Newsletter Issue 1 - November / December 2003
Delaware Occupational Therapy Association Newsletter
November / December 2003
http://www.dotaonline.org
Rosemary Calvert, Editor
DOTA Officers
President: Kathy Caudle
katohtee@comcast.net
302-738-3110
Vice President: Molly McGinty
mollymcgintyotr@hotmail.com
302-430-5964
Secretary: Lisa Sligh
LAC613@aol.com
Treasurer: Jane McNicholas
jem@ravenet.com
PO Box 566 Claymont DE 19703
From the President
I hope that everyone's holidays were happy, and you are all ready for an exciting New Year.
Thanks to all who have graciously provided space for our meetings. Molly McGinty has scheduled a variety of short contact hour programs for our meetings. Thank you, Molly. Please see the schedule of meetings that follow. Members have requested that we alternate meeting days so that those who cannot attend one evening of the week might be able to attend on a different evening. Watch for meetings scheduled for the second week of each month. So far, our aquatics and splinting presentations were very well received.
Interested in DOTA history? Help is needed to search the old file cabinets and retrieve some valuable history. Call me or email me if you are interested in helping with this fun project.
We are still in need of a chair or co-chair to handle the DOTA/OT month event. Many of the factors are in place, but time is running out for the preparation time needed to complete this worthwhile event.
A reminder: the AOTA conference will be held in Minneapolis in May 2004. The DOTA conference will also be held in May.
Did you know that DOTA has received AOTA's "The Voice of the Membership" award? See me at the next meeting, and I will be glad to fill you in.
--Kathy Caudle, President
Important Dates
DOTA meetings:
- January 13 (snow date January 20): Kent General Rehab, 6:30, Yoga
- February 12 (snow date February 19): A.I. duPont Hospital, 6:30, Pediatric topic
- March 9: Wilmington Hospital, 6:30, MS
- April 7: Kent General Rehab, 6:30, Diabetes
- May 8: DOTA conference
- June 12: Kent General Rehab(tentative), long range planning meeting, 8-12
News from the DE Board of OT
From December Hughes, DE Board of OT Chair
- Wed, Jan 7
- Wed, Feb 11
- Wed, Mar 17
- Wed, Apr 21
- Wed, May 26
- Wed, Jun 30
- NO JULY MEETING
- Wed, Aug 4
- Wed, Sept 8
- Wed, Oct 13
- Wed, Nov 17
- NO DEC MEETING
- - Please remind DOTA members that board meetings may be rescheduled, they can confirm meeting dates by calling 302-744-4511.
- - Please remind members that this is a licensure renewal year, so if they have any questions about receiving contact hours for courses they have already attended or will be attending before May 3, they should those questions into the board.
- - The Board is planning to send out licensure renewal reminders in March 2004, as May 31st is when proof of contact hours are due (please see 24 DE Admin. Code 2000, 5.1.1 in our rules and regulations).
- -Please let me know if there are any questions.
Thanks and Happy New Year.
December Hughes
decbatcave@aol.com
Other OT Board members:
Board meetings are held at 4:30, 861 Silver Lake Blvd. Cannon Bldg., conference room B, Dover DE. Contact hours are awarded for attendance. Please keep your own records of attendance.
When applying for continuing education licensure credit, use the attached document. The contact information at the bottom is no longer an email to Vicky Gingrich, but Sheila Wolfe. Be aware that the Board has the final decision in accepting or rejecting approval. Course objectives, presenter's credentials, and detailed course schedule, including breaks and meal periods must be included. No credit will be given to the introduction of programs, breaks or meals. No credit will be given for courses that relate to documentation or reimbursement that are required as part of your job. No credit will be given for courses that are not related to the practice of occupational therapy or direct patient care.
OT's - Renewal fees to be determined shortly.
OTA's - Renewal fee to be determined shortly.
A public list of every licensed OT and OTR is now available on the DE Board website at http://www.professionallicensing.state.de.us/
Now is a good time to gather up those certificates of attendance and file them where you can easily find them! For your convenience, a copy of the log is enclosed with this newsletter.
Legislative Action The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 has been signed into law. There is now a two year moratorium on the outpatient therapy cap that was originally created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The new bill requires a re-examination of the cap to determine if certain diagnoses should be eligible for a waiver from the cap. The physician fee schedule was raised by 1.5 percent, which will increase fees paid to OT services under Medicare part B.
No home health co-pay was implemented, though the bill did slightly decrease home health payments, except for rural home care providers, who received a slight increase in payments.
The bill provides for a three year price freeze for DME, orthotic and prosthetic providers.
The bill provides for a study by the Dept of HHS on the roles of vision rehab providers (including low vision therapists), in providing for Medicare beneficiaries, as well as consideration of licensure for vision rehab providers.
The bill authorizes a study to assess the feasibility of PT direct access for Medicare beneficiaries.
Employment Opportunity Listings
Changes to fees for employment opportunity postings as of 1/1/04:
$20: fee for a brief description of the employment opportunity, to be posted to www.dotaonline.org for 2 months, and to be included in the DOTA newsletter for two consecutive newsletters. This amount will be charged to organizations without DOTA members.
$10: fee for a brief description of the employment opportunity, to be posted to www.dotaonline.org for 2 months, and to be included in the DOTA newsletter for two consecutive newsletters. This discount will apply to all organizations, which have employees who are DOTA members.
$0: no fee to individual DOTA members for a brief description of the employment opportunity, to be posted to www.dotaonline.org for 2 months, and to be included in the DOTA newsletter for two consecutive newsletters.
Changes to fees for continuing education postings as of 1/1/04:
$10: fee for a brief description of the continuing education opportunity, to be posted to www.dotaonline.org for up to two months, and to be included in the DOTA newsletter for up to two consecutive issues.
$0: no fee to individual DOTA members for a brief description of the continuing education opportunity, to be posted to www.dotaonline.org for up to two months, and to be included in the DOTA newsletter for up to two consecutive issues.
Listings:
RehabCare Group has a full-time management level position available for an Occupational Therapist at Franciscan Care Center in Hockessin, DE. Responsibilities include program development, financial management, operations, and census/volume growth. We offer excellent compensation, benefits, and an incentive bonus plan! RehabCare is also searching for staff OTs interested in per diem work for the Franciscan Care Center facilities in Hockessin and in Wilmington. Please contact Sarah Brooks at: 800-677-1202 x2117, sebrooks@rehabcare.com or by fax 314-863-7751 for more information.
Jarica Sommer, Recruiting Assistant
RehabCare Group
7733 Forsyth Blvd
Ste 1700
St. Louis, MO 63105
800/677-1202 Ext. 2265
RehabCare Group has a full-time staff level position available for an Occupational Therapist at Naaman's Creek Country Manor in Boothwyn, PA. Requires state licensed Occupational Therapist to provide the highest quality of rehabilitation services including assessment, treatment planning and therapeutic interventions in an interdisciplinary environment. Therapist shall also contribute to program development, quality improvement, problem solving and productivity enhancement. We offer excellent compensation and benefits! Please contact Barbara Snell, Assistant Vice President of Recruiting, for more information. Barbara can be reached at (800) 677-1202 x2216, basnell@rehabcare.com, or by fax (314) 863-7751.
Per diem or part time OTR positions available in our Delaware Curative Physical Therapy & Rehab Centers, outpatient and assisted living centers in the Wilmington area. We are looking for dynamic professionals to join our team of PTs, OTs, SLPs as we continue to expand our current rehab programs and services. We offer a competitive salary and benefit package. To find out more about what's new at Delaware Curative, please contact: Deb Alexander at 302 529-7228 or e-mail dalexander@delawarecurative.com
Immediate opening for F/T & P/T in NC area for a pediatric OTR/L and a pediatric COTA with experience treating school aged children in a school environment. Competitive salary and benefits. Please fax resume to (302) 791-9274.
Pat Lewis, OPT Office Administration
Phone # - (302) 791-9502
Fax # - (302) 791-9274
PEDIATRIC OT - Delightful full-time or part-time school district position. Excellent support services, terrific pediatric networking, and competitive rates. Located in PA very close to the Delaware border. Please call Kerri Hample, OTR/L (610) 363-7009, ext. 216; Fax (610) 363-7055; Email: kerri@austills.com; Austill's Rehabilitation Services, Inc., 100 John Robert Thomas Drive, Exton, PA 19341.
Full-time OTR/L Contract Position - available in NCC school district. 35 hour work week (2 school locations) will also supervise COTA. Moderately disabled student population. Full-time COTA Contract Position - available in NCC school district. 35 hour work week (2 school locations). Moderately-to-severely disabled student population. Resumes can be faxed to (302) 427-7807 or e-mailed to rcarroll@celotextrust.com
Come and join the Sunrise Senior Living Team. Forwood Manor is looking for a part time Occupational Therapist, Delaware licensure required. Flexible hours are available. We are an Independent full service community, including independent living, assisted living, and health care. We are looking for an energetic, caring individual to join our team. Please call Joanne Downie, Director of Rehabilitation Services at (302) 529-1600 x323.
BayHealth Medical Center / Milford Rehab (RehabCare Group) is seeking a part time / fulltime OTR or COTA for an expansion of rehab services. We are also seeking PRN coverage by OTR or COTA for vacations, etc. Please contact Wendy Mears at (302) 430-5964 or email wmot@dmv.com
Memberships Many thanks to those of you who sent your memberships early, especially to Priya Devotta, who was the first one! If you have joined, your membership card for January-December 2004 should be included in this mailing. Membership forms are enclosed for those of you who wish to join this month, and to share with fellow OT employees. The membership fee is very reasonable, and supports an organization who is watching out for you interests, supplying those needed contact hours and information on licensure needs, as well as monitoring legislative changes. Let us know how we can serve you better. We listen.
Scholarships Scholarship kits are available to OT and OTA students. Contact rosemarycalvert@yahoo.com or 302-239-4259 or jem@ravenet.com (Jane McNicholas). Kits are available in PDF format as well as traditional hardcopies.
Websites of the month:
E tools for computer workstations, including good work positions, components, environment, and a checklist to help you create a safe and comfortable workstation. From OSHA:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.html
Home Safety for people with Alzheimer's Disease: download this valuable tool/checklist in PDF format. From the Alzheimer's Disease and Referral Center (ADEAR), a service of the National Institute on Aging:
http://www.alzheimers.org/pubs/homesafety.htm
Internet Resources for Special Children provides many links to adaptive equipment, Autistic spectrum disorders, blind and visually impaired, brain injuries, cognitive disabilities, communication disorders, deaf and hearing impaired, laws, learning disabilities, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders, rare disorders, recreation, special education, support groups, and more.
http://www.irsc.org/
Obituary
Naomi Goldsmith recently passed away. Her obituary from the News Journal of 12/12/03 follows. Naomi was very instrumental in starting DOTA as we know it today. Before Naomi, we were a group called United OTs of Delaware. She placed us on the road to becoming an actual organization, and served as our first president. She will be missed.
Naomi Hope Goldstein (Aronoff) Naomi Hope Aronoff Goldstein laid down her burden and returned to the universe on December 9, 2003 after a long and valiant fight with declining health. May she find peace in the arms of whatever comes next.
During her professional years, Mrs. Goldstein was the groundbreaking occupational therapist for the Wilmington Medical Center, now part of the Christiana Care system of hospitals.
She was a lifelong volunteer at the Kutz Home until she became a resident there in November 2000.
She was active in Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth synagogue, where she participated in the choir and the women's Tefillah group.
Mrs. Goldstein is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Jacob Goldstein; her 3 children, Eric Goldstein and Riva Brown, both of Wilmington and Abram Goldstein of Baltimore, MD; and her 6 grandchildren, Deena and Nicole Goldstein, Julius and Albert Brown and Gregory and Maxim Goldstein.
The service was held at 3 pm on Thursday, December 11, at the SCHOENBERG MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 519 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, followed by burial.
Shiva was observed at 7 pm on Thursday, December 11, and Sunday through Tuesday, December 14-16, at the home of Riva and Bill Brown, 1603 Latimer Place East, Wilmington, DE 19805.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Milton and Hattie's Kutz Home, 704 River Rd., Wilmington, DE 19809.
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