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| Health Professions Network News October 2008 | |
Dear Reader, Saw you in St. Louis (or not). Those in attendance enjoyed (as always at HPN meetings) thought-provoking presentations, excellent networking, and many fun social events appealing to one's culinary, enological, musical, and even athletic sides (bowling, anyone?). Those not in attendance—please mark your calendar now to join us April 14-17, 2009, in Fort Worth, TX, and September 23-26, 2009, in Tampa, FL. Herewith, a summary of the meeting's many high points. Enjoy!
HPN Board of Directors PS For more reading, a nice summary of the meeting is available via the American Association for Respiratory Care (a tip of the hat to Bill Dubbs). Contents
Keynote presenter Ed O'Neil, MD: Stop pushing the rock up the hill Drawing on Greek mythology to illustrate the many health care challenges the nation faces, Dr. O'Neil said that we are like Sisyphus, and the current health care paradigm is the rock. We're in love with the rock, but we need to let it go. Our health care technology is marvelous, but costly. Consumers are detached financially from responsibility for their own health care. A full 16.5% of the nation's GDP is spent on health care—that's $2.4 trillion. This makes US health care the sixth largest economic undertaking in the world—and the top five are all countries. Further, the fourth leading cause of death is admission to the hospital: "We have a health system that's incredibly sloppy and inefficient compared to those of other countries," noted O'Neil. He focused on six drivers of the health care future: 1. Cost 2. Demographics: Aging 3. Epidemiology 4. Technology 5. Consumers 6. Globalization In short, today's paradigm: Focus on acute treatment, cost unaware, profession-driven, in-patient care, lack of team practice, information as record, patient passivity. Tomorrow's paradigm: Chronic condition prevention and management, price competitive, consumer responsive, ambulatory care (home and community), team practice, evidence-based practice, information as tool, and consumers engaged and accountable. Three takes on scope of practice Jayme Matchinski discussed the many changes in health care and scope of practice. Collaboration should be the professional norm, she said; changes in scope of practice are inherent in health care, as it changes and grows. No one profession owns a skill or activity, and one activity should not define a profession. Professions seeking expanded licensure have to be organized at the grassroots level—and it takes a lot of money, and reaching out to other professions to get buy-in. First and foremost, however, public protection should be the highest priority. Rebecca Patchin, MD, discussed the AMA's Scope of Practice Partnership (SOPP), which includes 49 state medical societies and 14 specialty societies. The SOPP collects information on nonphysician scope of practice, through such tools as a data book with information on education/training/licensure/certification and geographic data mapping to demonstrate that nonphysicians are no more likely than physicians to practice in underserved rural areas. The public is confused about who is and is not a physician: 72% believe that podiatrists are, and 33% believe that dental assistants are! Helping address these misconceptions is one of the SOPP's key concerns. In summary, a team-based collaborative approach is needed in health care, but the physician must head the team, and each team member must have limits. Rose Gonzalez spoke on behalf of the Coalition for Patients' Rights (CPR), which was formed in opposition to the SOPP. CPR is intended to ensure patient access to health care, particularly in underserved areas—"It's all about the patients," she noted. CPR represents 35 different health professions, including advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), chiropractists, psychologists, and optometrists. That physicians should determine what other health professionals can do is "outdated thinking," and studies have shown that nonphysician care is of equivalent quality to that of physicians. Medicare update: "We have a long way to go" Representing the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Robert Epps noted, "We have a long way to go in making [Medicare] information customer-friendly." His colleague, CMS Chief Medical Officer Arnold Balanoff, MD, discussed Medicare fiscal issues and its looming insolvency. Medicare payments based on resource consumption and quantity of care, not quality or unnecessary costs avoided. Widespread adoption of electronic prescribing and electronic medical records won't happen without a universal standards and compability of systems. "I'm concerned that my health records may go the way of 8-track tapes," said Dr. Balanoff. Results of HPN Board of Directors elections During the HPN business meeting, the following individuals were elected to the HPN Board of Directors for a 2-year term (New members indicated by italics):
Update on the HPN Health Professions Awareness Campaign (HPAC) Theresa Pinkham, Director of Development of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, shared details of the draft plan. The HPN is working with a PR firm, Bernard Hodes Group. The plan is currently between $7-10 million, for a widespread media, print, TV, and Web campaign to spread the word that a career in an allied health profession just may be the best-kept secret. Eight new institutional members join HPN The total number of HPN organizational members is now 69; the HPN Board approved the following eight new members:
Bylaws changes tabled till future meeting Upon discussion about the differences between full versus affiliate members, and questions about regional or local organizations versus national ones, proposed changes to the membership portions of the Bylaws were tabled for discussion at a future meeting. The Fort Worth meeting will feature a strategic planning session, which will provide a good opportunity to discuss and resolve these issues. Results in from HPN advocacy survey The Advocacy Committee reported that there had been some responses to the first-ever HPN Advocacy Survey, a Web-based instrument for collecting basic demographic information on HPN member organizations, advocacy priorities at the federal and state level, and reimbursement issues. This comprehensive survey will provide a basis to advance the needs of HPN and its members. The survey was recently resent to HPN members via e-mail. Educational summit planned within next one to two years The Programs Committee announced plans to hold an educational summit to cover issues relevant to all allied health professions; this event could also be a significant revenue generator. Allied Health Profession Week going strong (thanks, Judy!) The Consumer Awareness Committee reported on Allied Health Professions Week, November 2-8, 2008, with information posted to the HPN Web site. HPN members were encouraged to announce the event on their respective Web sites. Also, committee chair Judy Simpson of the American Music Therapy Association announced that this would be her last meeting, so the chair position of the committee is open. In honor of her years of service to the HPN, Judy Simpson was presented the First D.O.G. (Dan Olson is Groovy) Award, which goes to the HPN member who best embodies Mr. Olson's inimitable blend of professionalism, intelligence, camaraderie, and fun. Workforce data portal to be developed Bill Dubbs of the AARC announced that the HPN would develop an allied health workforce data portal for its Web site. One of the key groups that would be represented on this site is the Center for the Health Professions; Catherine Dower of the Center presented on "Pulling Regulatory Levers to Improve Health Care,"noting the need for more workforce data and that some states are doing more than others in this regard. North Carolina high schooler receives HPN HOSA scholarship Derek Carver, from Timberlake, North Carolina, is the recipient of the 2008 HPN HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) scholarship, in the amount of $500. Derek was president of his local HOSA chapter during his senior year at Person High School; he is currently enrolled at Vance-Granville Community College and plans to pursue a career in radiologic technology. In related HOSA news, HPN members shared information literature on their various health professions at the HOSA national conference in June. Welcome to first-time attendees
In addition, many thanks to Matthew Ivory and Nikki Wenzel of the Society of Nuclear Medicine for their help (ahead of time, and on-site) with meeting coordination! A shout-out to our sponsor: the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission! Thanks to the SLCVC and their friendly staff for their hard work in organizing a bevy of business meetings as well as tons of fun social/dining events during the HPN meeting, including:
Host hotels:
Note: Presentations and photos from the meeting are coming soon to the HPN Web site. Stay tuned! About us The Health Professions Network (HPN) includes provider organizations, educators, accreditors, credentialing agencies, and administrators. The group works together in a cooperative and interactive manner on issues relevant to workforce development and the delivery of health care in the United States. Identity Statement The HPN is a volunteer-run association representing health care professional associations and other organizations interested in interdisciplinary communication, discussion, and collaboration. Participants meet at least annually to discuss issues relating to health care and to serve as a conduit for interdisciplinary problem solving and preparation for future health care delivery. Vision The HPN is the premier network of health care professions working to positively influence the delivery of quality health care. Mission The HPN provides a forum for collaboration among health care professions on issues of common interest. The HPN will accomplish this mission through:
Values The HPN affirms that effective collaboration among health care professions is based on the values of:
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| Communication, consensus, and advocacy on behalf of allied health professionals. |
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