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 Rhonda Olson at info@arnsoutheasttx.org for more information.

 A grateful THANK YOU to out 2008 Expo Sponsors & Exhibitors:

Gold Sponsors:	BARD Medical
	Medtronic Corporation
	Memorial Hermann Home Health
	Memorial Hermann/TIRR
Silver Sponsor:	Muilenburg Prosthetics & Orthotics
Bronze Sponsors:	Alliance Labs – Enemeez
	Home Instead Senior Care
	KSF Orthopaedic Center Touchstone
	Neurorecovery Center
Exhibitors:	Brawner Paper Company
	Centre for Neuro Skills
	Coloplast Corporation –Continence
	Coloplast Corporation – Ostomy, Wound & Skin
	DeRoyal
	KCI
	Mentis Neuro Rehabilitation
	Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital
	OPA 1 LTD
	Prairie View A&M University
	PROS Home Healthcare
	Sizewise
	SOS Medical Supplies
	The Care Group
	The College Network
	Transitional Learning Center – Galveston
	Triumph Hospital of North Houston

And to our.... 2008 Monthly meeting hosts
January:	The Methodist Hospital – Medical Center
February:	Patient Care Systems (now Recover Care)
March:	Transitional Learning Center - Galveston
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:	Derma Sciences, Inc.
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

   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 Rhonda Olson at info@arnsoutheasttx.org

   June Expo & Fundraiser 2009:

SAVE THE DATE!! The June Expo and Fundraiser will be held Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, South Tower Classrooms, 1635 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77008. Time: 4:30 -8:30 PM. Keynote Speaker: Joslyn W. Fisher, MD, MPH will speak on “Addressing Domestic Violence in Patients with Disability.” We will have vendor exhibits, coffee bar, a raffle, dinner, and nursing and CCM contact hours. Price: Early Bird Registration before May 19, 2009: $40.00 SETX Chapter Members; $45 Non-members $50.00 SETX Chapter Members; $55 Non-members.

Registration Deadline: June 2, 2009
No Registration at the Door

For more information, contact us at info@arnsoutheasttx.org or click here.

   July 2009 Educational Meeting:

The July educational meeting will be held Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, 6720 Bertner, Houston, Texas 77030. Time: 5:00 – 7:30 PM. Program: Home Health Care. Click here for further details.

   August 2009 Educational Meeting:

The August educational meeting will be held Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe, Houston, Texas 77030. Time: 4:45-7:00 PM. Program: Traumatic Brain Injury in Civilian and Veteran Populations. Click here for further details.

   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 Nursing Review Course:

Southeast Texas Chapter ARN will offer a Rehabilitation Nursing Review Course Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29, 2009 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 at info@arnsoutheasttx.org

    New CRRNs: 

Congratulations to our newest CRRNs!!!

Kathleen (Katie) R. Temple, 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, 2009 for June 1-30, 2009 CRRN Exam dates

                October 15, 2009 for December 1-31, 2009 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 ). 

    Multiple Sclerosis Webevent Teleconferences:

Educational webevent teleconferences on multiple sclerosis (MS) are offered twice monthly through www.MSLifeLines.com While these webevents are geared toward persons living with MS, they are very informative for healthcare professionals as well. Visit www.MSLifeLines.com for schedule of web events and to register, or call 1-800-350-5416.

    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 Celeste McLaughlin at info@arnsoutheasttx.org for more information or to sign-up.

    Membership Contest

SETX Chapter ARN is holding a membership contest from April through July. The member recruiting the most new members will receive a $20 Chili’s gift card.

A second membership contest will be held August through November. The member recruiting the most new members will receive a $20 gift card for Ramono’s Macaroni Grill.

Recruit your colleagues!!

     Membership Participation Incentive: Back for 2009

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 2009
will be awarded a free ticket to the 2009 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 2008 Silent Auction was once again a tremendous success!!!

Proceeds from the 2008 Silent Auction will be donated to the “Be an Angel Fund” for barrier free playground equipment and SIRE. SIRE is a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program which uses the spirit and movement of the horse to benefit people with disabilities. SIRE has been active in the Houston area for the past 24 years and currently serves over 190 clients per week at sites in Hockley, Spring and Ft. Bend county. Through the use of therapeutic horseback riding hippotherapy, vaulting, and carriage driving, benefits to the clients can include improved gross and fine motor skills, improved balance and posture and the building of self esteem.

A grateful “THANK YOU” to all who donated and participated in the Silent 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 2009 edition has been sent out. 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

     75% Rule Permanent Freeze:

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 went into law! The bill addressed several extensions to Medicare and Medicaid programs like SCHIP and provided a small increase in the Medicare physician payment system. Most importantly, the bill set the 75% Rule for inpatient rehabilitation facilities and units at a permanent 60% compliance threshold. The new law will also allow hospitals to continue using co morbidities to determine whether a patient qualifies for inpatient rehab care. This does not instruct fiscal intermediaries to use Section 110 of the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual as the sole criteria for determining medical necessity reviews. The objective of the 75% Rule was to distinguish IRFs from general acute hospitals and does require that a certain percentage of IRF patients fall within 13 diagnostic categories and limits the number and types of IRF patients who are not within these categories. Now the compliance threshold will permanently remain at 60%!

     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!

     ARN’s Health Policy Agenda for the 111th Congress in 2009

ARN’s Health Policy Agenda will continue to support funding for the nursing workforce development programs, nursing research, and the Traumatic Brain Injury Act programs as well as support of the Prosthetics Parity Act. It is well worth your time to go to the website, www.rehabnurse.org, and click on “Health Policy and Advocacy”. The Health Policy Activities and the Advocacy Tool Kit links on the right will provide you with the info you need to ensure your elected officials take action to address the rehabilitation nursing community’s needs.

     American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the release of $338 million to expand services offered at the nations’ community health centers in order to service more patients, especially the underinsured, and help to support up to 6,400 jobs.

     Mary Wakefield’s Appointment….gains a nursing voice at the federal level!

Mary Wakefield heads up the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Just watch her in action as her nursing career expertise is as a national rural health expert. In her new role as head of HRSA, Wakefield is responsible for a range of programs including maternal-child health, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, and a network of about 7,000 community health centers which provide services to the uninsured and underinsured in areas where health services are scarce. The agency is responsible for distributing $2.5 billion in stimulus funds intended for community health centers and workforce development programs (inclusive of nursing education). For more info go to www.hrsa.gov.

     Gearing Up for the Health Care Reform Debate of 2009:

Health care reform is high on the agenda for the new 111th Congress and the Obama Administration and promises much opportunity and hard work. The legislative committee will keep up-to-date with the details as they unfold.

     Stimulus Contains Major Victory for Nursing :

The legislative package included $500 million for nursing and health professions training programs. The nursing community sent a letter (which included ARN’s signature) to Senate and House Leadership as well as the LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee members, urging them to reconsider the originally appropriated $600 million amount included in the House version. The bill passed to ultimately include $500 million.

     Preventing Catheter-Associated UTIs  :

CMS has announced that it will no longer reimburse healthcare institutions for care related to preventable conditions, including CAUTI, because evidence-based guidelines exist that may effectively prevent these conditions.

     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.

     Change in Nursing Licences

REMINDER: No More Paper Licenses Upon Renewal After September 1, 2008.
The Texas Board of Nursing will discontinue issuing wallet-sized paper licenses for nurses renewing their licenses beginning September 1, 2008. However the BON will continue to issue paper license certificates for:
*Graduate nurses who pass the NCLEX exam and obtain their initial nurse license in Texas
*Nurses who hold licenses in other states and are obtaining a Texas nurse license for the first time
*Nurses who receive full authorization to practice as advanced practice nurses.

 

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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