All's quiet in January? Are you kidding?
Well, I have not blogged in a while. Hope you didn't think I was taking a break from my role as AOTA President. I did have foot surgery and have been confined to a wheelchair. I was off work and thought I would be quietly working at home. Instead, I have been working on AOTA issues daily. Well, what is going on? January is always busy because we are reving up for the Conference in April held in Orlando this year. Prior to having surgery, in fact the day before, I flew to Chicago to attend a symposium on the implementation of the Model of Human Occupation in the mental health system of the United Kingdom. It was very interesting to hear how strong occupational therapy is in the area of mental health in the UK. I took many notes having some ideas about how to grow mental health practice in the U.S.
While being off, I have been working with the Ad Hoc Particiation Review Committee to communicate their proposal to the members and leaders about reorganizing the governance structure of AOTA. We have conducted multiple phone calls, sometimes twice, with such groups as the SISs, the Commission Chairs, Ethics Commission, Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development, AOTF, Representative Assembly, the Affiliated State Association Presidents, and the Assembly of Student Delegates. Other calls are scheduled with the Ethics Commission again and the Commission on Practice and the Program Directors for instance. The goal is to have ongoing dialogue with as many leaders as possible to gather their thoughts and to address their questions. All members are encouraged to read the President's Report to the RA which is posted on the website under the Participation Review Committee link. The representative assembly will deliberate on this issue both on OT Connections and during their meeting at Orlando in April. It is important for all members to be informed and express their views.
I also have been communicating with my U. S. Congressional delegation from Alabama about addressing the Medicare Part B Caps situation where the exception process has gone away. The exception process was included in the health care reform proposal, but since it has not passed, we have difficult issues yet to be addressed. I sent all of them e-mails off of the Federal Affairs Action Center site of AOTA . It is so simple to remain in touch with our U.S. leaders. I hope all of you have done the same and have watched the latest pod cast on our issues. We all have things to do to remain informed and to take action.
Penny Moyers Cleveland
AOTA President