ARN Southeast Texas Chapter

We Won!! Southeast Texas Chapter ARN was once again recognized nationally with the 2008 Local Chapter of the Year Award at the ARN Annual Educational Conference in San Francisco, CA, October 1-4, 2008.

This newly created award will be given each year to recognize a local chapter that meet the following criteria:
• Provided an extraordinary educational event above and beyond the requirements designated by ARN. The educational
   event must reflect principles of the current trends in rehabilitation nursing.
• Has excelled in regularly communicating with its members.
• Has exceptional membership recruitment and retention methods.
• Has made a significant contribution to the community in the last year.

Thanks to all who make this an outstanding Chapter!!!!

 

Expo 2009 Sponsors and Exhibitors:
Interested in being a sponsor or vendor at our June Expo & Fundraiser? Please contact Ann Gutierrez or Rhonda Olson at info@arnsoutheasttx.org for more information.

 A grateful THANK YOU to out 2009 Expo Sponsors & Exhibitors:

Gold Sponsors:	BARD Medical Home Instead Senior Care Memorial Hermann Home Health TIRR/Memorial Hermann
Silver Sponsor:	HCR Manor Care Recover Care
Bronze Sponsors:	Centre for Neuro Skills Home Health Resources Posey
Exhibitors:	Brawner Paper Company Covedien Gentiva Home Health Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital PROS Home Healthcare Reliant Rehabilitation Hospital North Houston The Care Group The College Network Touchstone Neurorecovery Center Transitional Learning Center – Galveston

And to our.... 2009 Monthly meeting hosts
January:	The Methodist Hospital – Medical Center Coloplast
February:	Recover Care
March:	SizeWise Rentals
April:	TIRR/Memorial Hermann
May:	TouchstoneNeurorecovery Center & Nexus Specialty Hospital
June:	SETX Expo and Scholarship Fundraiser
July:	St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Amedisys Home Health Care
August:	Michael E. DeBakey Med VAMC
September:	Memorial Hermann Northwest
October:	HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
November:	Holiday Gala & Awards Banquet

We sincerely appreciate your support!

THANK YOU Touchstone/Nexus
	OUR May Meeting Sponsors

   June Expo & Fundraiser 2010:

SAVE THE DATE!! The June Expo and Fundraiser will be held Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, Topic: Health Care Reform Bill. South Tower Classrooms, 1635 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77008. Time: 4:30 -8:30 PM. Click here for further details.

   July 2010 Educational Meeting:

The July educational meeting will be held Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, 6720 Bertner, Houston, Texas 77030. Time: 5:00 – 7:30 PM. Sponsor: Amedisys Home Health Care. Click here for further details.

   August 2010 Educational Meeting:

The August educational meeting will be held Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at the Michael E. DeBakey VAMC, 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, Texas 77030. Time: 5:00 – 7:30 PM. Sponsors: Home Instead Senior Care & Theracare Home Health. Program: Infusing Best Practices into Nursing Care of the Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient.  Click here for further details.

   Rehabilitation Nursing Review Course:

Southeast Texas Chapter ARN will offer a Rehabilitation Nursing Review Course Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Memorial Hermann Hospital-Northwest, 1635 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77008. This is an excellent review of rehabilitation nursing principles and practice, and also serves as a review for the CRRN exam. For more information, contact Ann Gutierrez or Betty Clark at info@arnsoutheasttx.org

   Scholarship applications:

Scholarships will be considered for rehabilitation nursing related education such as formal course work, continuing education programs and conferences, National ARN Educational Conference, and the SETX Chapter Rehabilitation Nursing Review Workshop.
Scholarship recipients will be announced at the June Expo and Fundraiser. A total of up eight (8) will be awarded.

   ARN National Conference Scholarships:

Three scholarship drawings to help towards attendance at the October ARN National Education Conference will be held in August. Chapter members who meet requirements in the following three categories will be eligible for the drawings:

• Perfect Meeting Attendance: attend 100% of Chapter meetings January through August, 2009
• Committee Chairperson: All active committee chairpersons
• Paper or Poster Presenter: All who will be presenting a paper or poster at the ARN National Conference

   Rehabilitation Nurse of the Year Award:

Members are encouraged to nominate colleagues who are members of the SETX Chapter of ARN for this annual award. Forms to nominate a member are handed out at each of our monthly meetings or available on the website: Click here for nomination form. Contact Celeste McLaughlin @ info@arnsoutheasttx.org for further information.

Deadline for nominating a member for this prestigious award is August 31, 2010.

   ***Rehabilitation Nurse of the Year Award***

***CONGRATULATIONS GLENNYS ASSELIN, BSN, RN, CRRN***

We are proud of your contributions to rehabilitation and your dedication to the pursuit of excellence in Rehabilitation Nursing Practice.

    New CRRNs: 

Congratulations to our newest CRRNs!!!

	Kathleen (Katie) R. Temple, RN, CRRN
	Cary McFalls, RN, CRRN

 We are proud of your achievements. 

      CRRN EXAM: New Registration Deadlines

Due to a change in testing companies, the registration process and deadlines for the CRRN exam have changed.  Candidate applications and fees must be mailed in to CASTLE WORLDWIDE, INC. by the following deadlines:

                April 15, 2010 for June 1-30, 2010 CRRN Exam dates

                October 15, 2010 for December 1-31, 2010 CRRN Exam dates

         

          Late fee options are now available; contact ARN National.

 

          A new content outline became effective for the June 2007 examination. This is posted at www.rehabnurse.org. The exam
          now has only 175 questions (25 pretest: un-scored), and candidates will have up to 3 hours to complete the exam.

Candidate handbooks and application forms are available from ARN National (1-800-229-7530).  Registration forms may also be downloaded from the ARN National website(www.rehabnurse.org ). 

    Get Involved!!

SE Texas Chapter is very active, with thirteen committees working throughout the year. Committee members are needed!! Get involved – it’s a great way to meet colleagues, share ideas, learn, and… have fun! Contact Rhonda Olson or Linda Arfele at info@arnsoutheasttx.org for more information or to sign-up.

     Membership Participation Incentive: Back for 2010

Those SE Texas Chapter ARN members who actively serve on:
1) the Board of Directors
2) Chair a committee
3) actively serve on a committee OR
4) attend a Chapter meeting 8 out of 10 months in 2010
will be awarded a free ticket to the 2010 Holiday Gala & Awards Banquet in November. Thank you for your active participation!

We were able to provide 28 Chapter members with complimentary 2008 Holiday Gala tickets!!

   Update Your Contact Information:

Please help us keep our membership roster current! Update your address, phone, e-mail, and other contact information at www.rehabnurse.org in the Members only section. Please notify Rhonda Olson at info@arnsoutheasttx.org also, so that the Chapter records are current.

    On-line Membership Directory:

Did you know that you are able to obtain other members’ contact information through the on-line Membership Directory at www.rehabnurse.org in the Members only section? A listing of all SE Texas Chapter members is also available, using the search by Chapter section

    Community Activity Report:

Are you involved in a rehabilitation related community activity? Be sure to report your volunteer service to SETX Chapter ARN!! One of the Chapter goals for 2008-2009 is to increase our involvement in rehabilitation related community activities, and this will help toward our application for the Chapter of the Year award. Examples of activities include health fairs, SIRES therapeutic riding, Parish nursing activities, and events such as the MS 150 bicycle ride. Click here to download the form to complete, and turn in at the next Chapter meeting. Activities from July 2008 and after are eligible.

    Community Action – SILENT AUCTION:

Beginning in 2004 & 2005 the Chapter supported two worthy causes in the community: T.H. Rodgers School and Camp Xtreme. T.H. Rodgers is an HISD school that educates many children with disabilities, and Camp Xtreme is a summer camp devoted to children who use wheelchairs. In 2006, the Chapter contributed to the “Be an Angel Fund” for playground equipment for children with disabilities and Camp Xtreme. The Chapter wishes to continue to assist community agencies for persons with disabilities.

Thanks to the generous support of Chapter members, the 2009 Silent Auction was once again a tremendous success!!!

Proceeds from the 2009 Silent Auction will be donated to the June Rusche Hamrah Camp for All. Camp for All is a barrier free camp for children and adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities and their families.

A grateful “THANK YOU” to all who donated and participated in the Silent Auction
2010 Silent Auction!!

Before we know it the 2010 Gala and Silent Auction will be on our doorsteps. Start thinking of items that could be donated to generate funds for our Community Organizations that focus on rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities. It is a great way for our Chapter to continue supporting the services available within the Houston and surrounding communities.

Items to donate!!

• Handmade items: jewelry, crafts, sewing,…
• Gift Cards to favorite local restaurants or stores
• Christmas items for the Holidays
• Collectables: coins, paper weights, dolls,…
• Themed Baskets
• What ever creative ideas are always welcome

Help support our Communities throughout the Houston area by donating an item(s) to Auction!

    Newsletter: "Rehab Round-Up"    

Our Newsletter, “Rehab Round-Up” is published twice yearly and sent out electronically. Glennys Asselin, BSN, RN, CRRN, AA is the editor. The Spring 2010 edition has already been emailed. If you would like a copy, please contact Glennys Asselin at info@arnsoutheasttx.org

Items are needed for the newsletter – brief articles, promotions, legislative updates, clinical tips, etc. Submit to Glennys Asselin at info@arnsoutheasttx.org.

     National ARN News:

Please visit the National ARN website,  www.rehabnurse.org  or refer to your ARN Network newsletter to learn more about :

1. ARN –CAT – Competency Assessment Tool

2. New RNF Research Agenda

3. Locating members or updating your contact information

4. CRRN Exam New Content Outline

5. Safe Patient Handling Toolkit

6. Rehabilitation Nursing online

7. New Position Statement on Documentation of Medical Necessity

8. New On-line CRRN Practice Exam

9. FREE on-line contact hours for members

10. Member-Get-A-Member Campaign

 

    Continuing Education Contact Hours:

 

                    ARN National is no longer an approved maintenance provider for CDMSC, CCM or

                    CRCC continuing education. 

 

                    However,  SETX chapter membership voted to provide CCM continuing education units

                    for at least five (5) of the ten (10) annual educational programs.  Please see the calendar

                    page each month for posting of CCM contact hours.  If you have any questions or

                    concerns, please contact us at info@arnsoutheasttx.org.              

   Health Policy News and Information:

The Kaiser Family Foundations Health Policy News and Information website is a useful      resource for other health-policy related news. Go to www.kaisernetwork.org

     We Have a Health Care Reform Bill, What Does This All Mean Now?

After nearly a century of trying, and after more than a year of extensive debate, the President signed into law a health reform bill that brings down health care costs for American families and small businesses, expands coverage to millions of Americans and ends the worst practices of insurance companies. Health reform will immediately begin to lower health care costs for American families and small businesses, expand coverage, and curb some of the worst insurance industry practices and strengthen consumer protections. The passage of health insurance reform legislation represents a historic victory for the American people. America's families and businesses will not only get relief from skyrocketing health care costs but will now have more control over their health care. No longer will the insurance companies get the final say when it comes to rates and rights. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius takes to the virtual pages of Yahoo! News to make the case once more on the urgency of reform for countless Americans for whom a health crisis puts their entire life in shambles. (http://www.healthreform.gov/)

     CMS Withdraws Proposed Rule on Coverage for Rehabilitative Services:

CMS has withdrawn a proposed rule to amend the definition of Medicaid "rehabilitation services" to include a requirement for a person-centered written rehab plan and maintenance of case records.

     FY 2009 Health Professions Grant Info Now Available:

The HPNEC website has been updated with the FY 2009 health professions grant info. New Title VII and Title VIII grant information, including grant lists and funding totals by state, is now available at www.aamc.org/advocacy/hpnec/elimbystate.htm.

     Action Needed:

President Obama Has Indicated That Healthcare Is One Of Primary Importance – ARN continues to reach out to members of Congress to ensure that the needs of people living with disabilities or chronic illnesses are addressed through the efforts of rehab nurses. Please visit www.rehabnurse.org and click on “Health Policy and Advocacy. The Health Policy Activities and the Advocacy Tool Kit links on the right will guide you to info needed to ensure that elected officials take action to address the rehab nursing community’s needs. We cannot be successful without the involvement of the membership!

     Obama Administration Unveils Health Care Reform Website

The administration has created a new website to provide updates on its efforts at health care reform. For more info go to http://www.healthreform.gov.

     ANA Nurses Answer Call to Support Obama’s Stand for Health Care Reform

Members of the ANA joined President Obama on Sept. 10, 2009 to demonstrate their strong support for the President and his speech to the joint session of the US Congress urging action on health reform that would provide more security and stability to those with health insurance and guarantee access to affordable healthcare for those without insurance.

     ANA Launches Web Site to Broaden Support for Safe Patient Handling Goals

As part of its long-standing effort to increase awareness about the need to eliminate manual patient handling by RNs working in healthcare facilities, the ANA launched a new Web site to promote grassroots support. Learn more by going to http://www.anasafepatienthandling.org/
Ref.: “The Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009” (H>R> 2381), sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, (D-MI).

     Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare Takes Aim at Patient Safety Failures

Together with top hospitals and health systems across the country to use new methods to find the causes of and put a stop to dangerous and potentially deadly breakdowns in patient care. The Joint Commission has launched the Center for Transforming Healthcare.

     Medicare Demonstrations Show Paying for Quality Healthcare Pays Off!!!

CMS has provided strong evidence that offering financial incentives for improving or delivering high quality care, increases quality and can reduce the growth in Medicare expenditures. CMS has announced the new results from three demonstration projects.

     Texas Legislation:

    - Texas Nursing Voice

Texas Bill to provide safer workplace environment and additional patient advocacy protection. SB 476/ HB 591 “Hospital Safe Staffing Act” has a section on prohibiting mandatory overtime for nurses working in hospitals for both RN and LVNs. Highlights of the Bill are that a nurse could not be retaliated against for refusing to work mandatory overtime, refusal to work mandatory overtime would not constitute patient abandonment, overtime compensation would not be affected and would continue to be governed by applicable federal and state wage and hour laws, and also does provide for exceptions such as natural disasters and medical emergencies. Sponsors are Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) and Reps. Donna Howard (D-Austin) and Susan King (R-Abilene) and supported by the organizational members of the Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition and Texas Hospital Association.

 

Touchstone Neurorecovery Centers is a post acute rehabilitation facility nationally known for being on the leading edge of neurobehavioral rehabilitation. www.nhsltd.com  9727 Wahrenberger Road, Conroe, TX 77304  (936)788-7770  or  Toll Free: 1-800-414-4824 Touchstone Supports ARN!

BARD Medical Division of C.R. Bard, Inc., is a market leader in urological drainage systems, in addition to providing skin & wound care products, wound drainage products, and a variety of specialty tubing products. www.bardmedical.com  1-800-526-4455 BARD Supports ARN!

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