POTA News

POTA DISTRICT IV WORKSHOP

Release Date: Mar 20, 2008

AOTA Specialty Certification

Release Date: Feb 12, 2008

February 2008

Dear State Occupational Therapy Association Member,

As a President of the Iowa Occupational Therapy Association and a member of the Commission of Continuing Competence and Professional Development (CCCPD), I would like to share some information related to AOTA board and specialty certification. I would like to thank your association President for allowing me space on your state webpage and/or newsletter.

In May 2004, the CCCPD was charged by the AOTA Representative Assembly (RA) to develop new Board Certifications in Gerontology, Mental Health, Pediatrics, and Physical Rehabilitation; and Specialty Certifications in Driving and Community Mobility; Environmental Modification; Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing; and Low Vision. Panels made up of volunteers with expertise in each of the areas were established to work on the development of the certifications. Literature review, interviews, surveys, focus groups, expert consultation, and observation were used to develop the final competencies and indicators that make up the requirements for each certification.

You may ask "why should I become board or specialty certified?" As you know, the practice of occupational therapy is changing on a daily basis. The current practice environment requires more and more that practitioners be able to communicate the immediate effectiveness of their interventions and demonstrate continuous professional growth. Through its Board and Specialty Certification programs, AOTA provides formal recognition for practitioners who have engaged in a voluntary process of ongoing professional development and who are able to translate that development into improved client outcomes. Board and specialty certification provides you with an advantage in marketing yourself to employers and marketing your services to clients. Moreover this program allows you to show payers that you possess the specialized and advanced knowledge and skills they want provided to their clients. Potential benefits which may be realized by the practitioner through obtaining board or specialty certification could include: an increase in client referrals, a promotion or raise in pay for services, formal recognition by peers and other stakeholders, as well as improved client outcomes. Perhaps first and foremost, advanced and specialty certification is a process which promotes increased skills and professional development and offers personal satisfaction.

Board certification recognizes advanced achievement by occupational therapists in the broad areas of practice (Gerontology, Physical Rehabilitation, Pediatrics & Mental Health). This certification aims to create a community of occupational therapists who share a commitment to ongoing continuing competence and the development of the profession. Further, board certification can assist occupational therapists in ongoing professional development in the areas of best practice, education, and research in occupational therapy.

Specialty certification, available to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants was developed to acknowledge the specific skills in specialized areas of practice (Driving & Community Mobility, Feeding, Eating & Swallowing, Low Vision, & Environmental Modification). These specialized credentials assist practitioners in competing in the ever changing healthcare marketplace.

The board and specialty certification process were developed based upon the AOTA standards of continuing competence (knowledge, critical reasoning, interpersonal skills, performance skills & ethical reasoning). The certification programs are based upon continuing competence, or the building of capacity to meet identified competencies. I believe it is important to note that what a profession can be is dependent on its members. What your state can be is dependent on the actions and activities of you as a state association member!

Applying for board/specialty certification is a process. It is something that will take time, but it is time well spent on your professional development as well as the ongoing development of our profession. To apply, practitioners develop a reflective portfolio based on competencies and indicators specified in the application handbook. Honestly, we think that many practitioners will be surprised to note that much of their work day to day will meet the competencies and indicators required for the application process.

We are excited to share with you news of an upcoming FREE seminar on board/specialty certification on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at the AOTA Conference in Long Beach. You must register for this seminar but there is no charge. The registration form can be found online or in the AOTA conference program which was mailed to members. The session will take place from noon-6:30 pm. At the free seminar sponsored by CCCPD, participants will learn about the board and specialty certification process, be able to ask questions about the process, hear and exchange tips to earning certification, and participants can even bring their professional development materials to see how what they've completed to date can be used to meet the required documentation for the board/specialty certification application process.

Want to know more? We urge you to attend the free seminar and to visit the AOTA website. Just click on professional development where you can download the application handbook for all the board and specialty certifications without any charge, and stay tuned to the AOTA website where a board/specialty certification Blog is soon to be unveiled. Do you have more questions about the process? Please email prodev@aota.org.

Hope to see you in Long Beach!

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH, President, Iowa Occupational Therapy Association AOTA - CCCPD Member

AOTA Update!

Release Date: Jun 12, 2007

The AOTA’s Representative Assembly (RA) is your link to action in your professional association! It is the “Congress of AOTA”!

From April 18th to 21st the Representative Assembly (RA) held its annual meeting at AOTA’s 87th Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Over 115 agenda items were discussed and voted on. Although only the Representatives are voting members, all AOTA members can give feedback about the proposed motions and issues.

Here are the “HIGHLIGHTS” of the 2007 RA Meeting . . .

For more details visit the AOTA Governance section of the AOTA website at http://www.aota.org

Motions From Members
Motion 5 asked for a moratorium on accrediting entry-level doctoral programs and to limit accreditation to master’s entry-level programs only. After careful consideration of all viewpoints, Motion 5 was defeated.

Motion 1, which asked for an ad hoc committee to review the assumptions of Resolution J (postbaccalaureate master’s entry level), was also defeated. However, a substitute motion for this was adopted charging the President “to form an ad hoc committee consisting of representation from practice, education, ethics, and accreditation to summarize and analyze the impact of two points of entry (masters’ and doctoral) for occupational therapists on the future of the profession and the clients we serve.”

Motion 2 on pre-professional training in early intervention (EI) was defeated but substitute motions were adopted. The motions call for the formation of an ad hoc committee to analyze how educational content prepares OT practitioners in EI, an AOTA staff investigation on state statutes and regulations on EI training requirements, and the conduction of an EI evidence-based literature review by the end of FY09.

Also adopted was Motion 3 to expand the full text availability of AJOT and Motion 4, making more volumes of AJOT available with full text online as a member privilege as well making them available for purchase by nonmember’s entities such as virtual libraries in universities, research centers, and online databases.

The RA also adopted new business motions on distinguishable currency for visually impaired, universal design, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The motion on a mentoring database was defeated but a mentoring motion on the formation of effective mentoring relationships and self-advocacy was adopted.

Education and Fieldwork
The Commission on Education (COE) papers titled Philosophy of Occupational Education and A Descriptive Review of Occupational Therapy Education were adopted. The RA considered many motions on fieldwork including charging COE to collaborate toward inclusion of a description of model fieldwork in the OT and OTA model curricula; charging COE to develop a proposal for voluntary credentialing program for fieldwork educators; and charging CCCPD to initiate a feasibility study for the development of a specialty certification program for fieldwork educators.

Mental Health
The president was charged to establish an ad hoc committee to establish core competencies for mental health occupational therapy practice. The eight-member committee will include representation from COE, the Commission on Practice (COP), the Mental Health Special Interest Section, the Mental Health Board Certification review panel, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, , and at-large membership (OT, OTA, OT student). There were also charges to implement the preparatory action items outlined in the 2007 Qualified Mental Health Practitioners Ad Hoc report that can be initiated consistent with the AOTA Strategic Plan and within the resources of the Association. The development of a comprehensive, multiyear plan to address the long-term initiatives needed to advance the role of occupational therapy in mental health services and systems will also be undertaken.

Societal Issues and Centennial Vision
The new societal statements on Family Caregiving and Stress and Stress Disorders were adopted. The RA Coordinating Council (RACC), the group that develops these statements, was also charged to evaluate how each body of the Assembly relates to and can support the newly adopted six centennial focus areas of (1) Children and Youth (2) Productive Aging (3) Mental Health (4) Work and Industry (5) Health and Wellness and (6) Rehabilitation, Disability, and Participation.

These focus areas will guide the work of the Association in its efforts to support and promote the future of the occupational therapy profession. The RACC was also charged to develop a societal statement on play.

Occupational Therapy Assistants
Proposed language in the Model Practice Act was also approved. The additional language is intended as guidance to state regulators regarding the ability of OTs and OTAs w to retain the use of their professional credentials when not practicing occupational therapy. Additionally, language was reinserted into the 2007 Bylaws to maintain the OTA Director position on the Board. These bylaws were adopted by members at the 2007 AOTA Annual Business Meeting in St. Louis.

Practice The COP papers entitled Specialized Knowledge and Skills in Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing for Occupational Therapy Practice, Obesity and Occupational Therapy Position Paper were adopted. The president was charged to develop an action plan to implement recommendations from the AOTA Board Task Force on Health and Wellness. The plan should include specific steps and priorities, the identification of actions that can be implemented immediately, and the fiscal implications and timelines for implementation. The RA also approved the development of an “exemplar” series in OT Practice to highlight occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants engaging in “participation”-focused evaluation and intervention across the continuum of rehabilitation and disability.

We want you to know that Pennsylvania is striving to take a leadership role within the RA . . . Denise Chisholm assumed the role of a Task Group Leader during the 2007 RA Meeting! Additionally, we want Pennsylvania to maintain its strong presence within the RA. Currently we are one of only three election areas or states who have two representatives . . . which means we have double the voting power! In order to maintain our status of having two representatives Pennsylvania needs to count for at least 5% of the AOTA membership. As of December 31, 2006 the total voting membership was 26,464 (OTs & OTAs) with 5% being 1,323 members – Pennsylvania had 1,526 (5.77%) as of that date . . . which is dangerously close to that 5% cut off. We know you want Pennsylvania to be heard at the RA and with your help we will continue to be . . . we need your continued support as AOTA members and we need you to encourage your colleagues to become AOTA members. It is only with your support that AOTA can make a difference . . . the more members we have the more power we have to facilitate changes that will positively influence our profession!

Remember, we want to represent your viewpoint and in order to do so we need to hear from you. Look for RA Updates in future editions of PennPoint and on the POTA website! And sign up for the PA RA Listserv – directions are on the POTA website! We look forward to your questions and feedback!

Please contact us if you have questions at aotarep@pota.org. We welcome your feedback.

Sincerely,
Marian Gillard
PA Rep #1

Vacant
PA Alternate Rep #1

Denise Chisholm
PA Rep #2

Ingrid Provident
PA Alternate Rep #2

CarFIT Program

Release Date: Apr 05, 2007

Hello fellow colleagues.

I am writing to share some information about a great opportunity that I just signed up for - CarFit is an consumer educational program set up by ASA, AAA and AOTA to help older adults check out how well their personal vehicles "fit" and to provide them information about related community resources.

CarFit trainings are seeking occupational therapists to serve as event coordinators or skilled volunteers at CarFit sessions.

The trainings are typically two day events. They are either FREE or a very nominal cost to cover food or materials and while the program would like you to conduct your own event post training, there is no mandatory minimum requirements. You do NOT have to be an older driver specialist to participate.

If you are interested in more information, check out the following site: www.asaging.org/carfit. As of today, there are upcoming trainings in April/May in the following areas:
Maine
Georgia
Chicago (two sessions)
Pittsburgh (Washington, PA)
Dayton
West St. Paul, MN

Cathy Dolhi, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA

To find out more, please visit this website: http://www.asaging.org/carfit

POTA is Working for You!

Release Date: Jul 27, 2006

Read about recent legislative advancements affecting Occupational Therapy in Pennsylvania by clicking here.

Continuing Competence Questionnaire

Release Date: Oct 15, 2005

Optometrist Referral Bill Becomes Law

Release Date: May 18, 2004

Great news! On May 18, 2004, Governor Rendell signed into law our optometrist referral bill. It is designated Act 30 of 2004.

Effective 60 days after May 18th, occupational therapists can accept the referrals of optometrists for therapy, including low vision therapy.

Please take advantage of this opportunity to build your practices and referral bases! We hope that this is the beginning of a close and supportive relationship between OTs and optometrists.

Please continue to support POTA and POTPAC so that we can continue to build our presence in the legislature and achieve more successes like this one.

Don Walkovich, POTA President
Susan Haiman, POTA Legislative Chair