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Southeast Texas
Chapter ARN
POB #300121
Houston, TX 77230
To: Julius Penning, MSN/ED, RN, CRRN
Chartered 1978
ARN
National
Website
Contact Us:
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www.arnsoutheasttx.org

ARN's mission is to promote and advance professional rehabilitation
nursing practice through education,
advocacy, collaboration, and
research to enhance the quality of life for those afflicted by
disability and
chronic illness.
Southeast Texas Chapter ARN holds monthly educational sessions, usually
on the fourth Tuesday of the
month, from 5:00-7:30 PM. Programs
with approved contact hours, dinner, and networking are offered.
We visit and tour rehabilitation facilities throughout the greater
Houston area.
Our primary purpose is to promote professional growth and excellence in
rehabilitation nursing through knowledge, education and
networking.

Announcements:
The Southeast Texas Chapter
ARN mailing address is going to be changing in December 2011, please
make sure that you update your files. We will keep you posted.
Southeast Texas ARN
POB # 300121
Houston, Texas 77230

Winners of the 2008 Local Chapter of the Year
Award!!!
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!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS
Ann Gutierrez, MSN, RN, CRRN for receiving
the 2010 Nurse of the Year Award in the Nurse Educator Role at the ARN
Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. We are proud of your
accomplishments and all you do for the SETX Chapter of ARN!!!
It is an honor for us all to be working with you in this great chapter


A
grateful THANK YOU to our 2012 Expo Sponsors & Exhibitors:
| Gold Sponsors: |
BARD Medical |
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| Silver Sponsor: |
Alliance Labs
Stryker
TIRR/Memorial Hermann |
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| Bronze Sponsors: |
ARJO / Huntleigh
DeRoyal
Universal Hospital Services |
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| Exhibitors: |
Brawner Paper Company
Comfort Keepers
HealthPoint Biotherapeutics
KCI
Liberty Medical |
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And to our....
2012 Monthly meeting hosts |
| January: |
The Methodist
Hospital—Medical Center |
| February: |
Kindred
Hospital—Midtown |
| March: |
SizeWise Rentals |
| April: |
TIRR/Memorial Hermann |
| May: |
Touchstone Neurorecovery Center & Nexus Specialty Hospital |
| June: |
SETX Expo
and Scholarship Fundraiser |
| July: |
St. Luke’s Episcopal
Hospital |
| August: |
Michael E. DeBakey Med
VAMC |
| September: |
Memorial Hermann
Northwest |
| October: |
HealthSouth
Rehabilitation Hospital |
| November: |
Holiday Gala & Awards
Banquet |
We sincerely appreciate your
support!
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THANK YOU
TIRR / Memorial
Hermann |
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For Our
April Meeting |
Monthly Meeting Flyers:
Beginning in March 2009, SE Texas
Chapter ARN will send out monthly meeting flyers by email only.
Meetings will also continue to be posted on this website. Members,
if we do not have a current email address for you, please send your
current email address to Betty Clark at
info@arnsoutheasttx.org
May 2013 Educational Meeting:
The May educational meeting will be
held Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at Landry’s Seafood House, 1212
Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380. Time: 5:00 – 7:30 PM.
Sponsored by: Nexus Touchstone. Program: -"Isn't it all about the
patient?" The Patient Experience Movement.
Click here for further
details
June Expo & Fundraiser 2013:
SAVE THE DATE!! The June Expo and Fundraiser will be held
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at Memorial Hermann Northwest
Hospital, South Tower Classrooms, 1635 North Loop West, Houston,
Texas 77008. Time: 4:30 -8:30 PM. Sponsored by: Memorial Hermann NW
Hospital Program: “Daily Challenges for a Person with Multiple
Sclerosis (MS): What Nurses need to know to Prepare a Patient for
their Life Time Journey”.
Click here for further
details
July 2013 Educational Meeting:
The July business/educational
meeting will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at Garden Terrace
Time: 5:00 – 7:30 PM. Sponsored by: Garden Terrace 7887 Cambridge
Street, Houston, TX 77054 Program: “Prevention of Functional
Decline in the Elderly Patient”
Click here for further
details
August 2013 Educational Meeting:
The August educational meeting will
be held on Tuesday August 27, 2013 at the Michael E. DeBakey
VAMC Hospital in the medical center at 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston,
Texas 77030. Time 5:00 - 7:30 PM. Sponsored by: Abbott Nutrition
Program: “Maintaining Muscle Mass in Older Adults: Nutrition and
Exercise Strategies”.
Click here for further
details
MARK YOUR CALENDARS & SAVE THE DATE!!
Rehabilitation Nursing Review Workshop:
The SETX Chapter of ARN will have
the Review Workshop available next year again in August for nurses
to prepare for the Certification in Rehabilitation. The planned date
is August 24 and 25, 2012 and the location will be announced in so
keep your eyes open for information as it becomes available. Please
encourage your staff to consider participating in this review course
to help prepare rehabilitation nurses for the National Exam. This
would be a great opportunity to begin studying and reviewing for the
exams. Registration forms are always available at our monthly
educational meetings.
Scholarship Awards:
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 CE / CCM Workshops. Start planning ahead for a scholarship
award for 2013!!! There are going to be 5 awarded in 2013. Three
will be awarded in the following categories for the 2013 National
Conference: Perfect attendance at monthly educational meetings,
Committee Chairperson, and Paper/Poster presentation. Seven will be
awarded for scholarships to Chapter members who apply. Please
consider applying for a scholarship in 2013. Click Here
for an application.
Scholarship Winners from June Expo 2012: 5 scholarships were
awarded
National Conference
Kerry David
DeAnn Roberts
Kuldip Amolenda
Cindy Gebhard
Lois Stephens-Newnan
ARN National Conference Scholarships:
Three scholarship drawings to help
towards attendance at the November ARN National Education Conference
were drawn at the August educational meeting of 2012 at the Michael
E. DeBakey VAMC. Chapter members who meet requirements in the
following three categories were awarded to the following Chapter
Members:
• Perfect Meeting Attendance: attend 100% of Chapter meetings
January through August, 2012
Recipient: TBA
• Committee Chairperson: All active committee chairpersons
Recipient: TBA
• Paper or Poster Presenter: All who will be presenting a
paper or poster at the ARN National Conference
Recipient: TBA
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 Julius Penning @
info@arnsoutheasttx.org
for further information.
Deadline for nominating a member for this prestigious award is
August 31, 2011.
***2010 Rehabilitation Nurse of the Year***

***CONGRATULATIONS CELESTE
MCLAUGHLIN, MS, RN, CNS, 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!!!
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Latishia Graves, BSN, RN, CRRN
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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:
| Exam Dates |
Application Deadlines |
| June 1-30, 2013 |
April 15, 2013 |
| December 1-31, 2013 |
October 15, 2013 |
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 Julius H.
Penning, or Becky Thayer at
info@arnsoutheasttx.org
for more information or to sign-up. Committee sign-up sheets will be
available at our Monthly Educational meetings to sign up and become
more active in our Chapter’s activities.
Membership Contest
SETX Chapter ARN is holding a
membership contest from April through July 2013. The member
recruiting the most new members will receive a $25 Chili’s gift
card.
A second membership contest will be held August through November
2013. The member recruiting the most new members will receive a $25
gift card for Ramono’s Macaroni Grill.
Membership Participation Incentive:
Back for 2012
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 2013
will be awarded a free ticket to the 2013 Holiday Gala & Awards
Banquet in November.
Thank you for your active participation!
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
Betty Clark 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,
2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and again for 2012-2013 is to
increase our involvement in rehabilitation related community
activities, and this will help toward our application for the
Chapter of the Year award for the National Conference in North
Carolina 2013.
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. It is important for our Chapter to
document the hours of related community activity our members are
giving to advance rehabilitation in our communities throughout the
Houston and surrounding areas. Activities from July 2012 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. In 2007 and 2008, the Chapter
contributed to the SIRES Therapeutic Riding: a therapeutic horse
riding program for individuals with disabilities. In 2009 and 2010,
the Chapter contributed to June Rusche Hamrah Camp for All, a
barrier free camp for children and adults with chronic illness or
disabilities and their families. In 2010 and 2011, the Paws for
Patriots an organization that trains specially bred dogs from
Florida to assist veterans, American Heroes, with disabilities. In
2011 and 2012, Jonie & Friends an organization that provides
rehabilitation camps and activities for wounded warriors and their
families. The Chapter wishes to continue to assist community
agencies for persons with disabilities. If you know of a
organization or program that we can help support please contact one
of the Board members so we can consider them for a donation in 2013.
Thanks to the generous support of Chapter members, the 2012 Silent
Auction was once again a tremendous success!!!
Proceeds from the 2012 Silent Auction will be donated to the Joni
& Friends Camp for all Children of Wounded Warriors. Joni &
Friends camp for all children of Wounded Warriors is a Christian
organization that provides Retreats for Wounded Warriors and their
family to assist in their recovery from debilitating injuries
defending our United States of America.
Wounded Warrior Getaway
Our Wounded Warrior Getaway is a three-day time of respite and
spiritual refreshment specifically designed for American servicemen
and women who've become disabled as a result of war. Organized by
our Joni and Friends/San Antonio Office, this Getaway also serves
the spouse and children of the wounded warrior, providing a wide
range of accessible family activities, powerful speakers, one-on-one
networking, and time in God's Word.
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible
- King or Queen size beds
- Private Bathrooms
- Buffet Style meals
- Handicap rooms available with roll-in showers
- Morning programming for all ages including a nursery
- Nursery available for part of the afternoon for family activities
- Activities
- Afternoon family recreation times
- Evening family activities
- Swimming pool and hot tub
- Lake for fishing, canoeing, kayaking
- Hiking trail
- Rock climbing wall available one day
- Archery
- Horseback riding
- Spa time with massage therapists
- Breakout sessions for Warriors and Caregivers
- Event Speaker
2013 Silent
Auction!!!
November 2013
Begin Planning on Contributing to help support individuals with
disabilities!!!!
Plan ahead because before we know it the 2013 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, MSN/ED, RN, CRRN, AA is the
editor. The Spring 2012 edition will be emailed out early March or
April and the fall edition will be emailed out in early October so make sure we have your current email address so you do not
miss an issue. 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 :
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ARN –CAT – Competency Assessment Tool
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New RNF Research Agenda
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Locating members or updating your contact information
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CRRN Exam New Content Outline
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Safe Patient Handling Toolkit
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Rehabilitation Nursing online
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New Position Statement on Documentation of Medical Necessity
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New On-line CRRN Practice Exam
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FREE on-line contact hours for members
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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.
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan:
To be
administered either by a state or by the Department of Health and
Human Services, will provide a new health coverage option for
Americans who have been uninsured for at least six months, have been
unable to get health coverage because of a health condition, and are
a U.S. citizen or are residing in the U.S. legally. The plan will
continue until 2014 when the new health insurance exchange system
will be established.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/07/20100701a.html.
Info on how to apply for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
is available at
www.HealthCare.gov.
Medicare Annual Update of the
International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical
Modification (ICD-9-CM):
Change request
7006 reminds the Medicare contractors and providers that the annual
ICD-9-CM update will be effective for dates of service on and after
October 1, 2010. New, revised, and discontinued ICD-9-CM diagnosis
codes can be found on the CMS Website or at the National Center for
Health Statistics (NCHS) Website in June of each year.
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).
Texas Legislation:
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LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE UPDATE - January, 2013
Joint Commission Debuts New Nursing
& Rehab Center Accreditation & Rehab & Advanced Care
Certification......
The Joint Commission announced its new Nursing and Rehab Center
Accreditation program and for the first time is offering a Rehab &
Advanced Care Certification option. The program replaces the Long
Term Care Accreditation, is designed to help providers achieve,
maintain and demonstrate excellence in the services they provide.
Both the accreditation program and certification option are the
products of a year-long reinvention project which gathered input
from consumers, providers, payers and other stakeholders. The
reinvented standards, survey process, and certification option will
be effective on July 1, 2013. For more details, visit the Joint
Commission website.
CMS Rule creates issues for NPs to receive incentive payments unless
under direct supervision.......
A recent posting in the Federal Register and follow-up documentation
have indicated that CMS has posted a final rule that excludes NPs
from receiving certain incentive payments unless working under the
direct supervision of a physician. Visit the Medicaid website for
more info about provider payments and check on the FAQs on Medicaid
Payment for Primary Care.
HHS: New Rule Protects Patient Privacy, Secures Health Info.......
The US Department of Health and Human Services moved forward to
strengthen the privacy and security protections for health
information established under the Health Insurance Portablility and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). According to the HHS website,
the final omnibus rule greatly enhances a patient's privacy
protections, provides individuals new rights to their health
information, and strengthens the government's ability to enforce the
law. Visit the Federal Register for full text of the rule beginning
January 25th.
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CERTIFICATION UPDATE
CRRN Update: Enhancing the
Points-of-Credit Renewal Procedure
By Therese Pietsch, PhD RN CRRN CNE, RNCB Chair
The Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board met in October 2012
and approved a modification to the points of credit renewal
procedure that will become approved a modification to the point of
credit renewal procedure that will become effective January 1, 2014.
The change is primarily based on national trends and expectations of
RNs who maintain certification in specialty areas of practice. This
article provides specific details about the upcoming change to your
CRRN renewal procedure. More details to come.....

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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! |

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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! |

For further information, questions or suggestions, e-mail us at: info@arnsoutheasttx.org

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