S-1349               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5744

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators West, Niemi, Smith, Wojahn and Johnson

Read first time 2/6/89 and referred to Committee on  Health Care & Corrections.

AN ACT Relating to a study of educational articulation and career mobility for certain health professions; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds there is a shortage of certain health professionals in areas of the state.  Physicians, physicians' assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, pharmacists, and pharmacy assistants are needed in some rural areas as well as in urban areas where target populations do not have access to some of these services.

          The legislature further finds that a clear path of educational articulation may not exist allowing for career mobility through the medical, dental, and pharmacy professions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The higher education coordinating board in consultation with at least the state board of community colleges, the department of licensing, the dental examining board, the medical examining board, and the pharmacy board shall report to the legislature on the need for better educational articulation and career mobility in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.  The report shall include (1) an inventory of training and educational programs in the state for these professions, (2) an analysis of whether clear paths of educational articulation and career mobility exist within each of these professions, and (3) recommendations on needed change in training and educational programs to increase the availability and encourage career articulation of these health professionals in shortage areas.

          The higher education coordinating board shall submit its report and recommendations to the standing house of representatives and senate health care committees by December 1, 1990.