Dear Reader,

In this issue, we focus on the historical event of the Health Professions Network's incorporation as a 501(c)(3) corporation. This is a key moment in the development of the network and of allied health. The HPN has a bright future and exciting plans for raising the profile of allied health nationwide—stay tuned!

In other news, the HPN continues its successful collaboration with HOSA and its celebratory annual event, Allied Health Professions Week (November 5-11, 2006). On a down note, federal budget cuts have meant even less allied health representation at the federal level. Nonetheless, the HPN will continue to monitor the situation and collaborate and communicate with federal representatives to ensure that allied health stays on the radar.

We have included a link to the recent report of the Surgeon General, noting the risks of secondhand smoke. The practitioners represented by the organizations in the HPN are on the front lines of patient care, and we urge them to counsel all patients about the dangers of smoking, for themselves and their loved ones.

Also, be sure to make your plans now to attend the fall HPN meeting, Sept. 28 - Oct 1, in Phoenix.

Best regards,
HPN Board of Directors, formerly the HPN Coordinating Team

Contents

1. HPN prepares for the future with formal incorporation and bylaws
2. HPN continues to support HOSA
3. No federal funding for allied health professions leaves void at HRSA
4. Allied Health Professions Week 2006
5. Surgeon General puts an end to second hand smoke debate
6. Quality Patient Care the focus of the Fall Meeting planned for Phoenix

1. HPN prepares for the future with formal incorporation and bylaws

It's official! The Health Professions Network was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) corporation on July 11, 2006. This is a big step for a collaboration that started 11 years ago as an attempt for varied allied health professions to begin to work together on common issues. Incorporation will allow HPN to give and receive funds, including grants, for scientific and educational purposes.

The next step in the "formalization" of HPN is the development of the bylaws. Greg Morrison and the Governance Team have been hard at work drafting bylaws that allow for effective governance of HPN while still maintaining the loose structure and all-inclusiveness that makes the network so successful. A (near) final draft of the bylaws should be ready for discussion at the next HPN meeting.

2. HPN continues to support HOSA

HPN recently participated in the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) National Leadership Conference held in Anaheim, California. This annual conference provides great opportunities for HPN to educate students about the benefits of allied health careers. Involvement in this year's HOSA conference demonstrated the exceptional teamwork found among the members of HPN.

Many thanks to the following individuals for contributing to HPN's successful representation during the 2006 HOSA Conference:

• Don Richards and the National Consortium on Health Science Technology Education (NCHSTE) for their generous donation of a table top display
• Frank Gainer of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) for managing and staffing the HPN exhibit
• Alan Pan of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) for speaking during the Educational Symposium workshop on HPN and allied heath career options.

3. No federal funding for allied health professions leaves void at HRSA

As you may have heard, the federal budget eliminated funding for allied health programs for fiscal year 2006, and the situation unfortunately does not look much better for 2007.

Louis Coccodrilli, Acting Administrator for the Division of State, Community and Public Health (DSCPH) of the Bureau of Health Professions, explained that this lack of funding affects allied health representation in the Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration (DHHS/HRSA). The Division of State, Community and Public Health (a division of HRSA) has three Branches. The branch containing allied health—known as Allied, Geriatrics and Rural Health—is essentially gone, since none of those programs are currently funded. There are no personnel assigned to this branch, and no grant programs in these areas will be offered. Young Song, who had been assigned to Allied Health Grants, is therefore no longer in this area either. The Advisory Committee for Interdisciplinary Linkages does continue to meet, although its future is uncertain as well.

For more information, visit: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/interdisciplinary

4. Allied Health Professions Week 2006

Although, in the heat of the summer, November may seem far away, it's not too soon to start thinking about how you can celebrate Allied Health Professions Week (AHPW), November 5-11, 2006.

AHPW is the one time each year we focus on encouraging pride in our professions and promoting collaboration among all the disciplines that are a part of allied health.

Whether you work for a healthcare facility, an allied health education program, or a professional association, there are lots of ways to recognize the importance of allied health professionals in your community. Watch your email in-box for more details about AHPW 2006 soon!

5. Surgeon General puts an end to second hand smoke debate

The recent report of the US Surgeon General concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. Nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.

As the report notes, all clinicians should routinely ask about secondhand smoke exposure. The dire public health consequences of secondhand smoke can no longer be ignored.

6. Quality Patient Care the focus of the Fall Meeting planned for Phoenix

The fall HPN meeting is set and planned for September 28-October 1in Phoenix, Arizona as originally planned. Some last minute difficulties of the Phoenix Convention Bureau has delayed this newsletter release as well as the meeting notices that should be coming your way shortly.

The theme for the meeting is "Reaching Across the Professions to Support Quality Care Initiatives". This promises to be an exceptional meeting, with several experts in the field of patient safety and quality care. Among the confirmed presenters are: Jody Gandy, PT, PhD, Director of Education for APTA, Diane Pinakiewicz, President, National Patient Safety Foundation and a speaker from the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

In addition to the educational agenda, HPN participants will be discussing in detail the incorporation of our organization and the newly proposed bylaws. This is truly an exciting time! Look for meeting notices and register to be part of the action as HPN takes this next big step.