. “An oscilloscope is used to locate waveforms.”

She added that an interest in engineering was sparked when she noticed her father working on vehicles at home.

“It inspired me to want to learn and fix things on my own and help my community,” she said.

The students perform maintenance on medical equipment at other Allied Health programs at the Harlingen campus, according to David Sanchez, an instructor in TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology program.

“They have worked on X-ray machines in the Dental Hygiene program,” he said. “It is a steppingstone before they visit other businesses.”

Many students who enter the program have minimal medical knowledge.

Jimenez noted that at the beginning she felt like a baby deer taking its first steps. Then she adapted, and a hunger for knowledge evolved.

“When we work on equipment, I like to analyze the schematics,” she said. “If I do not understand it, I research. Then I explain the information to my classmates so we can all be on the same page.”

She credits Oziel Capetillo and Ray Longoria, TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology instructors, for their in-depth explanations regarding the equipment.

Now in her final semester, Jimenez would like to pursue an internship with an upstate company or locally with Valley Baptist Medical Center.

Medical equipment repairers can earn an average annual salary of $49,050 in Texas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This allied health career has a 12% projected job growth rate in Texas, onetonline.org shows.

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Dental Hygiene fourth-semester students at Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus recently educated youth and local businesses through community outreach about the importance of caring for their teeth and making good snack choices.

During a visit to Little Lou’s Daycare, TSTC students provided a fun-filled “Teeth for Tots” presentation aimed at ages three to six years old. The performance covered how many times to brush teeth, what happens when small areas of sticky plaque result in cavities, good snack food choices, what happens to a child’s baby tooth, how often to visit a dentist, how an x-ray looks, and a song about brushing teeth featuring Elmo.

Nadina Corbitt is a TSTC student in the program who played a tooth fairy in the presentation and taught children how to clean their teeth properly.

“Does the toothbrush have too much or just the right amount of toothpaste,” she said.

Jaime Davila played the chef and his role was to whip up healthy snack choices.

“I am whipping up snacks that will be very tasty,” he said.

Goody bags were offered to the daycare through generous donations from vendors and dental hygiene suppliers and contained a small soft bristle toothbrush, Listerine Smart Rinse (cavity protection), flossers, stickers, and Crest Kids Sparkle toothpaste, and coloring pages.

Lucretia Human, a TSTC Dental Hygiene instructor, added students learn the importance of dental public health in preparation for community outreach.

“Our students gain confidence in public speaking,” she said. “They also learn valuable lessons about educating these young children on how to care for their teeth and their bodies.”

Through community events, students gain confidence in public speaking, knowledge regarding how to better educate various age groups, how to plan, implement and assess an event, and the commitment of continuing outreach after they have graduated from the program.

According to onetonline.org, the need for dental hygienists is expected to grow 11% by 2028.

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

The Emergency Medical Services program at Texas State Technical College recently introduced three Lifecast medical manikins to provide a new sense of realism for educational purposes and training.

Previously students had to use their imagination regarding chapter discussions. Medical manikins help bridge the gap for students and bring a sense of awareness to what they might see on call.

Justice Fuerte, a TSTC Emergency Medical Technician student, added that working with the new manikins is a realistic learning experience.

“When you give air to this manikin, the chest rises up,” she said.

Salvador Acevedo, a TSTC Emergency Medical Services instructor, said the department has been able to utilize the manikins for teaching advanced cardiac life support.

“The outcomes are great because students assess patients better than a regular manikin,” he said. “When we do certification skills for advanced cardiac life support, we teach the students how to go through an algorithm and figure out what needs to happen next in the chain of command to gain a better outcome for the patient.”

Ezequiel Delatorre, a TSTC Emergency Medical Technician student in his first semester, noted that the program is very challenging.

“In the training simulator, you can really feel the resistance in the manikin’s chest when performing CPR,” he said. “It is definitely a surreal experience.”

The manikins will be used in an immersive classroom simulation in January. They will be incorporated into scenarios to enhance the experience and tap into a student’s visual, hearing and smell senses. Acevedo also plans to invite industry partners into the training and work hand in hand with other partners for field experience.

The TSTC Emergency Medical Services program prides itself on making sure that its graduates are ready for their first call.

According to onetonline.org, the need for paramedics and emergency medical technicians is expected to grow 11% by 2028.

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paramedic, as well as several certificates of completion.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

Demere enrolled in a registered nursing program but quickly realized that she was not ready for the rigorous schedule. After taking some time to think about her options, she learned about the Texas State Technical College Vocational Nursing program in Breckenridge.

She is now a few weeks away from earning her Vocational Nursing certificate of completion and has not regretted her decision to give nursing a second chance.

“I decided early on that I wanted to work in the health care industry. I thought it would be cool to learn more about the nursing industry,” Demere said.

Working as a phlebotomist in Cisco was her first venture into health care. While employed at the Cisco hospital and living in Goldthwaite, Demere has been making the long drive to Breckenridge to attend school.

“It has been a lot of miles, both physically and emotionally, for me,” she said. “I told myself to remain dedicated and I would finish. I am getting closer to that goal.”

Demere said instructor Jenny Wingate had approached her about the program since they both live in the same area.

“She told me all about the program and that I should look into it more,” she said. “I learned a lot about TSTC online and only heard great things from people I talked to. I knew if I wanted a second chance in the medical field, TSTC would be the place to start.”

Instructor Marchelle Taylor has seen Demere grow since her time in the program.

“Abbey is a hard worker and has been one of those students whose growth we can see,” she said. “Driving to school like she does is a motivation to work hard and succeed. She will be a good nurse in the industry because she has that type of dedication.”

Demere has especially liked the clinical sessions in hospitals.

“I have enjoyed my experience, especially at Hendrick (Medical Center). I was able to do a lot,” she said. “I was able to see my first birth, and other things happened that I never expected to see. I know I picked the right career.”

Having completed hands-on lab sessions prepared Demere for what she saw in the hospital.

“It helps you feel more comfortable in the hospital when we work in the lab,” she said. “It gives you more confidence when you actually do have to perform.”

TSTC’s Vocational Nursing certificate program is available at the Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. Upon completion of the program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination, graduates are classified as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).

According to onetonline.org, LVN jobs are forecast to increase 11% in Texas by 2028, with more than 82,000 nurses in the workforce. The median salary for LVNs in Texas is $47,760, the website showed.

TSTC also offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing at the Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.